Banff Sunshine Will Reopen for Skiing in June

All Images: Courtesy of Banff Sunshine Village

While most ski resorts are shutting down for the season, Banff Sunshine Village is making strides to keep one of its most legendary seasons rolling on. After a winter of historic snowfall, the resort announced it will reopen on June 20, 2026, for 16 days of summer skiing.

The plan is to close regular operations on May 18, with the iconic Slush Cup pondskim taking place that weekend. From there, the resort will let its six- to seven-foot base depth battle the sun, preserving snow in every way it can and eliminating skier traffic.

Strawberry Express Lift will then reopen on June 20, with operations planned to run for 16 days through July 5. It'll be the ideal way for anyone looking to celebrate Canada Day on July 1, and for our friends in the States, it would make for a great Fourth of July send-off as well.

"Thanks to nearly 1000 cm of Canada’s Best Snow landing on our Rocky Mountain slopes this ski season, we will open on June 20th for 16 days of summer skiing and riding," the official announcement read. "Our decision to host summer skiing is thanks to record snowfall. For anyone planning to join us for some summer turns, [the Sunshine Mountain Lodge hotel] will be open for guests."

Slushy turns, Canadian bluebird days; it doesn't get better

The exact number of runs that will be open has yet to be confirmed, but you can count on some flushy groomer offerings and at least a few features in the jib park. Jumps and any additional runs will depend on temperatures and current snow coverage. But as they say, it's always about making the most with what you have. And as far as we're concerned, one chairlift, one run and even just one rail is more than enough to have a good time.

As is usually the case with spring and summer shredding, the skiing is only half the fun. Expect live music, DJs, a proper red and white Canada Day celebration, daily BBQs and much more. Summer skiing operations will be yet another milestone in what has been a surreal year for Banff Sunshine and SkiBig3 at large, with Sunshine recently hosting Level 1's SuperUnknown event. The resort came in clutch as poor snow at Palisades Tahoe forced Level 1 to quickly move the fabled competition.

Ticket and pass information haven't been released yet, but we'll be sure to update when prices become available. Stay tuned to Banff Sunshine's social media channels for the latest details.