Chinook Blast
Running until February 16, 2026, Chinook Blast returns to downtown Calgary celebrating its final weekend of winter fun, bringing together art, music, performance and community!
This year, the festival’s main hub is Eau Claire Plaza, which comes alive with performances on the RISE UP Calgary Community Outdoor Stage, interactive public art and roving performers, outdoor skating on The Lagoon (weather permitting), beer gardens, food trucks and more. Visitors can also step inside The Dome, presented by Calgary Foundation, for a retreat from the winter chill.
Chinook Blast is also anchored by some of Calgary’s most beloved festivals and additional programming that takes place at partner venues across Calgary, making Chinook Blast a city-wide invitation to embrace winter.
Here are just a few of the arts and culture highlights:
Inspiring Installations
Until February 16, 2026
Various venues
Free to explore
Get ready for our biggest spectacle to date! Chinook Blast has searched near and far to bring you the best and brightest installations to light up your winter. Featuring projection mapping, LED displays, interactive arches, illuminated swings, stunning structures and so much more.
chinookblast.ca
Ice Sculptures
February 9 – 13, 2026, 9am – 5pm
Various venues
Free to explore
To celebrate Lunar New Year, the Chinatown BIA presents a live ice sculpture activation. Master ice sculptors from Harbin, China, the world’s largest ice and snow festival, will transform large blocks of ice into striking works of art, with additional sculptures on display throughout Chinatown.
calgarychinatown.com
Calgary Opera: Serious Family Fun
February 13 – 14, 2026
Eau Claire Plaza (The Dome) & Mamdani Opera Centre
Prices vary
Calgary Opera offers performance and play indoors as they welcome listeners of all ages to drop in and play, sing, move and dance together with Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood.
chinookblast.ca
Blue Jay Sessions: Amped Up!
February 14, 2026, 6:30 – 10pm
Eau Claire Plaza at the RISE UP Calgary Community Outdoor Stage
Prices vary
Blue Jay Sessions: Amped Up! Is a fun, full-band offshoot of the award-winning songwriters’ showcase series. This evening will feature three sets of high-energy, original songs from paired-up Canadian artist duos, including Tea Fannie and Alex Hughes.
chinookblast.ca
Year of the Horse Celebrations
February 14 & 15, 11am – 5pm
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre (197 1 St. SW)
Free to explore
The Chinese Cultural Centre will be holding a celebration featuring captivating activities such as dragon and lion dances, multicultural performances, local food vendors, a marketplace, and more!
culturalcentre.ca
Find the full festival schedule including showtimes and more events at chinookblast.ca.
