Last Updated: January 16, 2026
Ottawa February events 2026 are the heart of the city’s winter culture, from Winterlude’s ice sculptures to packed concert halls, food festivals, and family weekends.
February is Ottawa at full volume: ice, snow, and performances that feel uniquely Canadian. This guide covers the full February 2026 calendar—Winterlude’s three weekends, skating trails, Family Day plans, live music, theatre, museums, food festivals, and day trips—with local tips that help you avoid the crowds and get the best experiences.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: February 2026 in Ottawa delivers Winterlude (Jan 30–Feb 16), the Rideau Canal Skateway, major concerts, family-friendly museum programs, food festivals like Taste Ottawa and La Poutine Week, and easy winter day trips.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Key Dates | Jan 30–Feb 16 (Winterlude), Feb 13–15 (Family Day weekend) |
| 🎉 Biggest Festival | Winterlude across Ottawa-Gatineau |
| ❄️ Must-Do | Rideau Canal Skateway (7.8 km) |
| 🎟️ Typical Costs | Free to $90 for major shows |
| 🌡️ Weather | Avg high -4°C, low -15°C |
| 🚗 Day Trips | Parc Omega, Algonquin Park, Quebec City |
Comparison: Best February Experiences at a Glance
Image: A mix of Winterlude ice art, skating, and live music in February.
| Experience | Dates | Cost Range | Best For | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winterlude (festival core) | Jan 30–Feb 16 | Free–$ | Families, couples | Biggest winter festival in Canada’s capital |
| Rideau Canal Skateway | Dec 31–Feb 16 | Free–$15 | Everyone | World’s largest natural skating rink (7.8 km) |
| Taste Ottawa | Jan 31–Feb 6 | $20–45 | Foodies, couples | Prix fixe menus across 50+ restaurants |
| Camp Fortune night skiing | All Feb | $70–90 | Winter sports fans | 13 night-ski runs near Ottawa |
| Gladstone Theatre shows | Feb 4–28 | $20–35 | Theatre lovers | Intimate local productions |
| Rideau Hall Winter Celebration | Feb 7 | Free | Families | Heritage rink + State Rooms tours |
| Carnaval de Québec day trip | Feb 6–15 | $$ | Adventure seekers | Iconic festival 4.5 hours away |
Winterlude 2026: Ottawa’s Flagship February Festival
Image: Snowflake Kingdom’s iconic slides in Gatineau during Winterlude.
Image: Ice sculptures glow at Confederation Park during Winterlude.
Winterlude runs January 30 to February 16, 2026 and sprawls across Ottawa and Gatineau with three consecutive weekends of programming. The signature experience is the sheer scale: events are spread out, so you get a mix of downtown energy, ByWard Market street life, and Gatineau’s Snowflake Kingdom in the same weekend.
The three anchor sites define the festival:
- Snowflake Kingdom (Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau): giant ice slides, snow mazes, and free ski/snowboard lessons for kids ages 5–8, with equipment included.
- Crystal Garden (Confederation Park, Ottawa): international ice-carving competition, best visited at night when the sculptures glow.
- Rideau Canal Skateway: the world’s largest natural rink at 7.8 km, open 24 hours with winter snack stands.
ByWard Market adds themed weekends:
- Pibòn Festival (Jan 30–Feb 1): Indigenous art, fashion, and heritage programming.
- BARBEGAZI (Feb 6–8): free winter stunt shows with freestyle riders on York Street.
- Create & Celebrate (Feb 13–15): street curling, carriage rides, and creative workshops for Family Day weekend.
Local consensus is split: Winterlude is essential, but crowds can be intense. One r/ottawa commenter put it best: “Winterlude is pretty much Ottawa’s flagship winter festival. Highly recommend.” Another warned to have indoor back-ups if the weather turns. In past years, the festival has drawn 1.6 million visits across its sites, so timing matters. The real insider move is to visit Snowflake Kingdom and Crystal Garden on weekday afternoons and skate the canal early morning or late evening when the city quiets down.
If you want deeper festival planning, see our Winterlude 2026 guide.
Rideau Canal Skateway & Forest Skating Trails
Image: Skaters glide the 7.8 km Rideau Canal Skateway in February.
The Rideau Canal Skateway is non-negotiable in February. It runs December 31 to February 16 (weather permitting) and requires 30 cm of ice—usually 10–14 consecutive days of -10°C to -20°C. Access points are spaced every few hundred meters, with key hubs at Fifth Avenue, Mackenzie Avenue, and Dow’s Lake.
Skate rentals:
- National Arts Centre: 819-576-6839
- Fifth Avenue at Queen Elizabeth Drive: 819-576-3419
- Dow’s Lake: 613-232-1001
Skating is free; rentals are $10–15 per pair. Concession stands serve Beavertails and hot chocolate, and a Dunrobin Distilleries booth offers drinks for adults 19+.
