It might be hard to think about next ski season with summer just around the corner. But if you don’t make a move and buy your Epic Pass before May 25, you’re going to miss your chance to score it at the lowest price. With season pass prices climbing higher every year, early bird discounts are more important to cash in on than ever before.
Not only will buying now ensure you lock in your Epic or Epic Local pass at the lowest price, but it also opens the door to summer alpine adventures, on-mountain dining, live music, scenic gondola rides, and more. Early pass buyers are rewarded even more with six Epic Friend Tickets, so you can hook up your friends and family with big discounts on day passes.
Vail Resorts offers a sweet deal for its customers who buy season passes this early. If you live at or near any of the company’s resorts, it’s a good way to maximize value — get the most out of your pass over the summer and into the winter for the lowest price Vail’s going to sell it for.
Epic Passes, Lowest Prices
Currently, the full adult Epic Pass is $1,089, $869 for teens, and $555 for children ages 5 to 12. That pass has no blackout dates, unlimited days at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler-Blackcomb, and more benefits. Payment plans are available from $91 a month. You can check out all of the details here. This is the second year in a row that the full Epic Pass has been over $1,000.
The Epic Local Pass, which is subject to blackout dates and offers just 10 days between Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler-Blackcomb, is currently $809 for adults, $649 for teens, and $425 for children. Payment plans for the Epic Local Pass start at $68 a month. The full details are available here.
Epic Day Passes are also currently available for customers who want to buy individual passes for select days in advance. This option offers single-day passes for $46–97 — up to 65% off standard lift tickets. Check those out on the website.
Discounts are available on those prices, though. This year, Vail is offering Gen-Z customers ages 13 to 30 a 20% discount on Epic Passes. Also, anyone who skied at any of Vail Resorts’ 37 mountains during the 2025/26 season is eligible to save up to $175 on their 2026/27 season pass. You can see more information about that promo and how to claim those savings here.
Finally, the new Epic Friends Ticket offer includes six 50% off lift tickets for friends and family if you purchase your pass before May 25. These tickets can also be used for 25% off child lift ticket prices.
Unlock Resorts Through Summer
Obviously, most people buy the Epic and Epic Local Passes to ski and ride the resorts when snow starts flying. But the passes also work all summer and unlock access to all kinds of activities and events. Take scenic gondola rides for free, attend on-mountain concerts scheduled throughout the summer, festivals, races, and more.
This summer, 2026/27 pass holders get 20% off summer experiences, like bike rentals, on-mountain dining, lodging, and golf at select resorts through their Epic Mountain Rewards.
2026/27 Ikon Pass On Sale as Well
Of course, the Epic Pass isn’t the only multi-mountain mega pass in town. The Ikon Pass is also currently available for the 2026/27 ski season, and its current prices will remain the same all summer. Alterra Mountain Resort told GearJunkie Ikon Pass prices won’t increase until sometime in fall 2026.
Currently, the Ikon Pass is $1,349, the Ikon Base Pass is $924, and the Ikon Session Pass is $299. Information on all of those passes’ perks and benefits is on the Ikon Pass website.
New this year, Ikon is offering the “Squad Pack” discount on passes bought in groups of five. Skiers and riders ages 23-28 can get an Ikon Base Pass for $750 ($199 off) when one person buys five passes for the whole group. It’s also offering a new $100 discount on Ikon Child Passes when they’re purchased with an Adult Ikon Pass.
On top of that, the Ikon Pass now offers skiers and riders access to three new destinations (Snowriver Mountain Resort in Michigan, Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota, and Granite Peak in Wisconsin), risk-free refundable purchases, and other renewal rewards. Check out the Ikon Pass website for more info.
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