This season's best ski and snowboard festivals - and how to survive them

Snowboxx festival
Ski festivals, like Snowboxx, are a popular choice with first-time visitors to the slopes Credit: james north/Snowboxx

From igloo raves to après-fuelled laughter, there's not a welly or soggy tent in sight at these winter mountain festivals - and some of them are free to attend, all you need do is get to the resort and buy a lift pass. Let the party commence…

Best for fans of cryptic marketing messages, dance beats

Tomorrowland Winter

Tomorrowland is one of the world’ most famous summertime dance music festivals, held in Belgium since 2005. Last season saw the brand expand into the world of winter festivals with huge success. Tomorrowland Winter plus 25,000 festival goers return to Alpe d’Huez this March. This year’s theme is, "The Book of Wisdom - The Frozen Chapter"- as mysterious as ever. The current line up includes Armin van Buuren, Afrojack and Martin Garrix.

Where, when, how much

Alpe d’Huez, France, March 14 to 21 2020. Seven-day packages for four people in a three-bedroom apartment, including festival wristband and lift pass, costs from £699 per person. More information tomorrowland.com.

Best for fans of Eurovision, large festival sites

Rock the Pistes

Two countries, 28,000 people and over 50 concerts. The week-long Rock the Pistes festival takes place across the entire Portes du Soleil ski area on the French-Swiss border, with events happening in a different resort each day. The concerts are free on the mountain, so all that's needed to see the artists is a lift pass. There are five gigs a day on the mountain, followed by over 30 après concerts in the resorts at the foot of the slopes. There’s a broad range of European acts such as Skip The Use, The Stranglers and IAM.

Where, when, how much

Portes du Soleil, France and Switzerland, March 15 to 21 2020. Gigs are free once you’re on the slopes. More information rockthepistes.com

Snowboxx
Ski resorts are transformed into giant festival sites for these events Credit: james north/snowboxx
Best for fans of goggle tans, glow sticks

Snowboxx

Snowboxx returns to the French resort of Avoriaz for the fourth year. The week-long festival combines main stage concerts and DJ sets from headliners such as Annie Mac, Andy C and Denis Sulta, plus après terrace parties, club nights and a mass sledding race, pond skimming and snowball fight competitions in the late-season sunshine. There’s also spa days and bottomless brunch - it’s a packed schedule. The festival has also just announced it is expanding to the Southern Hemisphere in September 2020. Taking place in Cardrona, New Zealand’s leading ski resort, the festival will form part of the resort’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Where, when, how much

Avoriaz, France, March 21 to 28 2020. Packages start at £299 for a wristband and self-catered accommodation for six in an apartment for the week. More information snowboxx.com.

Best for fans of award ceremonies, big air

The Brits

With more than 25 years of pedigree, this week-long bash attracts thousands of British ski and snowboard fanatics, from beginners to experts, for seven days of snow, competitions and partying. The Brits hosts the annual British Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships in Laax, which sees some of the top talent and future stars of Team GB compete for the titles in one of the Alps’ top freestyle resorts. Then there's rowdy après and the chance to mingle with the rest of the UK ski and snowboard scene and big-name athletes in the resort's lively clubs and bars.

Where, when, how much

Laax, Switzerland, March 30 to April 3 2020. Free to watch. It costs £20 to enter each discipline - pre-register online to avoid an extra £5 charge. More information including recommended accommodation the-brits.com

Best for fans of Live At The Apollo, laughing until it hurts

Altitude Comedy Festival

The funniest show on snow is returning to the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen with a new date line for 2020. Over the years Altitude has seen some of the biggest names in comedy grace its stages, including Eddie Izzard, Jimmy Carr and John Bishop. Confirmed acts for 2019 include Andrew Maxwell, who has supported and performed at the Festival since its inception 13 years ago, Marcus Brigstoke, who is also a regular at the event,  Daniel Sloss, Matt Reed, Shappi Khosandi and Zoe Lyons. What’s more the headliners don’t just stick to the stage, throughout the week-long event guests can brush shoulders with the acts on the mountain in fancy dress races and slopeside entertainment.

