Sun Valley's 91st season brings two new high-speed chairlifts and expanded gladed terrain, culminating with the return of the FIS Ski World Cup Finals in March 2027.

Sun Valley, ID (September 16, 2026). Sun Valley Resort, America's first destination ski resort, looks forward to welcoming guests back for its 91st winter season. Building on the transformational mountain improvements and investments of the past five years, Sun Valley enters the 2026–2027 season with new lift infrastructure, expanded terrain, enhanced snowmaking, and new family-focused learning experiences.

"Two new high-speed lifts and the return of the FIS Ski World Cup Finals make this season one of the most notable in Sun Valley's recent history,” shared Pete Sonntag, Chief Operating Officer at Sun Valley Resort. “The investment we continue to make in the mountain combined with our one-of-a-kind hospitality keeps our guests coming back year after year, and we are truly grateful for their loyalty. We could not be more proud to bring the FIS Ski World Cup Finals back to our slopes in March, and showcase to the world just how special this community is. We’re excited to welcome longtime and new guests alike to what is sure to be another magical Sun Valley winter season. 

The two new chairlifts, Lookout Express and Christmas, rank among the resort's most prominent lifts and are scheduled to open in December 2026. The new Doppelmayr Lookout Express is a high-speed six-pack with a vertical rise of 2,673 feet and a ride time of about 8.5 minutes, replacing the original lift built in 1993. The new Christmas lift is a high-speed detachable quad with a vertical rise of 1,354 feet and a ride time of about 4.5 minutes, replacing the original lift built in 1988. Together, the two lifts will increase uphill capacity and improve reliability across Bald Mountain. This follows the successful installation of four new lifts in recent years and Sun Valley's recognition by SKI Magazine as the #1 resort for lift infrastructure.

Sun Valley will once again take center stage on the world's biggest ski racing stage when the Stifel Sun Valley Finals return to Bald Mountain March 19–25, 2027. It marks the second time Sun Valley has hosted the season-ending Finals, following the widely praised 2025 event that drew the world's top skiers, including Mikaela Shiffrin's slalom win and Lindsey Vonn's first World Cup podium since returning to racing. Only the top-ranked athletes in the world qualify for the invite-only event, which will crown the season's Crystal Globe champions across downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom for both men and women.

As part of the resort's continued commitment to thoughtful mountain stewardship, an additional 50 acres of terrain will be newly gladed between Christin's Silver, Leigh Lane and Upper Broadway, building upon the 90 acres completed last summer and more than 390 acres of new gladed terrain introduced over the past six years through the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project. In addition to providing some of the best advanced gladed skiing in North America, sustainability remains central to this work; responsibly harvested timber is repurposed for habitat restoration and forest health initiatives, and donated firewood, through the National Forest Foundation’s Wood For Life program, supports the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and local community partners.

The 2026–2027 winter also brings continued investment in Sun Valley's snowmaking system, with upgrades across all four pumphouses on Bald Mountain built to support the system's reliability and long-term success.

Families and first-time skiers will also benefit from the second year of Sunny's Adventure Park on Dollar Mountain, an all-new beginner learning area designed to make progression fun, approachable, and confidence-building, opening for the season in December. Complementing Dollar Mountain's long-standing reputation as one of the country's premier progression mountains, the new experience features dedicated kid-friendly terrain, interactive learning elements, and playful features that reinforce Sun Valley's commitment to welcoming the next generation of skiers and riders.

Sun Valley Resort has also earned certification from DarkSky International this year, the first U.S. resort to receive the designation, establishing the resort as a model for balancing world-class hospitality with environmental stewardship.

In anticipation of Sun Valley Resort's winter season opening, the annual Pray for Snow Party returns to River Run Lodge on Saturday, November 7, complete with vintage costumes, a dance party, a raffle, and a food drive. For more details, please refer to the event calendar.

Season passes can be purchased for the upcoming season, including Sun Valley Resort's annual season pass offerings and renewed pass partnerships with Ikon Pass and The Mountain Collective. Two exciting offers this season are “December Ski Free” where guests receive two free lift tickets per night with a stay at the Sun Valley Lodge or Cottages from November 29–December 20, 2026. Additionally, “Kids Ski Free at Sun Valley” welcomes children 12 & under to ski free with a skiing and ticketed adult when booked into Sun Valley Resort lodging for three or more nights. Up to 2 kids can ski free per day. More Winter lodging and ticket specials can be found here.

Stay up to date with the latest information and weather-related updates with Sun Valley's App Push Notifications and SMS text messages for efficient guest communication. More information here.

The full list of events can be found on the Sun Valley Events Calendar.
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