Ski Season Opening Dates 2026/27: Alps Resort Calendar
The ski season opening dates for 2026/27 are staggered across the Alps. Glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy have been running since September or October. High-altitude resorts such as Obergurgl, Ischgl, Val Thorens and Tignes open between mid- and late November, and most Austrian resorts start on 4 or 5 December 2026. Below you'll find the planned opening dates for 24 resorts in five countries, the biggest opening festivals, and practical tips for skiing early in the season on a student budget.
In a minute
- Glaciers first: Pitztal and Kaunertal from 26 September, Hintertux from 2 October, Stubai from 9 October, Kitzsteinhorn from 10 October and Breuil-Cervinia from 24 October 2026.
- November openers: Davos Parsenn (13 Nov), Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (19 Nov), Val Thorens and Tignes (21 Nov), Ischgl (26 Nov), Saalbach and Obertauern (27 Nov), Val d'Isère (28 Nov).
- Everyone else: many Austrian resorts open on 4 or 5 December 2026, including Nassfeld, Mayrhofen and Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
- Opening festivals: Westlife in Ischgl (28 Nov), Die Fantastischen Vier in Obertauern (28 Nov), Rave on Snow in Saalbach (10–13 Dec), Helene Fischer in Schladming (11–12 Dec).
- Early season is cheaper: many resorts charge low-season prices until Christmas, and some offer opening deals. Expect fewer open pistes, though.
- All dates are planned and depend on snow. Data as of 6 November 2026.
Tip: wide tables scroll sideways on small screens.
When does the 2026/27 ski season start in Europe?
There's no single start date. Altitude is the deciding factor. Glacier resorts above 3,000 m often run from late summer. High resorts with lots of snowmaking, such as Obergurgl, Ischgl and Val Thorens, open in November. Lower resorts wait until early December so that as many runs as possible are open for the Christmas holidays.
It helps to think in three phases:
| Phase | When | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier season | September to mid-November | A handful of high-altitude runs, race teams training, cold and windy |
| Early openings | Mid- to late November | Big high-altitude resorts, often only partly open, the first opening parties |
| Main opening | Early to mid-December | Most Alpine resorts open, home runs depend on snow, low-season prices until Christmas |
Ski season opening dates 2026/27: the calendar
We checked these dates on the resorts' official websites or with the Austrian National Tourist Office (austria.info) on 6 November 2026. All dates are planned and can move if there isn't enough snow, it's too warm, there are storms or there are technical problems. "Partial" means not every lift and piste is running.
Austria
| Resort | Planned opening 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitztal Glacier (Tyrol) | 26 Sep 2026 | Glacier, depending on snow |
| Kaunertal Glacier (Tyrol) | 26 Sep 2026 | Glacier, depending on snow |
| Hintertux Glacier (Tyrol) | 2 Oct 2026 | Hintertux Park Opening 2–4 Oct |
| Stubai Glacier (Tyrol) | 9 Oct 2026 | Stubai Zoo Opening 6–8 Nov |
| Kitzsteinhorn (Salzburg) | 10 Oct 2026 | If there's enough snow |
| Sölden glacier (Tyrol) | mid-October 2026 | Glacier area |
| Sölden main ski area (Tyrol) | from 6 Nov 2026 | Per soelden.com; austria.info lists 12 Nov |
| Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (Tyrol) | 19 Nov 2026 | |
| Kitzbühel (Tyrol) | 21 Nov 2026 | Partial or weekend-only at first |
| Axamer Lizum (Tyrol) | 22 Nov 2026 | Near Innsbruck |
| Ischgl (Tyrol) | 26 Nov 2026 | "First ski day", season until 2 May 2027 |
| Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn | 27 Nov 2026 | |
