Western Canada’s largest winter festival, Le Festival du Voyageur (Festival of the Traveller), is back! It will take run from February 13 – 22, 2026.
This will be the 57th edition of the 10-day winter festival.
Every February, Winnipeg’s French quarter, Saint-Boniface, transforms into a vibrant winter wonderland for Festival du Voyageur, Western Canada’s largest winter festival. Rooted in the history of the 19th-century fur trade, the event is a soulful tribute to the “joie de vivre” of the French-Canadian, Métis, and First Nations cultures. As you step into Voyageur Park, the crisp winter air is filled with the scent of woodsmoke and the rhythmic sounds of fiddles and jigging. From the towering, world-class snow sculptures that line the paths to the historical reenactments within the walls of Fort Gibraltar, the festival offers a unique bridge between Manitoba’s rugged past and its lively, modern-day Francophone spirit.
The true magic of the festival, however, lies in the “kitchen party” atmosphere found within its heated tents. Whether you’re warming up with a shot of Caribou (a traditional fortified wine) or indulging in maple taffy rolled fresh on the snow, there is an undeniable sense of community that defies the prairie chill. The 2026 edition continues this legacy with over 150 musical performances ranging from traditional folk to contemporary indie, alongside the legendary Voyageur Games and late-night festivities at the Auberge Bisous Bisous.
