Aspen News for Winter 2025-26

What’s New for Winter 2025-26 in Aspen

ASPEN, Colo., (Oct. 22, 2025) – The Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) unveils an exciting lineup of signature annual winter events, premier arts and culture experiences, new restaurants, and an elevated hospitality scene that await visitors and locals alike this upcoming winter season in Aspen. From world-class competition to unforgettable dining (and everything in between), Aspen is the ultimate winter destination. For more information on all the ways to eat, play, and stay this winter season, visit aspenchamber.org.


Winter Event News

Wintersköl™ will celebrate 74 years this Dec. 11-14, 2025. Wintersköl, Aspen’s annual “toast to winter” dates back to January 1951 when locals chose to commemorate Aspen's distinctive mountain way of life with a diverse weekend of events. The multi-day festival showcases on-mountain activities, snow sculptures, a soup contest, a beer festival, live music, a bonfire, a torchlight descent and fireworks on Aspen Mountain.

Celebrate the 49th year of Aspen Gay Ski Week, the oldest annual, week-long LGBTQ+ ski event in the nation. This year’s event takes place Jan. 11-18, 2026. Aspen Gay Ski Week is also the annual fundraising event for AspenOUT, a local non-profit and 501(c)(3) organization focused on anti-bullying and tolerance. AspenOUT has been producing this event since 1996 for the purpose of funding local programs and supporting national organizations that fit its mission.

Aspen Snowmass will once again host a powerhouse lineup of world-class competitions, headlined by the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, X Games Aspen, and the second annual Snow League—all taking place at Buttermilk. Together, these events cement Aspen Snowmass as the epicenter of park and halfpipe competition and bring an unmatched blend of athletic achievement, live music, and vibrant festival energy to the heart of winter.

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix & Olympic Team Naming: Leading up to the X Games Aspen, Buttermilk hosts the final stop of the domestic Olympic-qualifying circuit, bringing world-class slopestyle and halfpipe competition, Jan. 7-10, 2026. Shortly thereafter, Aspen Snowmass will host the official naming of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Ski & Snowboard Team—an iconic, celebratory moment just weeks before the Games.

Returning to Buttermilk Jan. 23-25, 2026 and celebrating 25 years in Aspen, the 2026 X Games Aspen will feature elite athletes, live music, and vibrant on-mountain entertainment, setting the tone for an epic winter.

Back by popular demand after its 2025 debut, The Snow League returns Feb. 27-28, 2026, with team-based head-to-head heats and high-impact format.

Palm Tree Music Festival, a two-day outdoor event in the heart of Aspen, will return in 2026 featuring Kygo, Calvin Harris, and more.

On-Mountain News

Aspen Snowmass will debut two major lift upgrades at Snowmass, including the Elk Camp Six-Pack and Cirque T-Bar, marking the first time in nearly two decades that two new lifts debut in a single season. These upgrades align with Aspen One’s ongoing capital investment strategy, building on past enhancements like The Cabin renovation, Coney Express lift, and the Hero’s terrain expansion.


Arts & Culture

NEW | Paul JAS Center: Inspired by these storied jazz artists and JAS’s history of presenting other musically diverse icons, from Tony Bennett to Sting, and Black Eyed Peas to Stevie Wonder, the Paul JAS Center will become a vibrant, intimate performance and gathering space. This bustling, year-round hub of cultural, educational, and special events will inject Aspen’s downtown core with new vitality in harmony with Aspen’s post-war aspirations. The Paul JAS Center will celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 19.

Art in Unexpected Places (ArtUP) returns for 2025–26 with world-renowned artist Ed Ruscha contributing artwork featured on lift tickets and integrated throughout the resort. Ruscha’s work, which merges wordplay and visual form, continues Aspen One’s legacy of layering art and architecture across the mountains.

