Luxury cave suites, treehouse stays, a high-speed gondola providing access to outdoor adventure, new museums, major culinary debuts and 150th-anniversary offerings are all part of Colorado’s impressive lineup of exciting new experiences for summer 2026. Travelers can check into standout properties like Kindred Resort in Keystone and Boundary by Terra Vi in Durango, ride the new Mighty Argo Cable Car in Idaho Springs, explore expanded hot springs and wellness offerings and discover immersive arts like the new Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America opening in Pueblo.
Colorado is also at the forefront of major 2026 travel trends from new cowboy and farm culture experiences to fandom travel embracing soccer and the World Cup as well as looking toward welcoming the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder. Colorado continues to redefine adventure making this summer a landmark season not to miss. Visit Colorado.com for more inspiration.
Where to Go in 2026 - Colorado Celebrates 150 Years of Statehood and 250 Years of American Independence:
This dual milestone marks a rare opportunity to highlight Colorado's place within the broader narrative of the United States. Centered on the theme "The View From Here," several signature initiatives, educational programs, exhibits, and community-led events are being designed to inspire connection, community engagement and statewide pride. These include a free Digital Passport Program available on Colorado.com that encourages residents and visitors to explore Colorado’s attractions, businesses and hidden gems to earn rewards, badges and exclusive offers like $500 in United travel credits and 150,000 United MileagePlus® miles; a Statewide Anniversary Events Calendar including nearly 150 celebratory drone shows in conjunction with some of the state’s most iconic events including Denver’s Outside Festival, Vail’s Go Pro Mountain Games, The Greeley Stampede and more; a 14er Climb with organized teams and outdoor enthusiasts to celebrate that Colorado is home to 58 mountain peaks topping out at over 14,000 feet, known as “14ers;” Statewide Oral History highlighting more than 150 diverse stories; “Moments that Made US” exhibit at the History Colorado Center and more.
Visitors to the Centennial State can experience its rich history in a variety of ways including historic hotels, nine scenic and historic railroads, 30 dude & guest ranches, historic mine tours and gold rush towns, the Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit, the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop, four National Parks, nine National Monuments, three National Historic Areas, museums and cultural institutions and more!
New 2026 Lodging Offerings - Where the Stay is Part of the Adventure:
Sweet dreams are sure to be had after a day of adventuring with several exciting new lodging offerings debuting across the state in 2026. Kindred Resort will open in spring 2026 offering a 107-room hotel, 95 residences, a private club, three new restaurants and retail that will transform the Keystone base village experience. White Elephant Aspen made its debut in early 2026 bringing its inimitable mix of service, style and hospitality to Aspen. Boundary by Terra Vi opened its first property in Durango opening in early 2026 featuring 47 rooms, a vibrant living room library with a vinyl listening lounge, an all-day bar, a shared navigation table for expedition planning and more. Colorado’s first treehouse hotel, Juniper Lodge & Treehouses opened in Evergreen in late 2025 with two of their planned eight luxury treehouses. Denver’s The All Inn Hotel, a once-iconic 1950s motor inn, enters a new era as a bespoke 54-room boutique hotel, brought to life through a $22 million investment in the East Colfax community. Coming in spring 2026, Hotel Longmont brings a boutique stay to the heart of downtown Longmont offering stylish rooms, welcoming gathering spaces and a rooftop restaurant. Coming in 2026, Opening May 2026, The Buxton revitalizes a 1962 Fort Collins classic into a 69-room boutique hotel. Across from CSU, the revival features an upgraded pool house with a retractable roof and The Caldwell, a country-glam bar. Winmar Cabins in Twin Lakes is transforming its on-site general store into a dedicated hiker hostel this summer, expanding accommodations to better serve outdoor enthusiasts.
