Certain events reliably shape private travel patterns across Canada. When dates are fixed, commercial capacity is stretched, and schedules matter, how you travel becomes part of the plan.
Below is a practical guide to major North American events with confirmed dates and locations where available, and planning insight for travellers departing from Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Kelowna, Vancouver, and airports across Canada .
CES | January 6–9, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction | January 17–25, 2026 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Sundance Film Festival | January 22 – February 1, 2026 | Park City, Utah
Super Bowl LX | February 8, 2026 | Santa Clara, California
South by Southwest | March 13–21, 2026 | Austin, Texas
The Masters Tournament | April 9–12, 2026 | Augusta, Georgia
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival | April 10–12 and April 17–19, 2026 | Indio, California
Kentucky Derby | May 2, 2026 | Louisville, Kentucky
Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix | May 1–3, 2026 | Miami, Florida
RBC Canadian Open | June 10–14, 2026 | Caledon, Ontario
Canadian Grand Prix | June 12–14, 2026 | Montreal, Quebec
FIFA World Cup | June–July 2026 | Canada, United States, and Mexico (Canadian matches in Vancouver and Toronto)
Burning Man | August 30 – September 7, 2026 | Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Formula 1 US Grand Prix | October 23–25, 2026 | Austin, Texas
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show | October 28 – November 1, 2026 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix | November 19–21, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada
Art Basel Miami Beach | Early December 2026 | Miami Beach, Florida
IIHF World Junior Championship | December 26, 2026 – January 5, 2027 | Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta
Pebble Beach Golf Links | April–October 2026 | Pebble Beach, California
Planning ahead for one of these events? Get a quick estimate for private travel between your city and the destination.
Canada, United States, and Mexico
June to July 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across North America, with Canadian matches confirmed in Vancouver and Toronto. This tournament will create one of the largest travel movements in recent history, both domestically and cross-border.
For Canadian football/soccer fans looking to attend World Cup matches, private aviation becomes relevant due to high airline demand, fixed match dates, and multi-city itineraries. Early planning will be critical for travellers following specific teams or attending multiple matches. Sunwest private charters help connect fans from across Canada to World Cup host cities throughout North America, offering flexible scheduling and trusted private aviation service during peak demand.
Santa Clara, California
February 8, 2026
Super Bowl LX is officially confirmed for Santa Clara. This will be one of the busiest private aviation weekends of 2026, with strong demand from Western Canada tied to corporate hosting, partner events, and short duration travel. Aircraft availability tightens quickly around the Bay Area for this event, making early planning especially important if you are travelling on a fixed schedule. Learn more about private travel to the Bay Area.
Augusta, Georgia
April 9–12, 2026
The Masters has fixed dates each year, running Thursday through Sunday in early April. Western Canadian travel typically concentrates from Wednesday to Sunday, with many flights combining Augusta with Atlanta or Florida business meetings. Private flight routes such as Calgary to Augusta and Toronto to Augusta allow travellers to align arrival times with tournament schedules and surrounding business meetings.
Miami, Florida
May 1–3, 2026
The Miami Grand Prix is confirmed for early May. Many Canadian travellers often pair this event with business, real estate, or client hosting across South Florida. Travel demand into South Florida increases noticeably during race weekend, particularly for short, fixed schedule trips.
Caledon, Ontario
June 10–14, 2026
The 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be held in Caledon, Ontario, drawing players, sponsors, and spectators from across the country. As Canada’s national golf championship, the event consistently attracts Western Canadian travellers tied to corporate hospitality, partner events, and executive golf travel.
Montreal, Quebec (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)
June 12–14, 2026
The Canadian Grand Prix is Canada’s premier Formula 1 event and a consistent draw for Canadian travellers. Montreal experiences significant congestion during race weekend, with airline schedules tightening and hotel availability limited.
For Canadian travellers, private flights to Montreal for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix offer greater control around practice, qualifying, and race schedules, particularly for short stays or tightly planned itineraries.
Austin, Texas (Circuit of the Americas)
October 23–25, 2026
The United States Grand Prix returns to Austin in late October, drawing fans from across North America for one of the most popular Formula 1 weekends of the season. Travel demand into the region increases significantly around race weekend, with limited airline flexibility and high accommodation pressure.
For Canadian travellers, private flights to Austin, Texas, for the Formula 1 US Grand Prix, offers greater control around practice, qualifying, and race schedules, particularly for short stays or fixed itineraries.
Las Vegas, Nevada
November 19–21, 2026
Las Vegas remains one of the most efficient F1 destinations for Formula 1 fans across Canada. Discover how private flights to Vegas minimize travel time and bypass the crowds for one of the most sought-after sporting events of the year.
Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta
December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027
The 2026–27 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship will be hosted in Edmonton and Red Deer, placing one of Canada’s most watched winter sporting events directly in Western Canada. With games spread across multiple venues and a fixed holiday schedule, travel planning becomes especially time sensitive.
Park City, Utah
January 22 – February 1, 2026
Sundance dates are confirmed annually well in advance. Private aviation is common due to limited airline access into regional Utah airports and winter weather considerations.
Indio, California
April 10–12 and April 17–19, 2026
Two consecutive weekends. Western Canadian travellers frequently operate into Palm Springs area airports to reduce congestion and ground transfer times.
Austin, Texas
March 13–21, 2026
SXSW blends technology, marketing, film, and music. Travel demand from Western Canada is steady throughout the event, particularly for short, midweek trips.
Black Rock Desert, Nevada
August 30 – September 7, 2026
Burning Man dates are fixed annually. Most private flights route through Reno or regional Nevada airports due to airspace and access restrictions.
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 6–9, 2026
CES occurs immediately after the holiday period, when airline capacity is still constrained. Private aviation allows Canadian travellers to move efficiently during peak demand.
Scottsdale, Arizona
January 17–25, 2026
The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction is one of the most significant collector car events in North America, drawing buyers, sellers, and enthusiasts from across Canada. Travel demand into the Phoenix and Scottsdale area increases sharply during auction week, particularly during preview days and headline sale periods.
For Canadian travellers, private flights to Scottsdale during Barrett-Jackson offer flexibility around auction schedules and hosted events, while avoiding peak winter airline congestion.
Miami Beach, Florida
Early December
Art Basel consistently attracts Western Canadian travellers across finance, art, and real estate. Availability tightens across South Florida during this period.
Louisville, Kentucky
May 2, 2026
The Derby remains a popular hosted event, often tied to client entertainment and short duration private travel.
California
Peak season April–October
Often paired with tournaments, executive retreats, or West Coast business travel. Private flights provide direct access to regional airports near the Monterey Peninsula.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
October 28 – November 1, 2026
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the world’s largest in-water boat show and a major draw for Canadian yacht owners, brokers, and marine industry professionals. South Florida sees a noticeable spike in travel demand throughout the event.
For travellers departing from Toronto, private aviation allows direct access to Fort Lauderdale area airports and greater control around preview days, show schedules, and last-minute itinerary changes.
These events share three common traits:
For many Canadian travellers, private aviation is not about luxury and indulgence. It is about control and efficiency, especially when schedules are tight and opportunities are time sensitive.
At Sunwest Aviation, we monitor these travel peaks closely and help clients plan early, securing aircraft availability well before demand accelerates.
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