The Wheeler Opera House is thrilled to announce a dazzling lineup of fall and holiday performances as part of its 2025 Wheeler Presents series. This season features a full-tilt tribute to Bruce Springsteen from Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band, and a magical New Year’s Eve celebration with Jen Kramer, Las Vegas’s award-winning illusionist whose charisma and sleight-of-hand will light up the final night of 2025. From the vibrant storytelling of Mountainfilm on Tour to the soulful sounds of Iris DeMent and the ABBA joy of Arrival from Sweden, the Wheeler continues to be Aspen’s home for unforgettable experiences. Kicking off the new year is a special two-show engagement with John Mulaney, whose razor-sharp wit and critically acclaimed comedy promise a brilliant start to 2026.

The Aspen Institute celebrated its 75th anniversary this summer. Free hour-long tours of the exhibition, Sculpting the Environment (on display until April 18, 2026), are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30 pm, and Saturdays at 3 pm. Tour-goers will learn more about Bayer's relationship with the landscape and his particular fondness for Aspen, where he was given free rein to sculpt the Aspen Meadows into a gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art. This fall and winter season, Aspen Institute will offer a variety of discussion series, including Our Society Reimagined and Sharing Shakespeare. Winter seminars include various Youth Seminars, Great Decisions Seminar Series, and Great Books Seminar Series. To learn more and register, visit aspeninstitute.org.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) will host the 10 Days of Toklat Winter Celebration at ACES' Catto Center at Toklat
this December. Each afternoon from Dec. 21-Dec. 30, visitors can warm up with hot beverages, indulge in delightful snacks, and share in the history and spirit of Toklat.

Challenge Aspen provides year-round adaptive recreation and social opportunities for local adults, teens, and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Winter activities include skiing and Nordic skiing. With highly subsidized rates and available scholarships, Challenge Aspen ensures accessibility for all participants. Challenge Aspen will host the Limitless Mountain Challenge on Saturday, March 28.

This winter, Aspen Film will host a slate of specially curated screening events and collaborations leading up to the 34th Annual Shortsfest. Monthly Indie Showcase screenings at the Aspen Film Isis Theatre kick off on Dec. 4 celebrate some of the best in documentary, art-house, and global cinema. and are free for members. Aspen Film presents Science on Screen®, a unique film series that allows audiences to experience the intersection of film and science on the big screen, kicks off in January. As part of each screening event, expert guest speakers present on timely scientific topics. Radical Wednesdays return in Feb. 2025 with a series of beloved retro ski + throwback winter sports films. View the full Aspen Film winter schedule at aspenfilm.org.

Aspen’s newest and only resident dance company, DanceAspen was founded in 2021 and continues to bring high-caliber performing arts to the Roaring Fork Valley. Comprised of eight local dancers from around the globe, DanceAspen brings power, grace, physicality, and emotion to the stage. This winter’s programming includes In Progress at TACAW (Nov. 14, Jan. 9, Jan. 29), A Snowy Soiree at the Wheeler Opera House (Dec. 22), and re:imagine (Feb. 20, 21, 22). The full schedule is available at dance-aspen.org.

Lodging & Hospitality

Following summer renovations, Hotel Jerome unveils refreshed guest rooms, marking a new chapter in iconic hospitality. The overall design stays true to the western and historic spirit the Jerome is known and loved for while adding some new elements. Sophisticated lighting, thoughtful and versatile seating, luxe textiles, richly patterned wallpaper, updated carpeting, and an all-original art program add a layered, cultured, and cozy feel. This thoughtful transformation, brought to life by multi-disciplinary design studio Swoon, unfolds in the Deluxe King Rooms, Junior Suites, and One Bedroom Suites, where timeless design references meet bespoke craftsmanship. Inspired by classic American style and Aspen’s alpine elegance, each room captures a sense of layered sophistication, a subtle nod to tradition, elevated for today’s discerning traveler. A newly curated, entirely original art program introduces a new narrative layer, with globally sourced works by James Sullivan, Adam Eddy, Jordan Patterson, and PS Swoon, selected to inspire a deepened sense of place and thoughtful exploration.

