40th ANNIVERSARY – MARCH 6th, 7th, 8th, 2026
Join Us for the 2026 Nipigon Ice Fest!
Canada’s longest running, premiere ice climbing festival features ice climbing clinics, presentations by outdoor adventurers, gear swap, fun games, and our legendary gear raffle.
First established in 1986, the Nipigon Ice Fest has always been run fully by volunteers with all the proceeds going right back into putting on the next year’s event.
Whether you’re a novice, intermediate, or expert climber, Unite, Learn, and Explore at the 2026 Nipigon Ice Fest!
Schedule & Events
Climbing Clinics
March 7th, 2026
Hosted by Outdoor Skills And Thrills
(registration for clinics opens February 1st, 2026 at 9:00am, limited spaces available)
Beginners Ice Climbing Clinic (x2) – FULL (you can check out Outdoor Skills And Thrills for more Beginners Clinics this winter)
Intermediate Ice Climbing Clinic – FULL (you can check out Outdoor Skills And Thrills for more Intermediate Clinics this winter)
Mixed Climbing Clinic – 3 Spaces Left
Women’s/LGBTQIA+ – FULL
– click here to register and for more info –
Feature Presentations
March 7th, 2026 – 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
After a great day of climbing, warm up with the locals at a casual “Ice Fest Summit” and get inspired with presentations by outdoor adventurers and climbing enthusiasts, discuss Sunday’s climbing plans, and participate in the gear swap and raffle.
Feature Speaker: T.B.D
Gear Raffle
March 7th, 2026
The Nipigon Ice Fest has become well known for having some incredible prizes to win at the gear raffle. Check out the list of sponsors below who have come together in support of this year’s event! All of the proceeds from this raffle will go to supporting this event as well as help us bring great presenters to future events.
Social Gathering
March 6th, 2026
On Friday March 6th in the evening climbers can mingle at ‘The China Gardens’ at 30 Front St. This is not an Ice Fest event, it is just a restaurant and bar where people can mingle. The typical hangout place at the Nipigon Legion is not open to the public on this Friday evening, so we will be hanging out at The China Gardens this year on the Friday eve. See you all there!
Location: 30 Front Street, Nipigon – Ontario
Photo Contest
January 1st, 2026 – March 15th, 2026
We are holding a photo contest from January 1st – March 15th.
Share a picture of your most recent winter adventures for your chance to win a Nipigon Ice Fest Prize Package
- Share a picture online using the #Mylocalice hashtag
- Tag Nipigon Ice Fest in your post or picture on Facebook and/or Instagram
- Tag Wilderness Supply (and) Outdoor Skills And Thrills for an additional chance to win
*Reminder to make sure your post is public so that we can see & share it!
- Prize will be awarded to a random winner
Nipigon Ice Fest Location
Driving Times to Nipigon from:
Thunder Bay, ON – 1 hour – 110 km (68 miles)
Wawa, ON – 4 hours – 365 km (227 miles)
Duluth, MN – 5 hours -420 km (261 miles)
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – 6.5 hours – 585 km (365 miles)
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN – 7.5 hours – 667 km (415 miles)
Winnipeg, MB – 8.5 hours – 800 km (497 miles)
Traverse City, MI – 9.5 hours – 870 km (540 miles)
Sudbury, ON – 10 hours – 900 km (560 miles)
Madison, WI – 10.5 hours – 950 km (590 miles)
Grand Rapids, MI – 11.5 hours – 1,062 km (660 miles)
Chicago, IL – 12.5 hours – 1,165 km (725 miles)
Toronto, ON – 13.5 hours – 1270 km (790 miles)
Nipigon Ice Fest Sponsors
A Special THANKS to all of the sponsors who
have joined us in support of the 2026 Nipigon Ice Fest!
Unite, Learn, and Explore at the 2026 Nipigon Ice Fest!
Contact Us
Send us a message using the Contact Form below and we will get back to you shortly!
