Industry News
Ikon Pass resorts are debuting some of their biggest investments in years for the 2026-27 winter season, from Deer Valley’s record-breaking terrain expansion to new gondolas in Niseko and a $42 million restaurant overhaul at Snowmass. The pass now spans more than 70 destinations across 10 countries, with forecasters also watching the potential for a Super El Niño winter, according to a press release from Ikon Pass.
Pass prices are set to rise soon, however. The 2026-27 Ikon Pass is currently on sale, and October 8, 2026, marks the last chance to lock in current rates.
New Destinations and Access
Four new North American resorts join the pass this season: SilverStar Mountain in British Columbia, Snowriver Mountain Resort in Michigan, Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota, and Granite Peak in Wisconsin.
In Asia, Madarao Mountain Resort in Japan and Beidahu Ski Resort and Lake Songhua Resort in China are new additions.
Five bonus mountains also join the roster: Devil’s Head, Wisconsin; Tamarack, Idaho; Giants Ridge, Minnesota; Caberfae Peaks, Michigan; and Snowy Range Ski Area, Wyoming.
Ikon Base Pass holders gain unlimited access to Arapahoe Basin and five days at Snowmass in Colorado.
Ikon Pass 2026-27 Season New Terrain Expansions
Deer Valley Resort’s new Hail Peak Express lift opens 200 acres and seven new runs, bringing the Utah resort to 32 chairlifts and 4,500 skiable acres. The resort is also adding beginner-friendly snow feature zones with rollers, berms, and ski-cross elements.
Tremblant is investing $42.5 million Canadian in long-term upgrades, including a new learning area at the base of Versant Soleil for first-time skiers and riders.
- Related: SilverStar Mountain, BC, Joins the Ikon Pass — And You Have 2 Weeks to Lock In Spring Pricing
Lake Louise Ski Resort, part of SkiBig3, is adding Grove Glade and expanding its glade terrain, along with the full development of Pikaboo and Prunepicker.
NEKOMA Mountain in Japan has expanded its tree run zone into five skill-based areas within the national park’s forest.
Dolomiti Superski is putting more than €160 million into new slopes and lift connections across its network.
Sun Valley is glading an additional 40 acres between Christin’s Silver, Leigh Lane, and Upper Broadway, adding to more than 390 acres of new glades completed over the past six years through the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project.
Steamboat is repurposing excavated material from its Stockman Hotel project to raise the base of Maverick’s Halfpipe, reducing the snow needed to build it and allowing earlier openings. Sugarloaf is adding two conveyor lifts to its learning area and continuing glade work in Bracket and potentially Burnt Mountain.
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia is extending its Holiday Catski Camp by three weeks. Children 12 and under ski free in the Kids Cat-Ski program when an adult books a heli-skiing package, with camps running December 19 through January 23, 2027.
Ikon Pass 2026-27 Season Lodging and Base Area Upgrades
CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures is unveiling a renovated Valemount Lodge with 10 modern guestrooms and access to more than 400 backcountry runs.
Steamboat has launched Steamboat Hospitality, a new booking division covering everything from hotel rooms to slopeside condos.
Niseko United will open the Moxy Niseko Village hotel in late 2026. NEKOMA Mountain is adding more than 300 slopeside accommodations in its South Area.
Alta Ski Area’s new Albion Day Lodge adds 3,400 square feet of dining space, a fireplace lounge, and an expanded Alta Java cafe. Snowbasin is opening the Meadow Pavilion, a warming space with large windows near the mountain’s ski school base.
Furano Ski Resort’s Shin Furano Prince Hotel is adding banquet space and an outdoor terrace with fire pits. RED Mountain’s new ski-in/ski-out lodge, The Daly, includes an outdoor pool and hot tub. Cabot Revelstoke Mountain Lodge, a 155-room property, is under construction and set to open in 2027 with a steakhouse and spa.
Snowmaking Investments
Deer Valley is adding a 10-million-gallon reservoir that will pump 10,000 gallons of water per minute alongside its existing pump house. Between 80 and 90 percent of that water returns to its source.
Solitude is installing new fixed and mobile snow guns to extend Utah’s longest ski season. June Mountain has laid more than 8,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe.
Loon Mountain is upgrading infrastructure in East Basin and North Peak with high-efficiency Klik snow guns. Kitzbühel’s new Sonnenrast reservoir will improve snow production, and Alyeska Resort is replacing 800 feet of pipeline and adding two high-efficiency fan guns.
Copper Mountain, Brighton, and Sun Valley are also completing multi-year snowmaking upgrades this season.
New Lifts
Big Sky Resort’s Explorer Gondola, which debuted last season, returns for its first full winter, connecting Mountain Village to the Lone Peak Tram.
Aspen Mountain’s new Nell Bell chairlift replaces the Bell Mountain and Little Nell lifts with a high-speed quad. Zermatt is debuting a six-seat Pattrularve chairlift in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise.
Niseko United’s new Shin Mori-no Gondola will nearly double uphill capacity with 86 cabins, including VIP and glass-floor Sky View cabins. Grand Hirafu is replacing its Ace No. 3 lift with a weather-protected, high-speed quad that more than doubles capacity.
Valle D’Aosta is adding three new 10-passenger gondolas, replacing four lifts across Courmayeur Mont-Blanc and La Thuile. Dolomiti Superski is adding four gondolas and five lifts across its areas.
Ischgl is installing three heated eight-seat chairlifts in the Silvretta Arena, partly solar-powered. Sun Valley is debuting the Lookout Express and Christmas chairlifts. St. Moritz has overhauled its trams for the first time in 40 years, adding full accessibility upgrades.
Ikon Pass 2026-27 Season Resort Anniversaries
Several resorts are marking milestones this season. Arapahoe Basin turns 80 with $80 lift tickets and free skiing for 80-year-olds. Aspen Snowmass also celebrates its 80th anniversary, as does Sierra-at-Tahoe. Brighton turns 90, Blue Mountain turns 85, Panorama turns 65, and Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Terrain Parks mark 30 years.
Dining and Après
Mammoth Mountain is opening Apricity, a new seafood-focused restaurant at The Westin Monache. At Snowmass, the Ullrhof restaurant reopens after a $42 million renovation, growing to 26,000 square feet with four dining concepts and becoming Aspen Snowmass’s first all-electric on-mountain restaurant.
Big Sky’s snow-built Iglu bar returns with a larger footprint and new walking access from the Explorer Gondola. Chef Grant Achatz and M by The Alinea Group return for a second season there as well.
Banff Sunshine, part of SkiBig3, is bringing back its GOAT Club après venue and opening a new Coco Lab coffee and hot chocolate bar. Brighton is overhauling two dining spots into a Mexican-inspired restaurant and an Asian-inspired noodle and sushi concept.
Ikon Pass products and pricing are available at ikonpass.com.