The Garden Room at Hotel Jerome is a thoughtfully reimagined retreat that deepens the property's iconic sense of place. Inspired by the welcoming elegance of Victorian sunrooms and the natural splendor of Aspen’s alpine landscape, the Garden Room offers an inviting respite from morning to evening, be it a leisurely breakfast, an inspired afternoon of quiet productivity, or an intimate aprés cocktail hour. With the unveiling of the Garden Room, Hotel Jerome continues its tradition of creating singular, soulful spaces that are as welcoming as they are iconic. Guests and visitors can enjoy an Après Tea experience in the new Garden Room.

This winter, Hotel Jerome will host “apres-concerts” with select performers at the chic speakeasy-style Bad Harriet following performances at the Wheeler.

At The Gant Aspen, guests can look forward to the debut of winter artists-in-residence through the Rolling Canvas Art in Motion program, where local talent transforms the resort’s iconic vans into mobile works of art. A new Monthly Winter Market will showcase local artisans and makers, while Fridays bring a cozy Hot Chocolate Bar. Origin by The Farmer and Chef will introduce Cocoa del Sol, a specialty spiced orange hot chocolate inspired by Mexican traditions and topped with a candied Cara Cara orange. Social and cultural experiences include monthly salsa dance mingles and a poolside DJ series. Guests can also participate in new additions to the resort’s Gant Crafted experiences, such as painting sessions with Aspen artist Kelly Peters and sustainable candle making with Aspen Clean Candle.

The Aspen Meadows Resort is expanding recovery wellness items ideal for the ski season, in addition to scenic barrel saunas that were added earlier in 2025. Complimentary Three Sages programming is available in all guest suites for in-room workouts and recovery. Hydrow workout kits are available on a 24 hour basis (mats, blocks, resistance bands, etc.), while Hyperice recovery kits (massage and compression self-applied treatments) are on offer from both the front desk and the Health Center at no charge. Normatec recovery suits are accessible through the Recovery Lounge.

Dining and Entertainment

NEW | Petit Trois, the acclaimed French bistro from Chef Ludo Lefebvre, will open its third location within MOLLIE Aspen this upcoming winter season (scheduled to open in Dec. 2025). Petit Trois will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner in its full-service dining room, lounge, and bar. The menu will stay true to Petit Trois’ core, with a blend of bistro classics and modern dishes driven by local ingredients to connect guests with the surrounding Aspen landscape. An extensive wine list curated by Chef Ludo's partners – Master Sommeliers and Little Nell alums – Dustin Wilson and Sabato Sagaria will focus on French and California wines, with an emphasis on by-the-glass selections from top producers. The new restaurant will also feature an updated design, capturing the cozy bistro-style spirit of Petit Trois.

Yuki Aspen, a new concept by Chef Matsuhisa Nobu, opened this past summer in Aspen and offers a global fusion of flavors set against a sleek, modern dining room design. Inspired by a lifetime of travel and learning, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa introduces YUKI, his tribute to world cuisine, executed with the same precision and elegance that has made him one of the most celebrated chefs on the planet.

Explore Booksellers has reopened its upstairs space as a coffee shop.

Silvers Aspen, a new NY-style bagel spot, offers coffee, breakfast, lunch, to-go dinners, provisions, wine, and cocktails. Silvers is founded by friends and locals, who share a deep appreciation for the town’s active lifestyle, community spirit and the need for quality food that keeps people going.

Both Angelo’s and Duemani will offer winter yurt experiences even earlier this year. At Angelo's, Tuscan cuisine meets modern elegance at this fine dining establishment led by Chef Vincenzo Salvatore. Indulge in homemade pastas, grilled meats and fresh fish, all expertly crafted with the finest ingredients imported straight from Italy. At Duemani, the Mediterranean seafood restaurant transports Aspenites to the coasts of Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco + France with the freshest fish in town. A sophisticated wine list curated by sommelier Darko Petrov rounds out the experience.

Retail News

Aspen Collection will debut an entirely new line of new premium, mountain-inspired performance and lifestyle apparel. The new, Aspen-inspired, ready-to-ski line was tested by local experts, including ski patrol and professional athletes. Shop locations in Aspen’s Gondola Plaza and Snowmass Village feature rental services, luxury gear, and a coffee-wine bar.

