Deadlines to Purchase Ikon and Epic Passes Are Quickly Approaching, Get Yours Before the Season Starts

Snow is falling in states like California, Colorado, Utah, and Montana, and everybody here at POWDER is freaking out. The ski season is quickly approaching, and we can’t wait.

We don’t know when the first ski resort will open yet, but Arapahoe Basin on the Ikon Pass and Keystone on the Epic Pass have both said they intend to open “as soon as possible”.

With potentially feet of snow in the forecast and ample snowmaking temperatures, our guess is that Coloradans will be sliding on snow by October 24, 2026, but we’ll have to wait to see how things shake out.

The potential for an opening day next week and feet of snow in the forecast begs the question: Have you bought your pass yet? Yes, we know every skier loves to complain when it’s time to buy their annual pass, but Ikon and Epic passes provide great value, and the passes won’t get any cheaper heading into the season.

In fact, both passes use a pricing model that increases as the season approaches, and both will eventually cease sales entirely. Keep reading below for the deadlines for both passes, an inside scoop, and a brief breakdown of what they offer.

Ikon Pass Deadline Winter 26/27

• Deadline: “Early to late December”
• Next Price Increase: N/A
• Inside Scoop: An Ikon Pass representative couldn’t provide a firm deadline for pass sales yet, but last year’s pass stopped selling on December 11. Keep that in mind as the season approaches. There will not be another price hike between now and when pass sales stop.
• Price, as of October 13, 2026: $1,529
• How To Buy: Ikon Pass
• Ikon Pass by the Numbers:
  • Unlimited access to 18 resorts, including Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth, Copper Mountain, Snowshoe, Solitude, Stratton, Sugarbush, Tremblant, and Winter Park.
  • Up to 7 days’ access at 50+ international resorts, including Alta Ski Area, Aspen Snowmass, Big Sky, Deer Valley, Taos, Alyeska, Mt. Bachelor, Killington, Loon, Sunday River, Revelstoke, Ski Big3, Sun Peaks, Dolomiti Superski, Ischgl, St. Moritz, Thredbo, The Remarkables, Furano, Niseko, and more.
  • Bonus Access to 11 resorts, including Tamarack, Cranmore, and Grouse (some blackout dates apply).
• Blackout Dates: None for unlimited- and 7-day-access resorts. Some for bonus resorts.

Epic Pass Deadline Winter 26/27

• Deadline: December 6, 2026
• Next Price Increase: November 15, 2026
• Inside Scoop: The Epic Pass will increase in price one more time before finally capping all sales on December 6. Buy the pass now if you’re considering it!
• Price, as of October 13, 2026: $1,169
• How To Buy: Epic Pass
• Epic Pass by the Numbers:
  • Unlimited access to 42 resorts, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Whistler, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Jack Frost, Wilmot, Crans-Montana, and Perisher.
  • Access to an international roster of partner resorts, including Telluride (7 days), Kicking Horse (7 days), Hakuba Valley (5 days), and 36 European Partner Resorts across France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria.
• Blackout Dates: None.

Related: 2027 Women’s Ski Buying Guide