Update: The crowds that were attending the Ice Magic Festival in the past were no longer sustainable for the Lake Louise area and environment. The 2026 Lake Louise Ice Magic event is much more exclusive with restricted access to the general public. More details can be found below.
Schedule And Theme For The 2026 Lake Louise Ice Magic Event
February 5th to 8th, 2026 – The carvers will complete 6 sculptures completed and available for viewing starting on February 5th.
2026 Ice Magic Theme is Natural Athletes – Wild Games. This theme will have the carvers showcase Banff National Park’s wildlife and landscapes with the idea of athleticism in mind.
Free Ice Magic Access For Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Guest
The easiest way to attend the event, albeit most expensive way is by booking a hotel stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. The hotel hosts the Ice Magic Sculpture carving on their lakefront terrace. Hotel guests will not have to obtain a ticket or be restricted to a viewing time slot. All day complimentary access is to the event is provided to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise guests.
How Can I Get Tickets To Lake Louise Ice Magic 2026?
Other than being a guest of the Chateau Lake Louise hotel, there are only a few other options to gain access to the Ice Magic event. It is through pre-booked complimentary tickets that have a designated arrival timeslot.
Stay At A Participating Hotel Or Lodge
The following accommodation has complimentary tickets for their guests staying with them during Lake Louise Ice Magic. The ticket must be pre-booked. They become available December 8, 2025 and include entry to the event by shuttle. Ask your hotel for details. There is no on-site parking for the event.
These are the participating properties.
- Lake Louise Inn
- Paradise Lodge and Bungalows
- Mountaineer Lodge
- Baker Creek Banff
- Emerald Lake Lodge
- Storm Mountain Lodge
Book A Guided Tour That Includes A Stop At The Ice Magic Event
The two participating tour companies are:
- Radadventures – offering a tour from Banff on February 7th and 8th.
- Ten Peaks Shuttle & Tours – Offering Ice Magic as part of a tour from Banff on February 8th.
Free Local Community Access To Ice Magic
Local residents are able to attend Ice Magic from February 4 – 8, 2026. A specific community night will be held on February 4th, with access also available Thursday, February 5th through Sunday, February 8th at various timeslots.
Tickets are complimentary, but they must be booked in advance and proof of residency must be provided upon entrance to the event. The shuttle pick up and drop for residents is at the Lake Louise Ski Resort where free parking is available. The Roam Bus Route 8X is another option to get to the event.
Residents of the following areas can attend:
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Canmore
- Mini Thni
- Lac Des Arc
- Deadman Flats
- Exshaw
- Harvie Heights
- Field
- Kananaskis
Banff National Park Snow Days Event
All is not lost if you’re unable to attend Lake Louise Ice Magic—it’s just one of the many events that take place during Snow Days in Banff National Park. It is a celebration to embrace the spirit of winter, featuring a variety of daytime and evening activities and entertainment.
New for the 2026 Snow Days is the Art of Ice: Carving Competition, running from Friday, February 6 to Sunday, February 8. During this event, twelve internationally renowned ice carvers will showcase their skills. They will create intricate ice sculptures that will be displayed as part of a dedicated outdoor gallery on Bear Street in downtown Banff.
Can The Ice Sculptures Be Viewed After The Ice Magic Festival Is Over?
At this time it is unknown whether the ice sculptures will be available to view after the Ice Magic event is over. There likely only viewable for hotel guests as they sit on the property of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. In the past the sculptures have been left for as long as the weather and temperatures allow. They may last further into the month of February, but in some years the temperatures have become too warm causing the sculptures to melt. the hotel takes them down for safety reasons as they become unstable.
When Is The Best Time To Take Photos Of The Ice Sculptures?
The best photos are taken in the evening, under the light of the night sky and when the sculptures are lit up. – Dress for winter with lots of layers, mitts, scarves, and hats so you can enjoy it as long as you like
Bring your skates, or rent them from Wilson Mountain Sports, so you can skate around the iconic ice castle built near the shoreline of Lake Louise.
Dress Warmly For Viewing The Ice Sculptures
The temperatures can be bitterly cold in February, dress appropriately. Layering your clothing underneath is very helpful in staying warm. Winter boots, coat and a warm hat and gloves are a must. See the winter packing section of our post for more information on what to wear: How To Pack For A Visit To The Canadian Rocky Mountains
Other Winter Activities In Lake Louise
While attending Ice Magic it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of Ice Skating On Lake Louise. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more scenic ice rink! Or experience a traditional Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride. For more things to do check out our post on: Winter activities in Banff and Lake Louise for non-skiers.
Sculptures From Past Ice Magic Festivals
Note: these photos are from past events when the Ice Magic festival was held near the shores of Lake Louise. The event is no longer set there, a smaller number of sculptures are now hosted on the lakeside terrace of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel.
The carvers create their masterpieces out of stacked blocks of ice that weigh over 300 pounds each. The brave frigid temperatures while they do their work.
The dog mascot for the Fairmont Chateau likes to check out the action at the festival. He looks quite stylish with his warm coat and his booties that help to keep his paws from freezing on the frozen ground.
Ice Magic Festival Sculptures At Night
The sculptures take on a completely different look in the evening. In fact we think the sculptures look their best at night when they are illuminated. It allows for some spectacular photography. The Fairmont Chateau hotel will continue to light the carvings for as long as they are still intact enough for viewing.
We were disappointed upon arriving in Lake Louise to view the ice sculptures to find no sign of them. Yet on this site it states they are best observed during the weeks of the festival. But due to weather conditions can be observed well into the month of February. We came on the 3rd if February and no sign of any of the sculptures just the snow pads they were created on.
What a huge disappointment. We have come the last several years and this was a true disappointment.
Sorry to hear the sculptures were not there when you arrived. They are available to view into February “depending” on the temperature and weather conditions. I just checked on the facebook page for the Fairmont Chateau hotel and unfortunately although the unseasonably warm winter temperatures have been welcomed over the last while, it didn’t favour very well with the sculptures. It looks like the hotel has taken them down, as they have not only been looking shabby but would also become a safety concern. Sorry that you missed out on them, but hopefully you enjoyed the rest of the beautiful winter scenery at the lake.
There’s only the one place to park near the lake and that’s the official government parking lot for Lake Louise. However on the two weekends of the event this year Parks Canada will be directing people to park down in the village and take the shuttle once the parking lot starts to get full or if the traffic is becoming too much. If you are arriving by 9am you should be able to go up to the lake parking lot without any issues.
It is a bit of a walk from the government parking lot to the lake and where the sculptures are. I think the easiest option for the person in your party with disabilities is to drive them right up to the front of the hotel where the lobby is. From the lobby they will want to get down to the lower floor and make their way to the doors that open right out to where the sculptures are. There is an elevator to the lower floor if they can’t do the stairs. After the drop off the driver can go park the vehicle at the government parking lot and walk back to the lake to meet up. Enjoy the sculptures!