Arc’teryx will open its doors at the new US mountain store in Aspen, Colorado, in Fall 2025. The store will be a hub for the local community, hosting events, sharing local knowledge and stoke for the mountains.

gorjana recently opened on South Mill Street, featuring their beautiful collection of solid gold and gold-plated jewelry featuring diamonds, opals, sapphires, and more. Connect with amazing stylists, discover new arrivals, and receive complimentary gift wrap in-store.

Marfa Stance will return to Aspen with a pop-up this November on E. Cooper Ave.

TWP opened its Aspen boutique at 406 E Hopkins Avenue, bringing effortless luxury to the heart of the mountains. Surrounded by Aspen’s natural beauty and cultural energy, the space reflects the brand’s signature ease and refinement. Explore a curated selection of women’s modern tailoring, luxe layers, and cold-weather essentials—designed for elevated dressing from slope to soirée.

Veronica Beard Aspen draws from the natural beauty of its alpine surroundings, blending our signature aesthetic with organic texture and warmth—think exposed wood architecture, curved limewashed walls, and a palette of rich browns and soft beiges in fabrics and upholstery, complementing the vintage furniture throughout. Located in the heart of downtown Aspen’s shopping and cultural hub, VB Aspen is now open on the Cooper Mall.

Vuori’s new Aspen store, located on the Cooper Mall, marks the 100th Vuori location around the globe.

Destination and Sustainability News

The Colorado Green Business Network of Aspen program, launched in 2024, empowers local businesses to adopt sustainable practices, reduce their environmental impact, and contribute to a greener future for Aspen. CGBN of Aspen offers technical assistance, recognition opportunities, and a supportive network to help businesses implement environmentally friendly practices. In addition to being recognized both at the local and state level, the CGBN of Aspen offers benefits such as fostering connections and networks, providing free technical assistance and operational assessments, features on city of Aspen and ACRA websites, and connecting businesses to funding opportunities. CGBN of Aspen participants include Mountain Flowers of Aspen, The St. Regis Aspen Resort, BOSQ, and new for 2025: PARC Aspen, Empyrean Laser, Aspen Community Church, Alpine Bank, Wheeler Opera House, Aspen Hospitality, Sashae Floral Arts & Gifts, and iTrip Aspen Snowmass.

In Oct. 2025, it was announced the Aspen Chamber Resort Association will participate in the Colorado Tourism Office’s Accessible Travel Program. The Accessible Travel Program advances accessible tourism in destinations across Colorado in partnership with Wheel the World, a travel platform specializing in accessible tourism.

MICHELIN Guide News

The inaugural MICHELIN Guide to Colorado was launched in September 2023. In 2024 and 2025, it was announced that Bosq Aspen retained its one star; Element 47, Mawa's Kitchen, and Prospect, are recommended restaurants in the guide; and Nick Heileman of Bosq was awarded MICHELIN Guide Colorado 2025 Sommelier of the Year.


The MICHELIN Keys, recognize exceptional hospitality experiences. Recognized One Key hotels in Aspen include Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell, and MOLLIE Aspen.

Getting Here

American Airlines will launch a new seasonal service between Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), and Aspen, Colorado (ASE), on Dec. 19, 2025. This service is scheduled to run 3x/week (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) through March 29, 2026, complementing existing American flights into ASE from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago/O'Hare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Phoenix (PHX), and Austin (AUS). The new flight marks the longest nonstop from ASE at 1,459 miles.


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Media Contact:
Jessie Vandenhouten
jessie.vandenhouten@backbone.media

About ACRA:
Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Aspen’s business community and enhancing the visitor experience. ACRA is a unique blend of a traditional chamber of commerce and a visitors' and convention bureau made up of approximately 750+ local businesses, a strong, diverse board of directors, and a dedicated staff. ACRA’s four departments which support the Aspen business community are Destination Marketing and Group Sales, Membership, Special Events, and Visitor Services. For more information visit www.aspenchamber.org or call 970-925-1940.