If you want a quieter, more romantic experience, forest skating trails deliver:
- Patinage en Forêt (Lac-des-Loups, QC): 6 km through dense forest with a heated chalet.
- Le Sentier du Petit Pingouin (Gatineau): 5.5 km, rentals available, kids under 5 free.
- RiverOak Skating Trail (2900 York’s Corners Road): 3.5 km across four acres, plus outdoor hockey rinks and a heritage lodge.
The best time to skate is 6–9 AM when the ice is freshly maintained and the city is silent. Check the NCC status before you go, since some years February ice doesn’t meet the safety threshold.
For more skating options, see Rideau Canal Skateway guide.
Family-Friendly Activities & Kids’ Events in February
Image: Families line up for the Snowflake Kingdom ice slides in Gatineau.
If you’re planning with kids, locals consistently recommend:
- Snowflake Kingdom: free ski/snowboard lessons (ages 5–8) and snow slides.
- Canadian Museum of Nature (240 McLeod Street): dinosaur galleries, blue whale skeleton, and live insects.
- Canada Science and Technology Museum (1867 St. Laurent Boulevard): Crazy Kitchen, ZOOOM Zone, and Cool Science Saturday during Winterlude.
- Tobogganing at Marcel Lalande Park or Westboro Kiwanis Park: gentle slopes for younger kids.
- Little Monkeys (7-1650 Queensdale Avenue): indoor play for high-energy afternoons.
Rideau Hall Winter Celebration (Feb 7, 12:30–4:00 PM) is the standout free family event. It includes skating on the heritage rink, outdoor activities, and tours of the State Rooms.
For more year-round options, see our Ottawa family activities guide.
Concerts, Comedy, and Theatre in February 2026
Image: The National Arts Centre glows on a winter night.
Ottawa’s February live calendar is surprisingly deep, spanning jazz, pop, comedy, and indie theatre. The boldest run is Feb 4–Feb 28, when you can catch everything from NAC jazz to Gladstone Theatre dramas in the same two-week stretch.
Here’s a quick planning table to compare genres, venues, and pricing at a glance.
| Type | Event | Date | Venue | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz/Classical | Ottawa Jazz Orchestra – “Canadiana Suite” | Feb 11–12 | National Arts Centre | $40–60 |
| Pop/Rock | Tyler Shaw | Feb 14 | Bronson Centre | $63+ |
| Pop/Rock | The Offspring | Feb 19 | Canadian Tire Centre | $59+ |
| Pop/Rock | Alex Cuba | Feb 4 | NAC Babs Asper Theatre | $57+ |
| Pop/Rock | Dean Lewis | Feb 4 | NAC Southam Hall | $74+ |
| Comedy | Phil Hanley | Feb 21 | Bronson Centre | $57+ |
| Comedy | Jo Koy | Feb 26 | TD Place Arena | $87+ |
| Theatre | August: Osage County | Feb 4–14 | Gladstone Theatre | $20–35 |
| Theatre | Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room | Feb 18–28 | Gladstone Theatre | $20–35 |
Jazz & Classical
- Ottawa Jazz Orchestra – “Canadiana Suite” (Feb 11–12, National Arts Centre): $40–60, a 16-piece big band tribute to Oscar Peterson.
Live Rock & Pop
- Alex Cuba (Feb 4, NAC Babs Asper Theatre): $57+ Cuban jazz-fusion.
- Dean Lewis (Feb 4, NAC Southam Hall): $74+ indie-pop.
- Tyler Shaw (Feb 14, Bronson Centre): $63+ Valentine’s Day date-night pick.
- The Offspring (Feb 19, Canadian Tire Centre): $59+ millennial nostalgia show.
Comedy
- Phil Hanley (Feb 21, Bronson Centre): $57+ standup.
- Jo Koy (Feb 26, TD Place Arena): $87+ international headliner.
Theatre (Gladstone Theatre):
- August: Osage County (Feb 4–14): Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama.
- Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room (Feb 18–28): mystery thriller.
For more theatre and events, explore Ottawa events.
Valentine’s Day & Family Day Weekend Plans
Image: Horse-drawn carriage rides through ByWard Market in winter.
Valentine’s Day (Saturday, Feb 14)
- Iconic skating date: Rideau Canal at sunset + Beavertails and hot chocolate. Budget $15–25.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides: ByWard Market, 5–7 PM, free to $30 (Cundell Stables).
- Dinner + performance: Queen Street Fare for live jazz and flexible dining.
- Unusual date night: House of Targ arcade bar, Funhaven laser tag, or indoor climbing.
Family Day Weekend (Feb 13–15)
- Create & Celebrate (ByWard Market): street curling, workshops, carriage rides, and performances.
