Whistler Blackcomb is replacing its long-standing Showcase T-Bar with a new fixed-grip quad chairlift for the 2026/27 winter season, improving access to the resort’s high-alpine terrain on Blackcomb Mountain.
The new Showcase Chair will replace the T-Bar which has served the upper mountain since 1988, providing access to the Showcase and Blackcomb Glacier areas.
Existing lift affected by glacier retreat
The project is designed to address the increasing difficulties of operating a surface lift in an area affected by the retreat of the Horstman Glacier.
The new chairlift has been constructed on a revised alignment, with its towers and terminals anchored into exposed bedrock and solid ground rather than directly into glacier ice.
The change is particularly significant because the Showcase T-Bar had become increasingly difficult to operate as snow and glacier conditions changed.
In its final season, the T-Bar did not open until February, limiting access to the upper mountain during much of the winter.
Increase in uplift capacity
Vail Resorts says the new chairlift is expected to increase the number of days the area can operate and double uphill capacity. Unlike the old T-Bar, the chairlift does not require a continuous snow-covered track, making it less dependent on the changing glacier surface.
Construction has been taking place through summer 2026, with major excavation and the foundations for the upper terminal and initial towers completed before the installation of the lift structures.
Accommodation in Whistler
For advice on choosing the right place to stay in Whistler, please contact the Chaletline team on 01822 617761. We have a choice of 13 properties in the resort and can help you find the right one for you.
