What’s Happening in Aspen. Aspen events calendar 2026–2027: galas, benefits and festivals

Depends how you keep score. For money raised in one afternoon, the Summer Polo Charity Classic at Aspen Valley Polo Club has topped $1M. For prestige, ArtCrush wins. It is in its 21st year and still the ticket everyone wants.

Friday, July 31, 2026, at the base of Buttermilk Mountain, not at the museum, so don't head downtown in your finery. This year it honors Adrian Villar Rojas with the Lewis Family Art Award, and it sits inside Intersect Aspen (Jul 28 to Aug 1).

The Ranch turns 60 this year (founded 1966), and it is celebrating twice. The black-tie Ranch Gala is Jul 15, honoring Marilyn Minter. Three days later, the Ranch Picnic & Silent Auction on Jul 18 is FREE, with 130-plus works and plenty for the kids. Same art, no black tie required.

Yes, and they are two of my favorite days of the summer. The Anderson Ranch Picnic & Silent Auction (Jul 18) is free and open to everyone; they appreciate a registration. WindWalkers' Reins for a Reason (Jul 25, Carbondale) is free too, with live music, ranch animals and a lot of local heart.

Check this calendar before you put down a deposit. Jul 15 to 18 packs three events into four days, Jul 28 to Aug 3 is art week, and Dec 30 is the Audi Ajax Cup. On a gala night every florist, caterer, valet and tent is spoken for, and half your guest list already has plans.

AVSC's biggest annual fundraiser. The 17th annual is Wednesday, Dec 30, 2026: a head-to-head dual giant slalom on Little Nell Hill, Aspen Mountain, 9am to 2pm, then the après party at the St. Regis Aspen from 3pm. Public tickets go on sale in November 2026. It is the busiest social night of the winter.

The 5th annual is Saturday, Mar 20, 2027, themed Emerald City, as part of Snow Ball Weekend (Mar 18-20). Winter's big black-tie night, at The St. Regis. It is not a hospital benefit. Proceeds go to the Children's Oncology Support Fund and Children's Hospital Colorado for pediatric cancer research. The 2025 edition, hosted by Jay Leno, raised $3.5M. Tickets and sponsorships for 2027 are not out yet.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet stopped performing, and DanceAspen picked up the summer dance season. Their Studio 54 gala on Jul 17 at Hotel Jerome is now the dance benefit to put on your calendar.

Friday, Jan 29 through Sunday, Jan 31, 2027, at Buttermilk, now in its 26th straight year, with live music by ZHU and Marshmello. Plan on the last week of January revolving around it, from hotel rates to dinner reservations.

It turns 50. Jan 17 to 24, 2027 makes it the oldest gay ski week in the world, and the Golden Jubilee: Legacy & Honors event is Jan 19.

It is a tight invitation, with VIP attendance capped around 250, and the 2026 date was not published yet. Your best move is a call to Wendy Frohlich at Aspen Valley Health Foundation, 970.544.1126.

I do. I'm Susan Plummer, a Christie's Realtor and a Christie's International Real Estate Masters Circle awardee, and I have lived in Aspen since 1989. Nobody pays to be on this list. It is what I have picked up from every benefit season since 1989. More about me →

Yes, this page. It is a running Aspen and Snowmass events calendar from October 2026 through August 2027: galas, benefits, festivals, holidays and ski-season dates, updated as dates are announced. Independently curated by Susan Plummer, an Aspen local since 1989. No paid placements.

Opening day at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass is Thanksgiving, Nov 26; Highlands and Buttermilk follow Dec 12. Hanukkah runs Dec 4-12, Winterskol Dec 10-13, Aspen Mountain turns 80 on Dec 14, Snow Polo Dec 17-19, Winter Wonderland Dec 19, DanceAspen Dec 22, 12 Days of Aspen Dec 20-31, the Audi Ajax Cup Dec 30, and the Snowmass torchlight parade and fireworks on New Year's Eve. In 2027: Gay Ski Week Jan 17-24, X Games Jan 29-31, Palm Tree Music Festival Feb 19-20, the U.S. Grand Prix World Cup Feb 25-28, the Snow Ball Mar 20, Shortsfest Apr 6-10, and mountain closing days Apr 4-18. All season: Ullr Nights at Elk Camp every Friday, and live music at the Paul JAS Center above the Red Onion. New this winter: Ullrhof reopens as the resort's first all-electric restaurant, LoLa 41° at White Elephant Aspen has its first ski season, and Marea pops up for this season only.

January 29-31, 2027, at Buttermilk Mountain. It is the 26th consecutive year in Aspen, under a new three-year host agreement, with 100-plus athletes in Big Air, Slopestyle, Superpipe and Knuckle Huck. Entry is free before 5 PM.

Thursday, June 18, 2026, on the Aspen Meadows campus. The Aspen Institute also hosts the Aspen Ideas Festival (Jun 25 to Jul 1, 2026) and the Aspen Society Summer Lecture Series (Jun 18 to Aug 11, 2026; free to the public).

Closing days are staggered: Buttermilk on Apr 4, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands on Apr 11, and Aspen Mountain on Apr 18, 2027.

It is possible. Aspen Flight Academy trains high school students toward a Private Pilot certificate. Under FAA rules a student can fly solo at 16, the same age a Colorado teen can earn a driver's license, and can earn the private certificate at 17. Timing depends on when a student starts and how many flight hours they log (50 minimum). The academy's annual gala, held Oct 2, 2026, funds scholarships for valley students.