Vail Opening Day 2026: Your Guide to the Start of the Season in Vail and Beaver Creek
Winter is close. Vail Mountain's 2026/27 opening day is scheduled for Nov. 13, and Beaver Creek follows on Nov. 25, according to Vail Resorts. If you live here, own a second home, or are planning your first winter in the valley, the next few weeks set the rhythm for the whole season. Here is what to know about Vail opening day 2026 and the early-season stretch that follows.
A note on dates: Vail Resorts states that opening dates are subject to change based on weather and conditions. Check vail.com and beavercreek.com for live lift and terrain status before you travel.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Date | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 13 | Scheduled opening day | Vail Mountain |
| Nov. 15 | Last day before Epic Pass prices go up | Vail / Beaver Creek |
| Nov. 25 | Scheduled opening day, "Welcome to Winter" | Beaver Creek |
| Nov. 25, 1–5 p.m. | Beaver Creek Cookie Competition (judging 4 p.m., winner 5 p.m.) | Beaver Creek Village |
| Nov. 27–28 | Holiday Market | Beaver Creek |
| Nov. 28 | Tree Lighting & Ice Spectacular | Beaver Creek |
| Dec. 3–6 | Men's Birds of Prey World Cup races (downhill Dec. 3–4, super-G Dec. 5, giant slalom Dec. 6) | Beaver Creek |
| Dec. 11 | ILLENIUM at Dobson Arena | Vail |
| Dec. 11–13 | Women's World Cup races (downhill Dec. 11–12, super-G Dec. 13) | Beaver Creek |
Source: Vail Resorts releases and press materials; confirm all dates on the official sites.
Opening Dates for Vail and Beaver Creek, Plus What's New This Winter
The snow guns are running and the countdown to opening day has started. Here's when the lifts are scheduled to start turning:
- Vail Mountain: Friday, November 13
- Beaver Creek: Wednesday, November 25
Vail Resorts notes that opening dates are subject to change based on weather and conditions. Opening day terrain is typically limited and depends on snowmaking and natural snowfall, so treat the first weeks as an early-season start rather than a full-mountain experience. Vail.com directs guests to its Lift & Terrain Status page for live updates, and that is the page to check the morning you plan to go.
What's Ahead at Vail
- The Vail Ice Bar returns. A longtime Vail tradition is back as an outdoor après spot next to the Back Bowls Gate.
- More music on the mountain. Live DJs play every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the base of Gondola One (Après All Day at Express Lift, in partnership with Outer Range Brewing), starting opening day. Watch for surprise pop-up sets at the Eagle's Nest rooftop all season.
- Stoke Sessions. Live music every Friday during the first month of the season (lineup to be announced).
- Bigger shows. Dobson Arena, newly converted as a music venue, hosts ILLENIUM on Dec. 11, with Ian Asher on Jan. 16. Vail Resorts also plans seven on-mountain performances this season, with more artists to be announced.
- Better food on the mountain. The lunch classics are getting upgraded ingredients, Bistro 14 at Mid-Vail has a fresh new look, and the Two Martini Lunch is back at The 10th.
What's Ahead at Beaver Creek
- Opening Day, November 25. Beaver Creek's "Welcome to Winter" celebration includes a Chair 6 banner break atop Centennial Lift, complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, and a DJ at the base. Free cookies are also served daily at 3 p.m. at the base of Haymeadow and Centennial Express.
- Beaver Creek Cookie Competition. On Nov. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. in Beaver Creek Village, guests can sample cookies from five finalists and vote for the winner of the annual competition, a nod to the resort's famous chocolate chip cookie. Final judging begins at 4 p.m., with the winner announced at 5 p.m. Guests can check in to become official judges, and younger guests can join as "Judges in Training." Judging spots are limited, so arrive early.
- Opening Week, November 25–29. Kick off the season with hot chocolate, cookies and a DJ at the base. The Holiday Market runs November 27–28, followed by the Tree Lighting and Ice Spectacular on the 28th.
- Birds of Prey, December 3–13. World Cup racing returns for two weekends and seven races, the largest Birds of Prey yet, with free live music and festivities in the village. Men's races run Dec. 3–6 (downhill Dec. 3–4, super-G Dec. 5, giant slalom Dec. 6), and women's races run Dec. 11–13 (downhill Dec. 11–12, super-G Dec. 13).
At Both Mountains
Private lessons now come with a dedicated concierge for dining, gear and transportation, plus skip-the-line access, for up to six people at the same price (Vail Resorts' Epic Ascent).
One reminder: Epic Pass prices go up after November 15. If you haven't bought yours yet, now's the time.
The Local Angle: Vail vs. Beaver Creek
One practical difference for anyone choosing where to spend the early season: the two mountains open on different timelines and feel different. Vail's opening is earlier and busier, with a large village, an in-town music scene, and more day-trip traffic from the Front Range. Beaver Creek's later opening and compact, gated-feeling village (with Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead nearby) skew toward a quieter, more ceremonial start. If your trip has flexibility, you might ski Vail on opening weekend and plan Beaver Creek for the holiday market and tree lighting.
For owners and prospective buyers, this is also the best time to see how a neighborhood actually works in winter: how long the drive from Edwards, Avon, or Eagle-Vail to the mountain takes on a busy morning, how walkable a village feels with snow on the ground, and how a property handles snow and ice. Those are things listing photos cannot show.
Planning Tips for Opening Weekend
- Check conditions the morning of. Both resorts say dates may shift with weather.
- Know the parking timeline. According to the Town of Vail, parking is free in town-owned structures and lots through Nov. 19, and winter paid parking is in effect Nov. 20, 2026 through April 18, 2027. That means opening weekend on Nov. 13 falls in the free-parking window. Expect the village to be busy regardless, and arrive early.
- Locals: apply for your parking pass before Nov. 20. Local parking passes ($40) went on sale Oct. 22. The town notes that approval can take up to three business days, and a QR code pass won't work at the kiosk until it is approved, so apply before Nov. 20. Other pass types (Employee, Employee Plus, Business Premier, Premier) are listed on the town's parking page.
- Buy your Epic Pass by Nov. 15 if you're planning to buy. Vail Resorts says prices go up after that date.
- Book dining ahead for opening weekend and Thanksgiving week, which are among the busiest early-season periods.
- Start slow. Early-season snow can be firm and thin; give yourself time to warm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Vail open for the 2026-27 season? Vail Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 13, 2026, subject to weather and conditions.
When does Beaver Creek open? Nov. 25, 2026, also subject to weather and conditions.
When do Epic Pass prices go up? Vail Resorts says Epic Pass prices go up after Nov. 15, so buy by then to be safe.
Final Thought
The first weeks of winter are a good time to take stock of what you want from a mountain home: ski access, village life, a quiet retreat, or all three. If you're curious how Vail, Beaver Creek, Edwards, Avon, and the communities between compare in winter, Patrick is always happy to talk and can help you think through what fits your goals.
