Hello and welcome back to What’s On Banff.

This week brings a familiar mix of winter fun and unexpected twists. The cold snap has done its job, reopening outdoor skating rinks and setting the scene for a proper mountain winter. It’s the kind of weather that rewards getting outside, even briefly.

Not everything has gone smoothly. A Parks Canada IT outage has disrupted reservation systems and pushed booking dates around, leaving some travellers unsure what comes next. If you’re planning future trips, it’s worth double-checking the latest updates before making any firm plans.

Meanwhile, Banff is gearing up for Weekend of Wonder, with Bear Street set to fill up with ice carvings, snow sculptures, and nightly entertainment. It’s a simple excuse to wander downtown, enjoy the atmosphere, and make a winter evening feel a bit more special.

Away from the crowds, fat biking continues to be a popular way to explore Banff in winter. It’s a relaxed option that works well on snow and gravel, offering a different perspective on familiar scenery.

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

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

If you want to explore Banff beyond the main viewpoints, an electric fat bike tour is a practical and surprisingly easy way to do it. With electric assist and wide tyres, the bikes handle gravel paths, forest trails, snow, and paved routes comfortably, even if you’ve never used an e-bike before.

After a short safety briefing, your guide chooses a route that suits the day’s conditions, mixing quiet trails, riverside paths, and familiar landmarks with at least one lesser-known viewpoint. The pace is relaxed, hills feel manageable, and the focus stays on scenery, local insight, and enjoying the ride rather than fitness or navigation.

Reserve now to enjoy Banff’s winter landscape

🌲 Parks Canada confirms new 2026 reservation dates. Following an IT outage, Banff and Lake Louise bookings will now launch on 12 February. Waterton Lakes and other Alberta sites are postponed until 3 February to ensure system stability.

✨ Weekend of Wonder returns to Bear Street this January. From 22–25 January, enjoy ice carving, snow sculptures, and nightly entertainment. The festival includes Indigenous performances and a SnowDays Play Zone in Central Park.

🚌 Banff to upgrade bus stops as Roam ridership hits records. Council approved $162,000 for lighting and benches at key sites, funded by visitor parking. Improvements include enhancing local stops to support three million annual transit users.

🚽 Bow Falls pedestrian pathway and porta-potties hit further delays. Banff council deferred the $838,000 pathway to 2028-29 to protect capital reserves. Temporary toilets are also stalled until 2027 due to strict water and sewage restrictions at the site.

⛸️ Banff's outdoor skating rinks are officially open again. Thanks to colder weather and dedicated crews, all three outdoor rinks have reopened for the community.

🚆 Calgary–Banff rail project gains major trade union support. The Building Trades of Alberta officially backed the proposal, estimated to create 22,000 jobs. Advocates believe the passenger rail link could begin construction within two years.

🐟 Banff funds $150,000 plan to protect Bow River aquatic life. Monitoring revealed that road salt and heavy metals consistently exceed federal safety guidelines. The Town will launch a stormwater treatment plan by 2027 to safeguard sensitive national park ecosystems.

🏠 Historic Twin Falls Tea House to become unstaffed hut. The Alpine Club of Canada will manage the site as its 35th backcountry facility from 2027. The move enables summer hut-to-hut trekking and safer winter routes through Yoho.

❄️ Skier survives Class 2 avalanche near Lake Louise. A skier was buried to their waist on the Vortex run at 2450 metres. They managed to walk away uninjured despite losing both skis in the deep slab slide.

Today’s quiz answer appears at the end of the events section below.

If Banff’s food scene feels hard to navigate, this walking food tour is a great place to start. You’ll visit several locally run spots in one outing, sampling classic Canadian treats along the way. The tour also works as an introduction to Banff itself, with tips on things to see and do beyond food.

Book here and get to know Banff through its food

Banff can be expensive, but you can experience its world-class scenery without the premium price tag by focusing on free natural sites, using local transit, and timing your visit carefully.

Where to Stay

2026 Budget Strategies

Free Things to Do

📅 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 |

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

✅Answer: 3) Johnston Canyon

You can find everything you need to know about the route in our guide to the Johnston Canyon trail.

Yesterdays Question: Which town is shown in this photo featuring the Policeman’s Creek boardwalk?

✅Answer: 2) Canmore - 86% Correct

The best food, tours, and finds across the Park.

🏞️ Banff National Park Full-Day Trip - Includes Lake Louise and the Johnston Canyon icewalk. Was $120, now $96 until Jan 28. View deal

🏨 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - Various deals, including seasonal offers, residents ’ rates and ski packages. See deal details & check the reviews.

🚠 Banff Gondola & Lakes Tour - See Lake Louise, Emerald & Minnewanka. 4.9 ⭐ rated. Was $109, now $76 until Jan 30. Book now

🧊 Discounted Abraham Ice Bubbles Tour - Visit Abraham, Peyto and Bow Lakes, with snowshoeing. Was $144, now $87 until March 20. Reserve here

🍺 Sheepdog Brewing Banff Happy Hour - Mon-Fri from 12:00 to 15:00. Get a mini pitcher and an Aardvark pizza slice for $20. View deal

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