Outdoor Activities and Adventures:
Adventure is part of Colorado’s DNA, and 2026 welcomes several new offerings to get the adrenaline pumping. Twenty of the state’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways (more than any other state) are now available for electric-vehicle roadtripping with Frontier Pathways Scenic & Historic Byway designated as the state’s newest EV Byway in November 2025. The Mighty Argo Cable Car, a new high-speed year-round gondola in Idaho Springs, will take riders 1.2 miles from the improved Historic Argo Mill (one of the best preserved historic gold mills in the world) up Rosa Gulch to the mountain top Argo Landing, which will feature pedestrian plazas, viewing decks, an observation trestle, creative food and beverage options, an amphitheater, access to 28+ miles of hiking and biking trails in Virginia Canyon Mountain Park and more to fully open in spring 2026. In Northwest Colorado, the $6M Craig River Park will transform a stretch of the Yampa River into a whitewater park and public parks space with trails, a picnic area and shelters designed for recreation and nature play, to be completed in spring 2026. Dunes 4x4 is now offering fully guided and customizable JEEP Tours near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and throughout Colorado’s San Luis Valley from half day driving tours to fully outfitted multi day trips. In 2026, Logan County invites cyclists to explore wide-open landscapes with the new Gravel Adventure Field Guide. Sagestone Adventure Lodge will open for its first full summer season in Twin Lakes hosting specialized running, adventure and endurance training camps, attracting athletes seeking high-altitude conditioning and immersive outdoor experiences. The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo will unveil a major expansion in April 2026 with a new two-story, public-serving Boathouse. New for 2026, the Four Seasons Vail will offer an Alpine Forage & Dine with Chef Simon experience that will take guests on a forage exploration for mushrooms on Vail Pass, followed by a forage-inspired dinner. The property will also offer a new Guided Vail Pass Bike Tour. Water World, Colorado’s largest waterpark, is opening the all-new Summit Canyon area in summer 2026 featuring four new waterslides including Colorado’s first HIVE waterslide and Denver’s only drop capsule alongside special events, family play areas and more.
Cowboy and Farm Culture:
Colorado’s cowboy culture is deeply rooted in its 19th-century ranching industry and can be experienced today through premier rodeos like the National Western Stock Show, authentic dude ranch and farm stays, trail rides, western wear shops, historic restaurants, museums and historic Western town events. The new Tough Draw Tour brings a rider-first, bull riding–only event to Snowmass August 21-22, 2026 for a pivotal stop in the Tour's inaugural season. Hosted at the Snowmass Rodeo Grounds, the event delivers premier competition, elevated production, and an authentic Western experience for seasoned bull riding fans and newcomers alike. Opening in summer 2026, The Stockton transforms The Exchange, Denver’s historic center of cattle commerce, into a culinary destination centered on regeneratively raised Colorado beef and timeless steakhouse traditions. High in Pike National Forest, Tumbling River Ranch has been a haven for adventure since 1946 and will reopen in 2026 following an $8M renovation preserving the ranch’s heritage alongside modern amenities. Honey Rock Landing, an organic working orchard and agritourism retreat in Dominguez Canyon, opened its Luxury Cave Suites in late 2025 where each 400-square-foot suite is etched into sandstone. The property also offers farm dinners, U-pick experiences, farm activities and more. As a cornerstone component of the new Space to Create Grand Lake development, the Grand Spirit Makerspace is expected to start hosting classes in summer 2026 where people of all ages can explore heritage crafts of the region including woodworking, leatherworking, silversmithing, boat building, traditional cowboy trades and more. Wild West Excursions in Cortez is offering new customized pack goat hiking excursions.
Hot Springs and Wellness Offerings:
In Colorado, wellness isn’t just a trend, it is a lifestyle. Historians estimate that as many as one-third of Colorado’s early settlers moved to the state for reasons associated with health and that focus on wellness and longevity continue to inspire and draw visitors today. The award-winning Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop offers America’s most relaxing road trip through eight top soaking destinations. In spring 2026, Iron Mountain Hot Springs expanded with The Sauna Summit, a circuit of five new saunas inspired by global bathing traditions, including Turkish hammams, Finnish barrel saunas and Korean hanjeungmaks. Plus, three new plunge pools including cold immersion, warm potassium and deep magnesium bathing. Dunton Hot Springs, Relais & Châteaux, the storied 1800s mining town turned luxury mountain resort, recently completed a three-year multi-million dollar, phased renovation project that has breathed new life into Dunton’s most iconic structures while preserving the property’s soulful character. The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs recently underwent an expansion to double the number of hotel rooms and add 20 new hot springs pools along with a new geothermal spa, a geothermal greenhouse and a greenhouse-to-table restaurant. The Bohemian Bier Spa, opening in Glenwood Springs in 2026, will offer a unique and relaxing experience that combines the benefits of a traditional spa with the therapeutic advantages of beer.
Adventures After Dark - Colorado Has More Certified Dark Sky Places Than Almost Any Other State:
New for 2026, the Colorado Tourism Office will launch the Colorado Stargazing Trail providing itineraries and resources to plan a trip to explore the state’s night skies. Colorado is now home to 13 International Dark Sky Parks and eight International Dark Sky Communities. In late 2025, Breckenridge became Colorado’s first mountain ski resort community to be designated as a Dark Sky Community. Chimney Rock National Monument received Colorado’s most recent Dark Sky Park designation in December 2025, and Old Snowmass became Colorado’s newest Dark Sky Community in February 2026. Colorado has the most places in the world (over 30, including 12 state parks) that have officially started the process to become a certified International Dark Sky Place. Across Colorado, guests can experience a multitude of adventures under the stars from camping and hiking to outdoor concerts and astronomy festivals and tours.
