Denver’s Outside Days Festival Set to Return in Spring 2026
Denver’s annual Outside festival will be back next spring for its third iteration, this time with a fresh name, a new venue, and an additional day of activities. Formerly known as the Outside Festival, the event has now been rebranded as Outside Days. Scheduled to take place from May 29-31 at Denver’s Auraria Campus, the celebration of outdoor activities and music is expanding from a two-day event to a three-day extravaganza.
Organized by Outside Inc., a media company based in Boulder, the festival has seen significant growth in attendance, with more than 35,000 outdoor enthusiasts participating in the most recent edition—a 94% increase from the inaugural event in 2024. The decision to relocate to Auraria was necessitated by construction work at Civic Center Park, although the permanency of the move is still under consideration.
Chris Jerard, chief experience officer for Outside Inc., expressed excitement about the new partnership with Auraria and the opportunities it presents. The festival grounds at Auraria are approximately 30% larger than the previous location at Civic Center Park, allowing for expanded outdoor activities and indoor programming at venues like the Tivoli and the King Center performing arts complex.
Looking ahead, Jerard envisions the potential for Outside Days to evolve into a major international event, akin to Austin’s South by Southwest festival. With Denver’s diverse outdoor spaces and vibrant cityscape, there is ample room for growth and innovation in showcasing the best of outdoor culture and adventure.
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