Where, when, how much

Mayrhofen, Austria, March 30 to April 3 2020. Festival wristbands for the week start from £156. More information about accommodation and travel options at altitudefestival.com.

altitude comedy
Altitude Comedy Festival welcomes some of the funniest stars to the slopes of Mayrhofen Credit: ©2016 Anthony Upton/Anthony Upton
Best for fans of not following the crowd

Jazz in Val Thorens

Proving mountain festivals aren’t just for fans of raving and misbehaving Jazz in Val Thorens is returning to Europe’s loftiest resort this April. The four-day event has nothing but jazz on the programme. Across the long weekend there are 17 slopeside concerts, performed on mountain terraces, a show for young Jazz fans – JazzMix – and three headline evening concerts featuring Manu Katché, Rhoda Scott, Biréli Lagrène.

Where, when, how much

Val Thorens, France, April 10 to 13 2020. Tickets are free, with exception of two special events which are by pre-registration for the chance to win tickets. More information jazzvalthorens.com.

Best for fans of stadium acts

Top of the Mountain

Ischgl holds three Top of the Mountain concerts a season: an opening event, an Easter concert and a closing event. Elton John was the first to grace the mountain stage back in 1995 – past seasons have seen Robbie Williams headline the closing party and James Blunt appeared at the opening for the biggest open-air concert arena in the mountains, the Idalp, in 2014. At the end of November last year, German cult band Seeed opened the 2019/20 ski season, and Italian pop sensation Eros Ramazzotti will bring it to a close at the start of May.

Where, when, how much

Ischgl, Austria, May 2 2020. Free to watch with a ski pass. More information ischgl.com

Best for fans of getting little sleep, animal onesies

Snowbombing

One the Alps' longest running winter festivals Snowbombing is celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. The week-long event is a whirlwind of international DJs and bands. Days are spent on the slopes, enjoying music across six mountain venues as well as tubing and snowball fights, chairlift speed dating and the snowlympics. Night time delivers cutting-edge performances from world-class acts in igloos, forests or in massive outdoor arenas. Previous years have seen impressive headliners such as  The Prodigy, Fat Boy Slim, Groove Armada and Dizze Rascal, and this year doesn’t disappoint, with Liam Gallagher returning for a second time and The Streets and Foals in the line-up. 

Where, when, how much

Mayrhofen, Austria, April 13 to 18 2020. Festival packages including hotel and festival wristband from £399. More information snowbombing.com.

Best for fans of going big or going home

World Ski & Snowboard Festival

The WSSF (as it’s known by locals) dates back to 1996 and is two weekends of non-stop action both on and off the slopes of North America’s most popular resort. This year the event is under new management and specifics are yet to be announced, but visitors can expect a packed competition schedule as well as music events, art exhibitions, photography and filmmaking workshops and competitions and an endless schedule of parties in the resort’s bars.

Where, when, how much

Whistler, Canada, April 16 to 26 2020. Competitions are free to watch, details on tickets for extra events and seminars to be confirmed. More information wssf.com.

Best for fans of bleeps and beeps

Caprices

The festival of electronica that is Caprices is returning to the Swiss Alps in a new format this April, spread across two weekends. Caprices is home to one of the most unique venues on the festival circuit, The Modernity Stage - a huge all-glass greenhouse style structure that sits at 2,200m, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. This year will also see the introduction of three new stages, a daytime venue, the Forest Stage and the Chalet Stage. The late-season line up includes Jamie Jones, Ricardo Villalobos and Archie Hamilton.

Where, when, how much

Crans-Montana, Switzerland, April 17 to 19 and 24 to 26 2020.  A weekend festival pass cost £208 and includes access to all daytime events and after parties. More information caprices.ch

Best for fans of language barriers, freebies

Live in Tignes by Francofolies

As the end-of-season spring-time fun gets into full swing, the high-altitude French resort of Tignes treats visitors to three days of free concerts and events, spread across two outdoor stages. One is at the base at Tignes Le Lac, the other up the mountain at the top of the Boisses and Sache cable cars. The line-up is made up of French music stars, and the atmosphere gets the whole resort in the party mood as the season comes to an end.

Where, when, how much

Tignes, France. April 21 to 23 2020. The concerts are free to attend. More information tignes.net

Caprices
Caprices is home to one of the most unique stages, a giant greenhouse at 2,200m
Best for fans of testing boards and being stoked

Spring Break

Spring Break brings together riders from all over the world to the heart of the Austrian Alps for a week of après, rail jams and demo gear - 2021 boards will be on test. The event offers the best of the late-season snow on the Hintertux, with snowboarding fanatics able to test as many snowboards, boots and bindings as they like. Off the hill there are organised après events to enjoy - highlights tend to include fun competitions like rail jams as well as hosted parties.

