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 – FULL (you can check out Outdoor Skills And Thrills for more Mixed Clinics this winter)

Women’s/LGBTQIA+ – FULL (you can check out Outdoor Skills And Thrills for more Clinics this winter)

– click here to register and for more info –

Feature Presentations and Games

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, play ice fest games, discuss Sunday’s climbing plans, and participate in the gear swap and raffle.

Location: The Royal Canadian Legion – 102 5th Street, Nipigon – Ontario

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.

Location: The Royal Canadian Legion – 102 5th Street, Nipigon – Ontario

Social Gathering

March 6th, 2026

On Friday March 6th in the evening climbers can mingle at ‘The China Gardens’ at 30 Front St, or at ‘The Place’ at 147 Railway St, or at ‘The Royal Canadian Legion’ at 102 5th Street. This is not an Ice Fest event specifically, these are just locations where people can mingle tomorrow evening. The ‘China Gardens’ is a restaurant/bar with pool tables, and ‘The Place’ is a new establishment in Nipigon with vintage games, virtual golf, zombie dodge ball, a coin operated pool table, juke box, free board games, cold treats and hot food to curb your hunger. At the Nipigon Legion there will be a live band playing starting at 8pm. So we see you at either The China Gardens, The Place, or The Legion!

China Gardens – 30 Front Street (open 11:00am – 1:00am)

The Place – 147 Railway Street (open 12:00pm – 9:00pm)

The Legion – 102 5th Street (open 8:00pm – 12:00am)

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

(Contest not limited to NW Ontario, this is open to all Canadian and US climbers)

How to enter:

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

The Royal Canadian Legion – 102 5th Street, Nipigon – Ontario

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)