- National Gallery of Canada Family Tours: free guided tours of “Winter Count: Embracing the Cold.”
Food & Drink Events: Taste Ottawa and La Poutine Week
Image: A prix fixe winter menu during Taste Ottawa.
Taste Ottawa: Capital City Bites (Jan 31–Feb 6) is February’s biggest food event, with 50+ restaurants offering prix fixe menus. Expect $20–45 dinners, special events, and a digital pass for reservations. Neighborhood highlights include Little Italy, ByWard Market, and the Glebe.
Signature events include cookbook author Irene Matys at EVOO Greek Kitchen, celebrating “My Cypriot Table.” It’s the best way to explore Ottawa’s food scene at a mid-range price point.
La Poutine Week (Feb 1–7) adds limited-time poutine creations across Ottawa, typically $15–20 per dish.
Local Reddit favorites to bookmark:
- Supply & Demand (Wellington West)
- Dreamland Café (Little Italy)
- Poisson Bleu (Somerset)
- The Manx
- Shawarma Palace (Rideau)
- Peace Garden (ByWard Market, hidden in the clocktower building)
- Perch
- Town
If you want neighborhood dining, see our ByWard Market guide and Westboro guide.
Outdoor Winter Activities: Skiing, Snowshoeing, and More
Image: Night skiing at Camp Fortune in Gatineau Park.
Camp Fortune (Chelsea, QC) is the closest ski hill to Ottawa, with 27 trails across three mountainsides and 13 night-ski runs. Lift tickets are $70–90/day and the night schedule runs 9 AM–9 PM weekdays, 9 AM–7 PM Sundays. This is where locals ski after work.
Gatineau Park offers 200+ km of trails with free guided snowshoeing on weekends. The signature experience is Snowshoes Under the Stars—a Friday-night walk with rentals and hot chocolate for $20.
For additional ideas, explore Ottawa winter activities.
Museums, Galleries, and Indoor Attractions
Image: The Canadian Museum of Nature in winter.
When February weather turns brutal, Ottawa’s museums are the best fallback.
- Canadian Museum of Nature (240 McLeod Street): fossils, blue whale skeleton, Arctic Gallery.
- Canada Science and Technology Museum (1867 St. Laurent Boulevard): hands-on exhibits and Cool Science Saturday.
- National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive): free entry, Thursday evenings until 8 PM.
- Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau): Indigenous Winterlude programming.
- Bank of Canada Museum (30 Bank Street): free, surprisingly deep exhibits.
- Bytown Museum (1 Canal Lane): ice carving demos Feb 14, 11 AM–4 PM.
For more museum ideas, see our National Gallery guide and Bank of Canada Museum guide.
Neighborhood Guides: Where February Feels Local
Image: ByWard Market on a snowy February evening.
- ByWard Market: the hub for Winterlude programming, but crowded on weekends. Visit before 10 AM or after 6 PM for a calmer experience.
- Glebe: residential, walkable, and home to Beandigen Café’s free beading workshops (Feb 7–8, 1–4 PM).
- Centretown: Parliament Hill, Confederation Park ice sculptures, and the National Gallery.
- Kanata: mostly relevant for Canadian Tire Centre concerts.
If you want full neighborhood breakdowns, start with Orleans guide and Manotick day trip.
Day Trips Worth the Drive
Image: Wildlife spotting at Parc Omega in winter.
- Carnaval de Québec (Feb 6–15): 4.5 hours away, larger than Winterlude with ice palace and dog sled races.
- Algonquin Park Winter in the Wild (Feb 14): 3 hours away, 40+ km of trails.
- Parc Omega: 60-minute drive for winter wildlife encounters.
Essential Practical Information for February 2026
Image: Downtown Ottawa streets in February snow.
Weather & what to wear: February averages -4°C high, -15°C low with windchill. Locals emphasize layering—merino base layers, fleece mid-layer, windproof parka, mittens, wool socks, and proper winter boots.
Best times to visit major sites:
- Rideau Canal: 6–9 AM or late evening
- Winterlude sites: weekday afternoons
- Museums: weekday mornings
- Restaurants: reserve 3+ weeks for Feb 14
Transportation:
- OC Transpo single ride: $3.70
- OC Transpo day pass: $10.50
- Sno-Bus shuttles free during Winterlude
Booking tips: concerts and theatre should be booked 2–4 weeks ahead, and Winterlude hotel packages sell out by late January.
For transit help, see our OC Transpo guide.
February Itineraries for Every Traveler
Image: A full February weekend of skating, museums, and food.
Family weekend (Feb 8–9): Snowflake Kingdom → ByWard Market lunch → Museum of Nature → Rideau Hall Winter Celebration. Budget $200–300 for a family of four.