Immersive Arts, History & Cultural Experiences:
History, arts and culture are immersive experiences in Colorado, and there are several new offerings to ignite the senses. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America will open in summer 2026 in Pueblo and aims to offer a unique and immersive experience, featuring life-sized machine replicas based on Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, STEAM exhibits and interactive displays. The Pueblo Museum will be the only permanent home in the United States for Leonardo da Vinci’s model-based exhibits. The historic World's Wonder View Tower roadside attraction on Colorado’s eastern plains has undergone a 10-year restoration project to be unveiled this summer, to coincide with its 100th anniversary, and it is rumored visitors can see six states from the top. Opening in May 2026, The General Bradley and Zita Hosmer Visitor Center will debut as a major new cultural attraction and architectural landmark welcoming travelers to Colorado Springs and serving as the gateway to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Designed to evoke a plane taking flight, it will feature seven interactive galleries and immersive exhibits. Inspired by storied jazz artists and Jazz Aspen Snowmass’ history of presenting musically diverse icons, the new JAS Center is a vibrant, intimate year-round performance and gathering space that welcomes its first summer season in 2026 in Aspen. The Mountainside Music Festival is a new, free, three-day festival in Snowmass Village that will feature three evenings of openers, headliners and vendors June 11-13, 2026. Eagle River Jamboree debuts as a two-day outdoor music and adventure festival celebrating Colorado’s mountain culture August 8-9, 2026 in Eagle. This spring, Vail's Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater will complete the first phase of a three-year, $19 million capital renovation that will transform the iconic outdoor venues for the next generation with all work finished by May 2028. The Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit shines this summer with a full line up of special performances, events and activations. Wander through Breckenridge’s yarn-wrapped monster realm and an enchanted forest designed for tactile play and discovery for all ages in “Other Worlds,” a year-long immersive exhibit opening this summer through Breck Create. For dinosaur enthusiasts: The Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita will unveil new animatronic dinosaurs and immersive storytelling that will enhance the museum's current interactive dinosaur exhibits, real fossils and working paleontology laboratory. Recent construction work in Dinosaur National Monument revealed new dinosaur fossils, marking the first fossil excavations at this location in 100 years.
Accessible Colorado:
Colorado strives to be a truly welcoming destination and offers experiences and access opportunities for everyone. The Colorado Tourism Office has partnered with Wheel The World on a new Accessible Travel Program to amplify accessible travel across Colorado. In 2026, Wheel The World will offer new small group tours, the first of their kind in the U.S., that balance fun, comfort, and adventure and highlight the vibrant city of Denver alongside Colorado’s breathtaking natural beauty. The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a mission to expand the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.
Fandom Travel and Immersing in Colorado’s Soccer Culture:
A major travel trend for 2026 is “Fandom Travel” with a strong interest in trips planned around major music, cultural and sporting events. And with the FIFA World Cup taking the world’s stage this summer, Colorado’s soccer culture can be experienced in a variety of exciting ways. Denver Summit FC is Colorado’s new professional women’s soccer club and the National Women’s Soccer League’s 16th franchise that will play their inaugural 2026 season kicking off with their opening match and drone show on March 28. The team has a long-term plan of constructing a purpose-built stadium and recreational district for professional women’s soccer in Denver’s urban core. The Colorado Rapids 30th Anniversary Match against Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi will take place on April 18 at Empower Field at Mile High. The Colorado Rapids will host the largest soccer celebration in the city where fans can enjoy live viewings of every FIFA World Cup 26™ match, from the opening game on June 11 to the final on July 19. This all-encompassing experience will transform Skyline Park Block 1 into a vibrant soccer oasis, featuring two massive outdoor screens for live match viewings, diverse local food vendors, soccer clinics, retail specials, and surprise guests including Rapids legends and local celebrities.