When, where, how much

Mayrhofen and Hintertux, Austria, May 2 to 6 2020. Prices and details yet to be announced. More information snowboardspringbreak.com

Best for fans of getting the party started early

RISE

At the start of the winter RISE kicks things off in true eat-ski-rave-repeat style on Europe’s largest skiable glacier in Les Deux Alpes. Across the week-long schedule the worlds of house, garage, grime, drum and bass collide. Previous headliners include Radio One’s Annie Mac, Craig David, Sigma and Wilkinson. There are outdoor stages, parties in secret log cabins and the chance to go snowmobiling and compete in Festival games.

Where, when, how much

Les Deux Alpes, France, December 12 to 19 2020. Festival ticket and lift pass packages start from £219, accomodation packages for two start from £389 per person. More information risefestival.co.uk

Best for fans of newsnight, stock markets

City Ski Championships

Incorporating the City Ski Championships and the Financial Times Alpine Forum, the Momentum Ski Festival provides City firms and Europe’s financial community with the chance to entertain clients and network with potential customers against a backdrop of downhill racing, music and comedy. Now in its 22nd year it’s a popular events with some of the top names in snow sports, previous celebrity guests have included British Olympians Chemmy Alcott, Amy Williams and Graham Bell and the likes of Colin Jackson, Damon Hill and comedian Marcus Brigstocke.

Where, when, how much

Courmayeur, Italy, January 28 to 31 2021. Packages and prices yet to be announced. More information cityskichampionships.com.

Top tips for staying safe at ski festivals

ABTA, alongside the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, has released a number of useful winter safety tips aimed at people attending festivals with friends or on their first ski holiday.

Check the weather

Weather at winter festivals in the mountains is a lot different to the weather many will be used to at summer festivals. With gigs often taking place at night in extreme environments, including igloos, outdoor forest stages and even in gondolas, it’s essential to wear the correct warm clothing. As well as a good jacket, remember hats, baselayers and gloves too.

Stick together

ABTA shares sound advice encouraging everyone to look out for the friends they are travelling with. Simple approaches such as a Whatsapp group or the Find My Friends app are a good way to make sure everyone gets back to your hotel or chalet safely each night and nobody gets left out in the, potentially life-threatening, cold.

Don’t slip up

While avoiding poorly lit areas and streets will help prevent slips and falls on ice surfaces, it’s also important to remember it’s highly unsafe to stand up on chairlifts and some tables might not be sturdy enough for dancing on.

pond skimming
Pond skimming is just one of the many extra activities and events on offer at ski festivals Credit: andrew whitton/snowbombing

Take note

Making a note or taking a picture on your phone of lift opening times and bus timetables can avoid anyone getting stranded in a potentially dangerous situation.

Use your facilities

If there’s a safe in your hotel or chalet room then use it to store valuables. When taking money out, only take what you’ll need plus an emergency stash, which is kept safe in case of an emergency. If you think you’ll need ID, consider taking an alternative to your passport to avoid losing it on a night out.

Acclimatise to your environment

Your body needs time to adjust to life in the mountains, especially if it’s your first trip. If travelling to a high-altitude resort it’s advised to eat lightly and drink plenty of water for the first few days. As enticing as they may seem after a day on the slopes hot tubs and saunas accelerate the dehydration process so take water with you if heading to the spa.

Know your limit

The effects of alcohol increase with altitude, which will ultimately impact your judgement, coordination and awareness of the cold. Don’t be tempted to climb or lean across balconies, head out skiing or snowboarding or take risky selfies in dangerous places if you’ve been drinking.

Before you go

Travel insurance is an essential when going on holiday – always check your policy covers you for all the activities you’ll be doing, including skiing and snowboarding. Note your insurers phone number plus your policy number in your phone in case of an accident, as well as the number of the local emergency services – in most European countries it’s 112. It’s advised to always tell a next of kin your travel plans and leave a copy of your itinerary, contact details and travel documents with them, in case of an emergency.

For more advice and safety information visit ABTA’s Winter Sports safety page.

License this content