Apr, 2 2025 - 6 mins
The Best Ski and Snowboard Festivals in the World
It’s quite difficult to imagine a ski trip getting even better than it already is - what more could you need other than your favourite people, snow, sun, hearty mountain food and several ice-cold beers? Well, imagine there’s a world-renowned festival happening in the resort at the same time. Yep, things just got even better.
Whether you’re a regular ski and snowboard festival-goer, or you’re looking to experience the mountains in a whole new light, we’ve rounded up some of the very best mountain events from around the world below.
Snowboxx, Avoriaz, France
Dates: Mid-Late March (15th - 22nd in 2025) Ticket Cost: Prices start at £379 for a 3-day lift pass and festival ticket
Snowboxx is a high-energy, week-long music and ski festival held in Avoriaz, part of the Portes du Soleil (PdS) ski area. Known for its considerable line-ups, previous years have featured acts like Bicep, Andy C, and Rudimental. The festival attracts around 8,000 attendees who enjoy open-air stages, slope-side parties, and even snowball fights. With 650 km of pistes across France and Switzerland, the PdS offers plenty of skiing alongside après-ski madness. Snowboxx also includes bookable in-resort activities like bottomless brunches and comedy nights, bringing celebratory vibes for you and your ski buddies to enjoy.
What’s the resort like?
“Lovely traffic-free, ski-in ski-out resort, upper & lower levels connected via a series of lifts, escalators & covered walkways. Variety of ski areas in each direction. Always seemed to be above cloud level, compared to Morzine in the valley below. Nice mix of runs” - Christine, Feb 2025.
Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria
Dates: Early April (7th - 12th in 2025) Ticket Cost: Accommodation + Festival Ticket packages start at £369
Snowbombing is one of Europe’s most iconic snow festivals, thanks to it being the ‘Mother of all ski festivals’ founded over two decades ago. Known for its wild parties and extensive ski terrain, it welcomes around 6,000 festivalgoers to Mayrhofen, Austria. Previous line-ups have included Fatboy Slim, Chase & Status, and Liam Gallagher. Unique venues like forest stages, igloo raves, and alpine lodges make it a surreal experience and more than justify the world-famous renown. The festival also offers skiing and snowboarding on over 142 km of slopes, alongside activities like paragliding and chairlift speed dating - who knows, it might be the place you meet your true love.
What’s the resort like?
“Large varied ski area if you opt for the whole area Zillertal pass although you will have to get buses or a train to fully utilize. The same applies if you want to access the Hintertux Glacier. Fantastic snow park in the immediate Mayrhofen area if that's your thing. The town is lively and friendly with plenty of shops and places to eat and drink. If you want to grab a bite straight after coming down the hill, I would strongly recommend Gassers immediately opposite the Penken Bahn” - John, Feb 2025
Tomorrowland Winter, Alpe d’Huez
Dates: Mid-March (15th - 22nd in 2025) Ticket Cost: General Festival Access tickets start at €294. Note that Tomorrowland is also a cashless event - you’ll need to load money onto your ‘bracelet’ to pay for food and drink in the festival.
Tomorrowland Winter brings the magic (and mayhem) of the famous Belgian electronic music festival to the snowy peaks of Alpe d’Huez. Around 22,000 people gather each March to experience this massive production - with those insane stage sets - and world-class DJs. Past editions have featured stars like Martin Garrix, AFROJACK, Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, and Charlotte de Witte. The resort offers 250 km of slopes, with stages built into the mountains. The festival also offers vibrant après-ski events, themed villages, and scenic gondola rides with live music.
What’s the resort like?
“What a cool place to ski with plenty of options from beginner to advance. The apres ski is top notch, always have such a banging holiday!It is getting a little expensive but still worth it for the experiences you have in the resort!” - **Katie, Jan 2025. **
Rock the Pistes, Portes du Soleil, France
Dates: Mid-March (16th - 22nd in 2025) Ticket Cost: Free - your lift pass is your ticket.
Rock the Pistes is a unique, free festival that combines live rock music with epic ski adventures across the Portes du Soleil ski region in Morzine, Chatel and Avoriaz, although the main festival area is at the top of the La Crusaz lift. The festival draws around 30,000 attendees annually, who enjoy free concerts on the slopes. Past line-ups have included Rag’n’Bone Man, The Kooks, and Madness. Stages are set on the pistes, accessible only by ski or snowboard, which means you’ll need a PdS lift pass to attend. With 650 km of slopes and concerts in both France and Switzerland, it’s a great low-budget option involving multi-country skiing.
What’s the resort like?
“Morzine and surrounding ski areas have so much to offer. Lots of different runs for all abilities. Lift system is amazing, with several options / different routes to the same places. Lots of restaurants/bars. Full PDS Pass give you access to 625km of runs.” - Anthony, Feb 2025
Electric Mountain Festival, Sölden, Austria
Dates: Late March to Early April (29/03 to 05/04 in 2025) Ticket Cost: The EMF ‘Ski & Dance Pass’ is a lift pass and festival ticket combo. Prices start at €154 for a two-day, Sölden only lift pass.
