Things to Do in Denver in January 2027

January in Denver is the stretch where everyone pretends they're fine with the cold and nobody actually is. It's dry, it's sunny more often than you'd expect for the dead of winter, and then some random Tuesday it dumps six inches and ruins your commute. Layers are non negotiable. This is also the month Denver quietly turns into a rodeo town for two straight weeks thanks to the National Western Stock Show crowd taking over the Denver Coliseum, so if you've never seen a bull rider up close, this is your window.

Ball Arena is basically running three teams at once this month (Nuggets, Avalanche, and Mammoth all have home dates), which means parking around there gets rough on back to back nights. Mission Ballroom is doing its usual thing of stacking electronic and bass shows almost every weekend, so if that's your scene, you'll have options constantly. Nothing about January screams patio season, so plan on indoor nights, arena concourses, and a lot of beer that's warmer than the air outside.

Big arena shows and the rodeo stretch sell tickets fast, especially weekend nights, so if you see something below that lines up with your schedule, don't sit on it for three weeks.

The Big Ones

Pretty Lights, January 1 and 2, Mission Ballroom. Two nights to start the year off right, trip hop and dubstep for a crowd that's clearly still riding the NYE high. Both nights have sold out before in past years, so grab tickets early if you want in.

Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks, January 2, 3pm, Ball Arena. A Sunday afternoon matchup against a marquee opponent, which means the building will actually be loud for once.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights, January 4, 7pm, Ball Arena. Vegas always brings a crowd and a chip on their shoulder. Good one if you want a hockey night with actual tension in the building.

PBR Bull Riding Finals, January 13, 7pm, Denver Coliseum. This is the center of the western stock show stretch that runs from the CO v the World Rodeo Finals on January 9 through the PRCA Pro Rodeo closing out January 20, with the MLK Jr. Heritage Rodeo mixed in on the 18th. If you only do one rodeo night all month, make it this one.

Wonky Willa, January 22, 7pm, Mission Ballroom. Billed as Disco Wonk with G-Space and The Sponges joining live, this is shaping up to be the biggest electronic night of the month outside the STS9 run.

STS9, January 29 and 30, Mission Ballroom. The jamtronica crowd shows up in force for this one every year. Two nights back to back means you can commit to one or double up.

Colorado Mammoth vs. Georgia Swarm, January 1, 7pm, Ball Arena. Lacrosse season opener on New Year's Day for anyone who wants a reason to leave the couch before the Pretty Lights show that night.

Week by Week

Early January (1-9)

Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons, January 3, 3pm, Ball Arena. Low key matinee game, easy ticket if the Knicks game sold out.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Ottawa Senators, January 6, 7:30pm, Ball Arena. A weeknight hockey game with cheaper tickets than the weekend slate.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken, January 8, 7pm, Ball Arena. Kraken games tend to be chippy. Worth it if you like your hockey with a little edge.

CO v the World Rodeo Finals, January 9, 8pm, Denver Coliseum. The kickoff night for the whole rodeo stretch, with semifinals earlier that same day at 11am and 3:30pm if you want to make a full day of it.

Ydg, January 9, 9pm, Mission Ballroom. Dubstep set for anyone who wants a late night after the rodeo wraps up early that day.

Mid-January (10-20)

PBR Bull Riding, January 11-12, 7pm both nights, Denver Coliseum. Two warmup nights before the finals on the 13th.

Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, January 14, 7pm, Ball Arena. Solid Thursday night game if you want to squeeze in hoops between rodeo nights.

Laszewo, January 15, 9pm, Mission Ballroom. Synthpop and house mixed together, a good change of pace from all the dubstep this month.

Colorado Mammoth vs. San Diego Seals, January 15, 7pm, Ball Arena. Lacrosse on a Friday night, cheaper and shorter than most other options that evening.

MLK Jr. Heritage Rodeo, January 18, 6pm, Denver Coliseum. A tradition during the stock show, worth checking out even if you've already hit a few rodeo nights by this point.

Late January (21-31)

Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, January 23, 7pm, Ball Arena. One of the better matchups left on the home schedule this month.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers, January 26, 7pm, Ball Arena. Oilers games always draw a bigger crowd than the average Tuesday matchup.

Colorado Mammoth vs. Toronto Rock, January 29, 7pm, Ball Arena. Same night as STS9 at Mission Ballroom, so you could theoretically do both if you time it right.

Papajay, January 30, 8pm, Cervantes' Other Side. Dubstep and bass, $20 tickets, a smaller room than the Mission Ballroom stuff if you want something less chaotic.

Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers, January 31, 6pm, Ball Arena. Closes out the month with an early Sunday tip off, good one for a low key end to the weekend.

Any Day That Works

Nuggets home games at Ball Arena (repeats most weeks). With games on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, and 31st, you've basically got a home game every few days all month. Easy to build a routine around if you've got a ticket plan or just like walking distance.

Avalanche home games at Ball Arena (repeats most weeks). Similar deal, with dates scattered across the whole month including the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 18th, 20th, 24th, 26th, and 30th. Good excuse to make hockey a regular Tuesday or Sunday thing.

PRCA Pro Rodeo nights at Denver Coliseum (repeats nightly, January 14 through 20). If you want to build a week around cowboy hats and arena dirt, this is the stretch to do it. Multiple shows some days, so check times before you go.

Mission Ballroom dance and bass nights (repeats weekly). Between Ydg, Laszewo, Effin, Ian Asher, Wonky Willa, and the STS9 run, there's an electronic or bass show here almost every weekend this month. Worth checking their lineup before you commit to plans elsewhere.

Reelworks techno nights (repeats late month). Riordan on January 29 and Layton Giordani's open to close set on January 30 give you back to back techno nights if that's more your speed than the bigger rooms.

The always current calendar lives at /events.