2027.02.05 — 2027.02.14 · Coming soon
Québec Winter Carnival 2027
The Québec Winter Carnival 2027 runs from 5 to 14 February. For ten days the area around Old Québec becomes a winter playground: the Ice Palace of the snowman mascot Bonhomme, snow and ice sculptures, two night parades, the snow bath in swimsuits, and the ice canoe race on the St Lawrence. The 2027 pass and day-by-day programme were not yet published when checked on 2 October, so what follows are the fixtures of every year.
The race is on the St Lawrence: crews push their canoes across the ice floes, then jump in and paddle when they reach open water, on strength, endurance and teamwork.
In 2027 it is on Sunday 7 February, in four categories, free to watch from Quays 19 and 21 of the Port of Québec; for somewhere warmer, there are VIP tickets on the ferry.
Every year the Ice Palace is rebuilt from blocks of ice in the Loto-Québec Zone beside Old Québec, usually in several sections, each offering something different.
After dark, two night parades bring costumes and music into the streets, with Bonhomme himself leading, and thousands of people celebrating winter together.
The snow bath is one of the carnival’s most popular events: participants wear only swimsuits and snow boots and dive into a snowbank outdoors.
Whether you jump in or watch from inside your down jacket, you see how people in Québec meet winter head-on.
Checked · 2026-10-02
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2012 · Jeangagnon · Photo source · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
The 2027 pass and day-by-day programme were not yet published when checked on 2 October; the prices and shuttles cited are from 2026.
February in Québec is often well below minus ten, colder in the wind; go indoors to warm up every hour or two.
City attractions such as the ice slide may not be part of the carnival or covered by the pass.
For this multi-area event, use the current official guide; a verified map is not yet embedded.
Open official guide ↗2027-02-05 to 02-14; the ice canoe race is on Sunday 7 February, VIP viewing 12.30–3pm (doors 11.45am); other dates and times, such as the night parades, follow the official schedule once published.
America/TorontoOld Québec is walkable, and RTC buses serve the sites. In 2026, free Vidéotron shuttles ran between Upper and Lower Town every 30 minutes, from noon on weekdays and 10am at weekends, last departure 5pm; 2027 arrangements follow the official site.
The carnival’s activity sites need an Effigy pass, except for ages 12 and under. The ice canoe race is free to watch from Quays 19 and 21 of the Port of Québec.
2027 pass not on sale · 2026: CAD 29–39 plus tax
Check current official accessible routes and companion policies.
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Jeangagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 Image source
Carnaval de Québec
The 2027 dates and the ice canoe race date (7 February) are published; the pass and the rest of the programme are still to come, and the pass prices and shuttles cited are from 2026.
Information checked on 2026-10-02
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