Banff Hotel Prices Are About to Surge

Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!

Today’s edition brings together a mix of festive energy and practical updates that are shaping what the months ahead will look like around Banff.

First up, a reality check for anyone thinking about a future stay. Hotel prices in Banff and Canmore are on the rise, driven by strong travel demand and a limited number of rooms. Some summer and ski season dates are already looking pricier than expected, making early planning more important than ever.

January, however, is bringing plenty of magic. Candlelight Concerts are lighting up the Banff Springs Hotel with thousands of candles and live tributes to Adele and Coldplay. It is cosy, photogenic, and quickly becoming one of the most talked about winter experiences in town.

SnowDays is fast approaching, with Weekend of Wonder taking over Bear Street later this month. Expect snow sculptures, daytime activities, roaming performers, and a family-friendly atmosphere that turns the heart of Banff into a winter playground.

One update many readers keep asking about is the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Unfortunately, the answer is still the same. Ongoing upgrades uncovered larger issues, and there is no clear reopening timeline yet.

There is plenty more happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.

• Banff in January: Read this before planning your trip!

• Banff in February: What you need to know!

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🌤️ Today’s Weather

Banff: Mainly sunny, high -5 °C and low -10 °C.
Canmore: Mainly sunny, high 2 °C and low -5 °C.
Jasper: Mainly sunny, high -3 °C and low -9 °C.

👉 For a complete up-to-date forecast for the week ahead, visit our Weather Page.

🏔️ Plan Your Trip

Planning Around Events in the Rockies: What to Know

Events quietly shape how a trip to Banff, Canmore, or Jasper feels. Festivals can add energy, atmosphere, and unique experiences, but they also bring fuller hotels, busier weekends, and higher demand for transport and dining. Knowing what’s happening during your visit helps you decide whether to lean into the buzz or plan around it.

Winter brings signature events like SnowDays, Ice Magic, Jasper in January, and night festivals that make colder months feel lively rather than quiet. Summer and shoulder seasons introduce markets, cultural celebrations, races, food festivals, and outdoor performances that can turn an ordinary visit into something memorable. Some events run for weeks, others peak on specific weekends, which can make a big difference to crowds and availability.

If you’re choosing dates, booking accommodation, or building a flexible itinerary, knowing what’s on can help you plan smarter and avoid surprises.

👉 Read the full guide

Ghost Stories in Banff: What You Need to Know

Banff’s ghost stories aren’t about jump scares or haunted houses - they’re woven into real places you’ll likely visit anyway. Historic hotels, old mining towns, quiet streets, and long-gone buildings all carry stories that add an extra layer to the landscape, especially after dark. You don’t need to believe in ghosts to enjoy them, but knowing the stories definitely changes how you see these places.

Most of the well-known tales are centred around the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bankhead Ghost Town, and a handful of historic spots in Canmore. You can explore many of them on your own during the day, but guided ghost walks run seasonally and are the easiest way to hear the stories in context. These tours usually operate from late spring through fall and sell out quickly during busy periods.

If you enjoy history with a slightly eerie edge, this is an easy way to add something different to your Banff or Canmore itinerary.

👉 Read the full guide | Book a tour

🏕️ Quiz

Yesterday’s Question

Which easily accessible alpine area is shown in this photo, known for summer wildflowers and high mountain views near Banff?

✅Answer: 2) Sunshine Meadows - 74% Correct

Sunshine Meadows is an easy way to enjoy alpine views and summer wildflowers without a long hike. Find out how to make the most of the area in our Sunshine Meadows Guide.

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

🏨 Banff hotel prices are heading up fast. Strong travel demand, limited room supply, and a surge in luxury bookings mean staying in Banff or Canmore in 2026 could cost more than expected, especially during peak summer, ski season, and long weekends.

❄️ Weekend of Wonder is taking over Banff this January. Running Jan 22–25 on Bear Street, this SnowDays Festival favourite packs daytime crafts, giant snow sculptures, roaming performers, and kid-friendly ice carving into one seriously fun winter takeover.

🎶 Banff is getting very romantic this January. Candlelight Concerts transform the Banff Springs Hotel into a sea of candles on January 3, featuring live tributes to Adele and Coldplay. Cosy, cinematic, and wildly photogenic from start to finish.

🏔️ 9 iconic Banff stops in one epic day tour. Think Lake Louise, Moraine or Emerald Lake, Peyto, Bow Lake and glaciers galore, all packed into one perfectly paced day with expert local guides and zero planning stress. Currently on sale.

♨️ Still no soak: Banff Upper Hot Springs reopening remains unclear. What started as routine upgrades uncovered bigger problems, keeping Banff’s most teased attraction fully closed, not partially, not maybe, and probably not anytime soon.

🅿️ Banff pulls the plug on its east park-and-ride plan. After months of study and mounting concerns, the council has scrapped the proposed east-side intercept lot, calling it costly, awkwardly located, and packed with more problems than parking spaces.

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🐴 Skijoring charges back into Banff this January. Horses, skiers, and jaw-dropping stunts collide January 17–18, 2026, as Skijor Canada brings full-throttle winter chaos to SnowDays. Trick riding, big air, and seriously cool mountain energy incoming.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS | BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS |

Thursday, January 1

10:00 | New Year's Day Brunch | The Fat Ox | Banff

15:30 | Park Distillery Tour | Park Distillery | Banff

19:00 | Balkan Greek Night: Dinner Show | The Balkan | Banff

19:00 | Trivia Night | The Blake Brewhouse & Distillery | Canmore

19:00 | Colin MacDonald: Live | Rose & Crown Restaurant & Pub | Canmore

20:00 | Irish Night: Live Music | St. James Gate | Banff

22:00 | Thirsty Thursday Party | Melissa's MisSteak | Banff

22:00 | Live DJ Set | High Rollers | Banff

📅 Got An Event To Share?

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

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