Couples weekend (Feb 14): Dinner at Supply & Demand or Whalesbone → carriage ride 5–7 PM → Glebe café → National Gallery → NAC concert. Budget $300–500.
Solo weekend: House of Targ → early canal skate → museum afternoon → Dreamland Café or Peace Garden dinner. Budget $150–250.
Winter sports weekend (3–4 days): Camp Fortune day ($85 lift, $40 rentals, $20–30 lunch) → Snowshoes Under the Stars ($20) → Patinage en Forêt. Budget $400–500+.
What Locals Avoid in February
- Peak Winterlude weekends at Snowflake Kingdom and Crystal Garden.
- ByWard Market tourist-trap restaurants with inflated prices.
- Skating without checking the NCC Skateway conditions.
- Assuming Winterlude runs daily when most programming is weekend-focused.
- Booking generic downtown hotels at 40–60% inflated rates.
Free and Low-Cost February Picks
Image: Free winter walks and gallery visits in downtown Ottawa.
If you’re keeping costs down, these are the best high-value options locals actually use:
- National Gallery of Canada (free entry) for a warm, gallery-heavy afternoon.
- Bank of Canada Museum (free) for a surprisingly deep, compact visit near Parliament.
- Ottawa Art Gallery (free) for local exhibitions and a quick downtown stop.
- Parliament Hill grounds for winter walks and sunset photos.
- Rideau Canal Skateway for the most iconic free activity in the city.
- Sno-Bus shuttle during Winterlude to avoid paying for downtown parking.
Insider Local Tips
- Beavertail lines are shortest at the Fifth Avenue canal stand.
- National Gallery Thursday evenings run late and are less crowded.
- Ottawa Art Gallery, Bank of Canada Museum, and Parliament Hill grounds are top free options.
- Keep both indoor and outdoor plans flexible—weather can hit -25°C with windchill.
- If you’re only outside long enough to commute, you don’t need heavy base layers; if you’re skating two hours, you do.
FAQ
Q: When does Winterlude 2026 run?
Winterlude runs from January 30 to February 16, 2026 across Ottawa and Gatineau, with major programming clustered on three consecutive weekends. Check official schedules for specific performances and activities.
Q: Is the Rideau Canal Skateway free?
Yes. Skating is free, and rentals typically cost $10–15 per pair. The Skateway runs from Mackenzie Avenue to Dow’s Lake and is open 24 hours when conditions allow.
Q: What is the best time to visit Winterlude sites?
Weekday afternoons are the sweet spot for Winterlude—crowds are lighter but festival energy is still there. Adults seeking a quieter experience should avoid Saturday afternoons at Snowflake Kingdom and Crystal Garden.
Q: What should I wear in Ottawa in February?
Dress in layers: a wool or merino base, fleece mid-layer, and windproof parka. Mittens and warm boots matter more than brand names, and your clothing should match how long you’ll be outside.
Q: Are there free things to do in Ottawa in February?
Yes. The Rideau Canal Skateway, National Gallery of Canada, Bank of Canada Museum, Ottawa Art Gallery, and Parliament Hill grounds are all free and excellent in winter.
Q: What are the best events for families?
Snowflake Kingdom, the Canadian Museum of Nature, Cool Science Saturday at the Science and Technology Museum, and the Rideau Hall Winter Celebration are the top family picks.
Q: What are the best Valentine’s Day ideas in Ottawa?
Skate the Rideau Canal at sunset, book a carriage ride in ByWard Market, or catch a concert like Tyler Shaw on Feb 14. Couples looking for something different can try House of Targ or indoor climbing.
Q: What are the top winter day trips from Ottawa?
Carnaval de Québec (Feb 6–15), Algonquin Park’s Winter in the Wild (Feb 14), and Parc Omega are the best February day trips within a 1–4.5 hour drive.
Q: Do I need reservations for February restaurants?
Yes for Valentine’s weekend. Book 3+ weeks ahead for Feb 14 dinners. For other dates, 1–2 weeks is usually enough.
Q: How do I get around Ottawa in February?
OC Transpo is the main transit option with $3.70 single rides and $10.50 day passes. Winterlude also runs free Sno-Bus shuttles between festival sites.
Q: What’s the best way to avoid Winterlude crowds?
Go early (before 10 AM) or late (after 6 PM), and prioritize weekdays. You’ll still get the full atmosphere without the weekend crush.
Final Summary
Ottawa February events 2026 are a full-spectrum winter experience—Winterlude, skating, live music, food festivals, museums, and the kind of local culture that only reveals itself when the weather turns cold. Plan around the crowds, book key reservations early, and keep your itinerary flexible. When you do, February in Ottawa stops being just a month on the calendar and becomes the most memorable part of winter.
Sources: Ottawa Festivals, Winterlude official programming, Canada.ca, Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Road Trips, CAA, Reddit r/ottawa and r/OttawaFood.