Held in the resort of Sölden, the Electric Mountain Festival (EMF) attracts 15,000+ partygoers for a high-octane, high-altitude blend of electronic music and skiing. Known for its stunning glacier setting, the festival has hosted acts like Robin Schulz, Martin Solveig, and Lost Frequencies. The main stage is located at Giggijoch, at 2,300 meters, creating a breathtaking backdrop for world-class DJs. In terms of skiing and snowboarding, Sölden’s slopes offer over 144 km of trails and access to two glaciers, or even more with the Ötztal Valley Pass.
What’s the resort like?
“Big resort with plenty of options for all abilities. The lifts are super efficient to get you to where you want to be. Can feel crowded however being able to ski 2000m in one run is unbelievable. There are options for downhill, off-piste, ski touring, snowpack, cross country, racing, toboggan and even paragliding. To elevate the experience you can visit the Ice Bar featured in the James Bond film Spectre. Highly recommend this resort if you're looking at staying in one place.” - Luke, Feb 2025.
Carnival Weekend, Boyne Mountain Resort, Michigan
Dates: Late weekend in March (Sat 15th & Sun 16th in 2025) Ticket Cost: Free with your lift pass
Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan hosts the lively Carnival Weekend, known for its famous Mardi Gras-style parade and outdoor dance parties. Drawing around 5,000 visitors, the festival features live bands, costume contests, and après-ski revelry - it’s the final hurrah of the ski season, aiming to ‘send winter packing’ with a celebratory see-off. The 415-acre resort offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing among other activities. It’s also home to Michigan’s biggest indoor waterpark, Avalanche Bay, where you’ll find a huge range of slides, a surf simulator, pools, a lazy river and an adventure zone.
What’s the resort like?
“Boyne Mountain Resort my opinion is by far the best ski resort available in the Midwest. They have extensive snowmaking and many chairlifts, including a high-speed eight-person chairlift. The grooming is excellent, but there are also ungroomed challenging runs, tree, and Glade skiing, and some secret powder stashes. The après ski scene and dining options, including more economical family friendly areas, are excellent. For the non-skiers, there is Michigan's biggest indoor waterpark, zip lines, snow, bikes, cross-country skiing, smores fire pits, igloo dining areas, and the biggest timber frame suspension bridge in the world. In short, Boyne Mountain resort has something for everybody.” - Joedy, Feb 2025
Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival, British Columbia
**Dates: **Early April (7th - 13th in 2025) Ticket Cost: The sports and music events are included with your lift pass. You can find out more about the filmmaker and photographer events online.
Held in Whistler, British Columbia, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival blends music, sports and culture. With attendee numbers in the thousands, it features snowboarding competitions, live music, and film screenings. Sponsored by the likes of ARC’TERYX, Burton, Red Bull and YETI, it’s also a creative hub, with Pro Photographer and Filmmaker showdowns. Past musical acts include The Funk Hunters and DJ Snoopadelic (aka Snoop Dogg,) with this years’ set to showcase up-and-coming artists from Skullcandy. The event also treats guests to top-tier athletes in big air and halfpipe competitions, alongside mountain film showcases and late-night parties.
What’s the resort like?
“Whistler/Blackcomb is one of the most fun ski/snowboard trips I've ever experienced! Went late season 24 and it was an absolute blast!!! The snow was fantastic with tons of powder! The resorts are mostly all right at or around the base camp area, the restaurants and people are all fantastic, and the après ski at Longhorns is THE MOST FUN! Do yourself a favour and book the trip!” - Nana, Jan 2025
Rise Festival, Les Deux Alpes, France
Dates: December (6th - 13th in 2025) Ticket Cost: Festival Ticket + Lift Pass combos start at £369.
Described as the ‘world’s largest independent ski and music festival,’ Rise Festival takes over the slopes of Les Deux Alpes each December, bringing together around 7,000 revellers each year since 2014. Known for its mix of snow sports and dance music, past line-ups have featured Chase & Status, Sigma, and Solardo. The resort offers 225 km of pistes and Europe’s largest skiable glacier, the Mont de Lans, which can host summer skiing. While the early December dates might seem risky, it’s historically the best month for snowfall throughout the season.
Rise Festival highlights include mountain yoga sessions, hot tub parties, and late-night DJ sets in alpine lodges - it really is world-famous for a reason.
What’s the resort like?
“My second-ever boarding holiday and the resort really did not disappoint. The Apres Ski and nightlife were top notch, very lively ski village. There are some excellent green, blue and red runs, we managed to do most of the mountain and explored all over whilst still having a challenge. The glacier runs are a cool unique USP, and the 'whoop de whoops', boardercross and slalom runs were cool fun extras.” - Craig, Feb 2025.
