■ Scottsdale, Paradise Valley & Greater Phoenix ■ Sedona, Verde Valley & Northern Arizona
Dates change every year. We list the next confirmed dates and update the page as organizers announce them. Always confirm with the organizer.
January
Valley peak season- Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale · WestWorld of Scottsdale
Late January, about nine days. The 2026 auction did $191M in sales with about 6,500 registered bidders. It's one of the strongest weeks of the year for North Scottsdale stays. - Arizona Cardinals home games · State Farm Stadium, Glendale
The season runs September to January, and the last home games are in early January.
February
The busiest month in Scottsdale- WM Phoenix Open · TPC Scottsdale
Feb 8–14, 2027. Its record week drew 719,179 people (2018), and the 2022 event had a $453.7M economic impact (ASU). Rates near TPC and across North Scottsdale peak this week. - Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show · WestWorld
Feb 11–21, 2027. It draws about 300,000 attendees, and visitors fill hotels for nearly two weeks. - NBA All-Star Game · Phoenix
Feb 21, 2027. A one-time event, projected at about $400M when Phoenix was awarded it. - Cactus League Spring Training begins · 10 ballparks across the Valley
Late February through late March. See March. - RunSedona Half Marathon, 10K & 5K · Sedona
Feb 6, 2027. It sold out at a record 4,000 runners. - Sedona International Film Festival · Sedona
Late February to early March (Feb 21–Mar 1 in 2026). Sedona's largest annual event, with more than 150 films and over 10,000 attendees.
March
Peak month in the Valley and Sedona- Cactus League Spring Training · Valley-wide
A record 1,753,849 fans attended in 2026, with $806.9M in economic output. 60% of fans came from out of state, with a median 4-night stay (ASU). The MLB labor agreement expires Dec 1, 2026, so 2027 dates could be affected. - NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway · Avondale
Mar 14, 2027. - Goodguys Spring Nationals · WestWorld
Mid-March. - Spring break · Sedona and the Verde Valley
The Sedona Chamber reports a significant jump in visitors. March is Sedona's strongest short-term rental month.
April
Peak season continues- Arizona Bike Week · WestWorld
Early April. - Spring music festivals · Phoenix and Tempe
VIVA PHX (downtown Phoenix) and Reggae Rise Up (Tempe), mid-April. - Sedona Yoga Festival · Sedona
Late April (Apr 23–27 in 2026).
May – June
Valley shoulder · high country heats up- Verde Valley Wine Festival · Riverfront Park, Cottonwood
Early May, with 20 Arizona wineries. - Overland Expo West · Flagstaff
Mid-May. Summer festivals follow in Flagstaff through June. - Summer resort season begins · Scottsdale and Paradise Valley
Seasonal resort rates drop sharply, which pulls nightly rental rates down with them.
July – August
Valley low season · Prescott and Flagstaff peak- Prescott Frontier Days — "World's Oldest Rodeo" · Prescott
Jun 28–Jul 4, 2027. Up to 35,000 attend, and Prescott's tourism director has called it the city's busiest week of the year. - Flagstaff summer festivals · Flagstaff
Celtic Festival (July) and Hopi Festival (August). August is a peak short-term rental month in both Flagstaff and Prescott. - Monsoon season · statewide
June 15 to September 30. July is the slowest month for short-term rentals in Scottsdale and Sedona.
September
The turn toward fall- Arizona Cardinals season opens · Glendale
Home games run through early January. - Coconino County Fair & Flagstaff Festival of Science · Flagstaff
Early to late September.
October
Sedona's fall peak- Arizona State Fair · State Fairgrounds, Phoenix
Oct 1 to Nov 1, 2026, Thursday to Sunday. It drew 1.03 million people in 2025, but 81% were local, so the effect on lodging is modest. - NASCAR playoff race · Phoenix Raceway
Oct 18, 2026, and Oct 24, 2027. - Sedona Arts Festival and Fort Verde Days · Sedona and Camp Verde
Both fall on the same weekend: Oct 10–11, 2026. Expect a busy weekend across the Verde Valley. - Fall color · Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff
Flagstaff peaks in early October, and Oak Creek runs into November. October is one of Sedona's three peak months.
November
Winter visitors arrive- Canal Convergence · Scottsdale Waterfront
Nov 6–15, 2026. Free. - Goodguys Southwest Nationals · WestWorld
Nov 20–22, 2026. - Thanksgiving · Valley-wide
2025 nightly rates in Phoenix-Scottsdale rose 5.2% year over year, to about $300.
December
Bowl season · Flagstaff's top month- Cactus Bowl · Mountain America Stadium, Tempe
Dec 26, 2026. - Fiesta Bowl, College Football Playoff quarterfinal · State Farm Stadium, Glendale
Dec 30, 2026. The bowls' organizer puts their combined impact at about $200M a year. - Tlaquepaque Festival of Lights · Sedona
Mid-December, with more than 6,000 luminarias. - Ski season · Arizona Snowbowl, Flagstaff
December is Flagstaff's best short-term rental month ($342 a night).
Year-round: conventions
In 2025, the Phoenix Convention Center hosted 70 conventions with about 293,300 delegates and $453.7M in impact. Large conventions raise downtown Phoenix and Tempe rates any time of year.
See how these events shape rates over the year on our Rental Seasonality Guide.