Banff Sunshine Village Opens as First in Canada for 2025/2026

The Canadian ski season is officially underway, and the Rockies have delivered in a massive way. Banff Sunshine Village has claimed the coveted title of the first resort in Canada to open for the 2025/2026 winter, launching operations on Sunday, November 2nd. This early debut is a major win for all who have been waiting, especially since it may be the earliest opening in the resort’s 98-year history.

Originally, Banff Sunshine was planning to open its doors later in the week. However, a perfect combination of heavy natural snowfall and consistently cold temperatures created ideal snowmaking conditions. Consequently, the mountain operations team worked tirelessly to get the terrain ready sooner than anticipated, surprising eager skiers and riders. For context, the resort had reported a full 77cm (~30 inches) of snow for the season before opening day.

Guests on opening day had access to the iconic Sunshine Gondola (8AM-5:30PM) as well as the Strawberry Express (9AM-4PM) chairlift. Runs like Dell Valley, Rock Isle Road, Strawberry Surprise, and Strawberry Face were open. For those looking to get creative, the early terrain even included a seven-feature terrain park with both small and medium jib lines off the Strawberry Express Quad. Conditions were so good that the resort reported 20cm (~8 inches) of snowfall in the 24 hours leading up to the opening.

Banff Sunshine Village is celebrated for one of the longest operating seasons in North America, often stretching from early November through late May. This exceptionally early start on November 2nd sets the tone for what promises to be an epic, nearly seven-month-long winter.

With more snow in the forecast, the mountain operations team is already planning to open additional terrain soon. If you’ve been looking for a reason to dust off your skis and boards, this is it.