Winter Games
Lake Placid, every February. The 46th edition runs 5–8 February 2026.
The Empire State Winter Games are an annual amateur winter sports festival held in Lake Placid and across the Adirondack North Country. The Games began in 1981, ran under the state’s Empire State Games banner through 2010, and were carried on by the Lake Placid community after the state programme ended. They continue under the original name and have been held every year since.
Next edition: 5–8 February 2026, Lake Placid, NY.
What’s on the programme
The Winter Games today contest a broad winter-sport line-up — alpine skiing and snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain, sliding sports at the Lake Placid Olympic sliding venue, figure skating and short track at the 1980 Arena, ice hockey at Saranac Lake, and sled hockey at Tupper Lake.
Where events happen
- Lake Placid Olympic Center — opening ceremony, figure skating, short track speed skating, hockey, biathlon, ski orienteering, winter triathlon.
- Whiteface Mountain (Wilmington) — alpine, snowboarding, freestyle moguls, ski cross, adaptive alpine.
- Mt. Van Hoevenberg — bobsled, luge, skeleton, cross-country.
- Saranac Lake — ice hockey tournaments.
- Tupper Lake — sled hockey.
Almost 2,800 athletes are expected at the 46th edition. The 2026 Winter Games also incorporate the USAT Winter Triathlon National Championships.
Registration & full programme
The Lake Placid–based Empire State Winter Games organisation runs registration, scheduling, and live results.
empirestatewintergames.com
See also
- Sport list — every event on the Winter programme.
- Winter Games history — the Lake Placid run from 1981 through the community handover.
- About the Empire State Games — how the Winter edition fits into the full Games family.