Gay ski week season returns in January 2027, and the dates are already out. From the Swiss village of Arosa to the glaciers of the Ötztal and the huge French ski areas of the Tarentaise, four Alpine events will bring LGBTQ+ skiers, snowboarders and après-ski fans together this winter, plus two legendary weeks across the Atlantic. Some are polished, almost corporate affairs; others are pure party. Here are the dates, what each week offers, what it costs where prices are public, and how to pick the right one before the best rooms are gone.
The gay ski week calendar for winter 2027
- Arosa, Switzerland: 16 to 23 January 2027
- Aspen, Colorado (USA): 17 to 24 January 2027
- Whistler, Canada: 24 to 31 January 2027
- Val Thorens, France: 13 to 20 March 2027
- Sölden, Austria: 13 to 20 March 2027
- Tignes, France: 20 to 27 March 2027
The season works in two waves. January belongs to Arosa and the two North American classics, while March gathers the three big Alpine weeks, when the days are longer, the sun is higher and the high-altitude resorts still have plenty of snow. Note that Val Thorens and Sölden fall on exactly the same week: you will have to choose. Each gay ski week also has its own personality, from the intimate to the gigantic, so the dates are only half of the decision.
January: Arosa opens the season
Arosa, Switzerland
The Arosa Gay Ski Week has been held every January since 2005, and it proudly calls itself Ski Pride #1. For 2027 it runs from 16 to 23 January. More than 800 guests come each year, according to the organisers, to a small resort at the end of a scenic mountain railway from Chur. The programme mixes daily events, social skiing and boarding, popular après-ski sessions, cabaret shows, a classical concert, pool parties and disco nights.
The tone is more intimate than the March giants. You will see the same faces on the slopes, at dinner and on the dance floor, which makes Arosa an easy first gay ski week for anyone travelling alone. The organisers sell all-inclusive packages that combine hotel, event pass and ski pass, with discounts announced of up to 30%. The event pass and the lift pass can also be booked separately if you already have somewhere to stay.
Across the Atlantic: Aspen and Whistler
The oldest of them all celebrates a milestone this winter. Aspen Gay Ski Week has run since 1977 and marks its golden jubilee from 17 to 24 January 2027. Expect mornings on Aspen Mountain, known locally as Ajax, legendary pool parties, the famous Downhill Costume Contest and panel discussions. The organisers now present the week as a networking hub for queer professionals as much as a holiday.
A week later, the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival takes over the Canadian resort from 24 to 31 January 2027. It started in 1992 as a small weekend gathering of gay skiers and has grown into one of the largest queer ski events in the world. Its social core is the free daily guided ski and snowboard groups, open to every level from beginner to expert, alongside a charity ski race, a parade and community day, and a long list of evening parties.
March: three big weeks in the Alps
Val Thorens: the European Gay Ski Week
The European Gay Ski Week, known as EGSW, holds its 19th edition in Val Thorens from 13 to 20 March 2027. The resort, presented as the highest in Europe, sits at the heart of Les 3 Vallées, described as the largest connected ski area in the world with 600 km of runs. The organisers announce more than 1,000 guests every year from almost 50 countries.
Days are for skiing, with a dedicated ski school, guided groups and off-piste outings. Evenings bring après-ski, shows, cabaret and club nights with international DJs, plus themed dinners: fondue, raclette, a mountain dinner and an Asian night. Bookings opened on 1 July 2026 with early booking discounts. Packages range from shared chalets to five-star hotels, with offers for solo travellers and under-24s, but prices are only given on request.
Sölden: Winter Pride in the Ötztal
Same dates, different country. Winter Pride Sölden runs from 13 to 20 March 2027 in the Austrian Ötztal Alps, across the Sölden and Gurgl ski areas, and calls itself Europe’s highest Pride ski week. It is the new name of Gay Snow Happening, one of the oldest queer ski events in Europe, which listings trace back to the late 1990s, and 2027 marks the fifth anniversary of Winter Pride. TravelGay’s listing mentions an opening party with DJs and drag, a traditional Alpine hut evening, a Ski Fun Race with a costume competition, and a Winter Pride March with rainbow flags on the slopes. Après-ski venues named for the week include Panorama Alm and Schirmbar.
The week runs from Saturday to Saturday, with event passes for seven, four or three days and an all-in VIP pass covering every side event. Packages with partner hotels, apartments and B&Bs are sold through rainbowtravel.at, an Austrian LGBTQ+ travel agency, and buying your lift pass online in advance saves up to 22%, according to the organisers. Prices for 2027 are not shown on the official site.
Tignes: European Snow Pride
The season closes in Tignes, where European Snow Pride takes place from 20 to 27 March 2027, centred on Val Claret with more events in Tignes le Lac. The ski area is linked to Val d’Isère, with more than 300 km of connected runs. The festival promises more than 40 events, two après-ski venues, the Cocorico at the foot of the slopes and the Chalet du Bollin higher up, and its famous pool party at Le Lagon, turned into a giant aquatic dance floor for one night. According to TravelGay, the Tignes Pride March is planned for 25 March, followed by an apéro and the official Pride party at Tignespace. The organisers had not yet published their full 2027 programme at the time of writing.
Tignes is also the most transparent on prices. The lift pass plus event pass starts at €525 per person, equipment rental at €69, ski or snowboard lessons at €199 and a yurt camp evening at €79. Accommodation listed on the official site ranges from €216 to €1,949 per person, and some residences are already sold out.
How to choose your gay ski week
If you want the biggest party
Val Thorens and Tignes both claim the title of Europe’s biggest gay ski week, and both deliver a full week of club nights. Since Tignes starts the day Val Thorens ends, the most dedicated can even chain the two.
If you are a first-timer or travelling alone
Arosa and Whistler are the gentlest introductions. Arosa’s smaller scale makes it easy to meet people, and Whistler’s free guided groups mean you never have to ski alone.
If you care about the budget
Sölden lets you buy a three- or four-day pass instead of a full week, and its lift pass costs less when bought online in advance. In France, a self-catering apartment combined with the Tignes lift and event pass keeps the bill under control, while all-inclusive packages in Switzerland and the golden jubilee in Aspen sit at the top of the range.
Practical tips before you book
- Book early. Every organiser offers early booking discounts, and the rooms closest to the parties go first.
- Check what the pass includes. Event passes and lift passes are often sold separately.
- Get the right insurance. Make sure your travel insurance explicitly covers winter sports, including off-piste if you plan to go.
- Plan your transfer. Val Thorens and Tignes are usually reached from Geneva, Lyon or Chambéry airports, Sölden from Innsbruck, and Arosa by train from Zurich via Chur.
- Pack for the theme nights. Costume races and themed parties are part of the fun, so bring more than your ski jacket.
A gay ski week is not reserved for expert skiers either. Every event on this list offers lessons or guided groups, and plenty of guests spend more time in the spa and on the terrace than on the black runs.
Prefer sun to snow?
Not everyone dreams of fondue at 2,000 metres. If you would rather swap the slopes for the beach, our guide to Winter Pride Maspalomas 2026 covers the Gran Canaria festival from 2 to 8 November, and our selection of gay beaches in Europe will keep you dreaming until summer. For the nights in between, take a look at our tour of European gay nightlife.
The verdict
Whether you choose a Swiss village, an Austrian glacier, a French mega-resort or a golden jubilee in Colorado, a gay ski week offers something rare: seven days where the whole mountain feels like home. The 2027 dates are set, prices rise as the season approaches, and the best rooms never wait. Pick your gay ski week, wax your skis and see you at the après.
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