Chinook Blast 2026 is Blowing in, and Our Full Lineup is Here!
Start Planning Your Festival Experience Now! ❄️
We’re THRILLED to announce that our full festival schedule is now available. For three weekends from January 30 to February 16, we will be transforming our new festival grounds of Eau Claire Plaza (101 Barclay Parade SW) into a winter spectacle of live music, art, lights, interactive experiences, and so much more!✨
Get ready Calgary, here’s a few highlights of what to expect for each weekend.
But first
We’re bringing a pre-festival experience at The CORE on Saturday, January 24. 👀 This is your chance to shake off those post-holiday blues and get a first look at Chinook Blast 2026!
From 1–4 PM, we’ll be bringing you live performances from:
Live music
1:20–2 PM | Dhanak
2:15–3 PM | CELIN and Tea Fannie – presented by Blue Jay Sessions
3:15–4 PM | Cruz Vallis and Maddie Lee Mars – presented by Blue Jay Sessions
Roving Performers
1:20–2:20 PM | Puppet Stuff Canada – roving puppet performers
2:30–3:30 PM | Three Left Feet – roving stilt performers
Emceed by Karla Marx
Weekend 1 will kick off with high-energy vibes at Eau Claire Plaza 🎸
Chinook Blast officially sparks to life on Friday, January 30 with bold, performances from our Pillar Festival Partners, High Performance Rodeo (Cedric Lightning and Kris Demeanor) and Block Heater (L’omelette and Tribe Artist Society), will be giving us an unforgettable opening night at the RISE UP Calgary Community Outdoor Stage.
Saturday, January 31 turns up the heat with the return of fan-favourite Drag on Ice 4! A glittering Frozen Disco headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Joey Jay, plus a meet-and-greet, followed by a late-night outdoor dance party led by electrifying DJs (Dos Leches, CYBERVVICH, and Mollyfi). Be sure to bring your most fabulous fits!
Weekend 2 turns up the volume with beats, culture, and spectacle. 🪩
February 6 at Eau Claire Plaza is jam packed! We’ll be featuring live local performances, including a Canadian song circle sing-along presented by the National Music Centre at The Dome (sponsored by Calgary Foundation).
The main stage will feature Sparks: Local Lights, a dynamic showcase celebrating Calgary’s vibrant arts community (presented by The Werklund Centre), as well as performances from local artists Dempsey Bolton and the Cruz Brothers (DJ Fatrok & DJ C-SIK).
PLUS, you don’t want to miss DJ-powered skating vibes from ROLLER PALACE at the Lagoon.
February 7 brings the heat with –MOVE–, an open-air electronic showcase (presented by PK Sound), headlined by The Librarian and featuring deep bass, standout local and regional DJs, and an immersive blend of music, art, and fire. It’s a high-energy winter dance party made for gathering, moving, and celebrating together!
Weekend 3 wraps Chinook Blast with a feel-good finale for all ages 🥁
February 13 opens with playful storytelling as Calgary Opera brings Little Red Riding Hood to life in The Dome. On the mainstage, the ImaginAsian Showcase will set the mood with cultural music, dance, drumming, martial arts, and vibrant cultural performances from over a dozen artists. PLUS, there will be mesmerizing live ice sculpture moments throughout the weekend.
Valentine’s Day, February 14, kicks off with romantic vibes from Blue Jay Sessions: Amped Up!, featuring collaborative, high-energy performances of love songs and heartbreak anthems from beloved local singer-songwriters.
February 15 spotlights Calgary’s musical talent with a genre-spanning YYC Music Awards showcase, alongside live wood and ice carving demonstrations for a slower-paced moment of wonder.
And finally, Family Day, February 16 closes it all out with roving puppets, Afro beats (Ray Val and Skinny Blaiz) presented by Ethnik Festivals, Bollywood fusion (Dhanak), and a final dance party that brings the festival to a high-energy close.
Ice Sculptures 🧊
To celebrate Lunar New Year and Chinook Blast, the Chinatown BIA presents a live ice sculpture activation from February 6–13, with live carving taking place at Eau Claire Plaza on February 12 and 13. 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.
Markets 🛍️
The fun isn’t just at Eau Claire Plaza! Hop over to the Chinese Cultural Centre (197 1 St SW) to shop our markets!
We’re excited to showcase two incredible community-powered gems:
Weekend 1 | Seconds Collective Market
Seconds is Calgary’s coolest vintage & second-hand market, built on community, fashion and sustainability, this edition brings together curated vintage, small businesses, and unbeatable finds.
Weekend 2 | Authentically Indigenous – Winter Frost Indigenous Market
Featuring Indigenous artists and vendors, performances, and creative kids’ crafts, this free winter event blends culture, and fun for the whole family.
Weekend 3 | Chinese Lunar New Year Festival
The Chinese Lunar New Year Festival will showcase captivating activities such as dragon and lion dances, multicultural performances, multicultural local food vendors, and more!
Chinook Blast Specials 🍻
We have an exclusive list of accommodations and food specials to enjoy throughout the festival. Whether you’re coming from out of town or planning a staycation, treat yourself and check out all of our specials here!
We’re thrilled to be featuring Taste of Chinatown. A new tasting experience where you can discover, experience, and explore Calgary Chinatown eats with special promotions starting at $5 for a limited time. Learn more
New Events Page 👈
This is just a snapshot of what to expect for Chinook Blast 2026! Check out our new events page where you can see what’s happening when.