This new winter festival is bringing an end to Calgary’s cold spell

February may be a chilly time here in Calgary, but the city’s vibrant arts and culture economy isn’t slowing down any time soon. In fact, a new winter music festival is on the horizon, and it’s bringing an end to our annual cold spell.

Ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, skijoring and a vintage market are coming to Calgary’s oldest gathering place, and it’ll all be soundtracked by a humble folk lineup at East End Cold Spell.

“Winter weather in Calgary inspires creativity and all kinds of truly distinctive events that contribute to our identity as a city,” said Jennifer Thompson, president of The Confluence, in a press release. “We’re really honoured to offer all-season experiences to our community and visitors that contribute to Calgary’s reputation as a winter destination.”

You won’t need to bundle up too much for this cozy fest at The Confluence, but there will be three distinct fashion themes to inspire you. A heated mainstage tent will fit 1,000 guests, and it’ll all go down on 40 acres of winter wonderland in Calgary’s largest downtown green space.

Here’s everything you can expect at this exciting winter festival event. Bundle up!

All-season experiences

East End Cold Spell will deliver a warm blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, making this the place to experience live music in February.

Calgary’s fun-loving winter energy will be on full display with a packed music lineup. The S-No Chill electronic dance music festival boasts fast-paced EDM that’s guaranteed to melt the ice from your eyelashes.

“I looked at these two big, dynamic events and thought, ‘Well, dance parties are rad, all the community partners involved are rad, and it’s high time that our little winter city starts playing more in the winter,’” said Andrew Shaw, director of operations for Skijor Canda and executive producer for S-No Chill EDM festival, in a press release. “Adding a new EDM festival to the mix was a no-brainer.”

If folk is more your style, you’ll find it from Feb. 5 to 7, with performances by Chicago indie rocker Fruit Bat, Inuit throat singers PIQSIQ and local favourites Carter Felker, Sargeant X Comrade, L’omelette, and Astral Swans, among other talent.

Stunts and speed — skijor style

Skijoring — Canada’s fastest growing winter sport on skis — will also be riding the warm chinook winds at The Confluence in February. The sport is a major fixture of winter festivals in Banff, and now it’ll bring the heat to downtown YYC as well. 2025 was the first year SkijorDue came to The Confluence, and it proved highly successful.

​​​“Despite bone-chilling temps, the vibes were hot for SkijorDue 2025,” said ​​Sam Mitchell, founder of Skijor Canada, in a press release. “ Over 9,000 fans showed up in serious Skijor Style — it was phenomenal. We’re taking what we learned and kicking it up a notch for 2026: more stunts, more speed and definitely more cheese. It’s going to be our most exciting season yet.”

Vintage threads

You can shop a curated vintage night market in East Village on Feb. 4, but it won’t be the only way to bring some retro flair to your February.

Each weekend of East End Cold Spell will also feature a unique dress code, including vintage western, après​​​ ski and ’90s rave. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to step into your neon snowsuit, this is it.

This festival will truly have it all: fashion, music and culture will converge at The Confluence, the result of strategic community partnerships.

“Our community shows up for moments like this — celebrating local creators, drawing people into the neighbourhood, and giving our retailers a meaningful boost,” said Anna Lake, ​director of marketing at Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), a sponsor and program partner of the new fest. “It’s a reflection of what we always envisioned for East Village, and it’s exciting to see that vision come to life.”

This February festival is definitely going to keep our spirits high when the temperatures dip. We can’t wait!

When: Wednesday, Feb. 4 to Thursday, Feb. 22, 2026
Time: Varies by event
Where: The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland — 750 9th Ave. SE, Calgary
Tickets: Free and ticketed — varies by event

Related Posts:
A brand-new hotel is coming to Calgary and here’s everything we know so far
Follow the trail of breadcrumbs to this Hansel and Gretel-themed opera in Calgary

Em Medland-Marchen

Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, and walks along the Bow River.

Read articles