Colorado’s Freshest and Award-Winning Culinary Finds:
Colorado has a rich culinary heritage that includes both established, notable chefs and innovative up-and-comers. The MICHELIN Guide recently announced it will expand its selection in Colorado to cover the full state in the upcoming 2026 edition. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Colorado selection was revealed in September 2025 adding the state’s first-ever Two MICHELIN Star restaurant, The Wolf’s Tailor and welcoming three new One Star establishments in Denver — Kizaki, Margot and Mezcaleria Alma. This year’s guide now recognizes 50 restaurants across Colorado, including a new Bib Gourmand, Boulder’s Cozobi Fonda Fina. New from Fonda Fina Hospitality, Mar Bella Boqueria opened in January 2026 at the Clayton Hotel & Members Club, and Maize recently opened as their first tasting menu concept in Denver. The James Beard Foundation announced 17 Colorado semifinalists for their prestigious 2026 James Beard Awards with winners to be announced this June. James Beard Semifinalist Chef Theo Adley turns his attention to Denver to debut his second project, Heretík that will capture the dynamic intersection of culinary traditions from Northeast Spain and Southern France. Chefs Eduardo Valle Lobo and Kelly Jeun are proud to announce Casa Juani, their solo debut in Boulder that opened in March 2026 and is shaped by the couple’s deep exploration of Spain and decades of experience in the country’s most celebrated restaurants. The new La Plaza Colorado in Aurora features a grocery store, market stalls, and 24 food-hall kitchens, making it the largest Hispanic food hall in the United States. Forage Breckenridge will open this spring offering a 12-course tasting journey from award-winning chefs, blending Colorado-sourced ingredients with storytelling inspired by local art, history and nature. Tiki Bird will open in downtown Grand Junction this spring from the owners of Palisade’s acclaimed restaurant, Peche. Angelo's Taverna and Carboy Winery will open a new location in Colorado Springs this summer featuring a Carboy Winery tasting room with rooftop views of Pikes Peak and a full service Angelo's Taverna serving handmade pastas pizzas and fresh shucked oysters. Fort Collins’ Seed & Spirit is a "seed-to-spirit" distillery expanding into the former Funkwerks building this spring to offer a new tasting room and cocktail lounge. The 2026 Colorado Mountain Winefest (September 19, 2026) marks the event’s 35th anniversary with a completely reimagined experience. This intimate, high-end festival brings together Colorado’s finest wineries, gourmet culinary offerings and curated experiences.
Where to Go in 2027 - Boulder Prepares to Welcome the Sundance Film Festival Jan. 21-31, 2027:
According to Sundance Institute, “Boulder's vibrant community of artists, enthusiastic audiences, and breathtaking Rocky Mountains will provide the setting for the future of independent film” as the city gears up to become the Sundance Film Festival’s new home in 2027. Robert Redford attended college in Boulder, which is home to the University of Colorado, Pearl Street Mall, MICHELIN recognized restaurants, access to trails and outdoor adventure and a vibrant community. Boulder is gearing up to take center stage with several exciting new projects and offerings to be unveiled in 2026. Steps from Pearl Street, Hotel Boulderado — Boulder’s first luxury hotel since 1909 — blends early-20th-century charm with modern amenities and remains a defining fixture in the community. A phased renovation of the hotel’s spaces is underway, with updates that honor the hotel’s historic elements. After two summers of renovations, The Colorado Shakespeare Festival returns this summer to the historic 1939 Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre. For nearly 70 years, generations of theatregoers have discovered the magic of summer nights and Shakespeare in Boulder. Built in 1898 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, a 2027 Sundance Film Festival Official Venue, is undergoing significant renovations including winterization with sustainable geothermal heating and construction of an innovative temporary tent structure (inspired by Chautauqua’s early tent lodging) to enable year-round performances by 2027. This will allow winter performances for the first time while preserving the Auditorium’s historic integrity and relevance for future generations. The historic Boulder Theater's iconic terracotta facade underwent an 8-year restoration project that was unveiled in late 2025 preserving one of the city’s most beloved landmarks that will also act as a 2027 Sundance Film Festival Official Venue. Chefs Eduardo Valle Lobo and Kelly Jeun are proud to announce Casa Juani, their solo debut that opened in spring 2026 and shaped by the couple’s deep exploration of Spain and decades of experience in the country’s most celebrated restaurants. TooSteppin Saloon recently opened in east Boulder as an Aussie-style hard ginger beer brand and brewery. Beyond Boulder Adventures’ one-size-fits-all ebikes are now available for bike tours in Boulder. Limelight Boulder opened in late 2025 as an all-electric community hub featuring 250 guest rooms, a ground-floor restaurant, an outdoor plaza, an event lawn and a second story “viewpoint deck” with unbeatable views of the Flatirons and steps from campus.
Looking Ahead:
The new Stanley Film Center will be a venue for not only watching and celebrating film, it will also be a creative space for making film, art, and literature at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Mountain Rail passenger train service will launch with year-round service between Denver and Granby beginning in late 2026. In Crested Butte, the Elevation Hotel & Spa will transform into The Beckwith-Crested Butte, the only ski-in, ski-out hotel at the base of Crested Butte Mountain, with an anticipated completion in winter 2o26-27. Ullrhof, the beloved mid-mountain restaurant on Snowmass, is undergoing a complete rebuild and is set to re-open for the 2026-27 winter season. The team behind Honey Rock Landing’s Luxury Cave Suites will open a new boutique hotel in Silverton in 2028.
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ABOUT COLORADO: Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine and 28 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, 26 scenic and historic byways and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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