Based on the acoustic emission technology of coal gangue concrete under freeze thaw cycles of 0, 25, 35, 45 times, the compression damage characteristics of coal gangue concrete during the whole failure process were measured. Related to the acoustic emission energy released from the failure of coal gangue concrete, the damage evolution rule of coal gangue concrete was established according to the cumulative counting of acoustic emission events. The results show that with the increase of the number of freeze thaw cycles, the initial damage value of coal gangue concrete becomes larger, the peak stress becomes smaller, the brittleness turns more obvious. The damage evolution model based on the cumulative counting of acoustic emission events is in good agreement with the experimental results, which provides the basis for studying the damage evolution rule of coal gangue concrete under freeze thaw environment.