| Obertauern (Salzburg) | 27 Nov 2026 | Ski Opening Week until 8 Dec |
| St. Anton am Arlberg (Tyrol) | 2 Dec 2026 | |
| Nassfeld (Carinthia) | 4 Dec 2026 | Season until 4 April 2027 |
| Mayrhofen (Tyrol) | 4 Dec 2026 |
Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany
| Resort | Country | Planned opening 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt – Matterhorn Glacier Paradise | CH | Glacier open almost all year | "Winter Opening Weeks" 1 Nov–6 Dec 2026 |
| Saas-Fee | CH | Skiing in November | "Pre-Season Special" 1 Nov–18 Dec 2026 |
| Davos Parsenn | CH | 13 Nov 2026 | Other mountains follow in Nov/Dec |
| Val Thorens | FR | 21 Nov 2026 | "La Grande Première" opening, 21–22 Nov |
| Tignes | FR | 21 Nov 2026 | Opening weekend 21–22 Nov |
| Val d'Isère | FR | 28 Nov 2026 | Season until 2 May 2027 |
| Breuil-Cervinia | IT | 24 Oct 2026 | Season until 2 May 2027 |
| Valtournenche | IT | 28 Nov 2026 | |
| Zugspitze | DE | Early December 2026 | Per the lift company, depending on snow |
More Austrian dates: Turracher Höhe is expected to open on 28 November, and Bad Kleinkirchheim, Gerlitzen and Katschberg on 4 December 2026. Lots of smaller resorts in East Tyrol and the Bregenzerwald start on 4 or 5 December.
Opening festivals 2026: concerts and parties
In Austria, the start of the season is a big event. Resorts book major acts to fill beds early in the season. According to the Austrian National Tourist Office and the resorts, the 2026 line-up includes:
| Date | Resort | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 2026 | Obertauern | Ski Opening Week with Die Fantastischen Vier, Anastacia follows on 4 Dec |
| 28 Nov 2026 | Ischgl | Top of the Mountain Opening Concert with Westlife on the Idalp |
| 3–6 Dec 2026 | Saalbach Hinterglemm | BERGFESTival: ski opening, open-air rock and club gigs |
| 4–5 Dec 2026 | Flachau (Snow Space Salzburg) | SNOW FESTIVAL with three stages |
| 4–5 Dec 2026 | Sölden | Sölden Ski Rallye |
| 4–6 Dec 2026 | St. Anton am Arlberg | Stanton Ski Open: ski and snowboard tests, three music stages, free entry to the festival area |
| 10–13 Dec 2026 | Saalbach Hinterglemm | Rave on Snow: electronic music, 60+ artists, 13 floors |
| 11–12 Dec 2026 | Schladming (Planai stadium) | Ski Opening with Helene Fischer |
| 11–12 Dec 2026 | Bad Hofgastein | Ö3 Gastein Sounds with Pizzera & Jaus, folkshilfe and Paul Kalkbrenner |
| 12 Dec 2026 | Hochzeiger (Pitztal) | Open-air concert with Sportfreunde Stiller |
Westlife in Ischgl is the obvious draw for British and Irish visitors. Most of the other headliners are big names in the German-speaking world. Concerts often need a ticket or a valid lift pass, and the rules change from year to year, so check the event website before you book. Budget warning: accommodation prices around opening weekends go up a lot. If you want a cheap trip, go the weekend before or after.
Glacier skiing in autumn: is it worth it?
Glacier skiing in October or early November is great for getting your ski legs back, testing new kit or training. It isn't a normal ski holiday.
What you should know:
- Limited terrain: often only a few kilometres are open. Several days in a row can get repetitive.
- Altitude and cold: above 3,000 m it can be icy and windy even in October. You'll need high-SPF sun cream and glacier-grade sunglasses. Our guide on what to wear skiing covers layering.
- Race training: many runs are roped off for ski teams.
- Beginners: glaciers aren't a good place to start. There's little gentle terrain, the air is thin and the weather changes quickly.
- Off-piste: crevasses are real. Stay on marked runs.
For resorts that reliably have snow, see snow-sure ski resorts.
Skiing in the early season: how to get it right
Is early-season skiing cheaper?
Often, yes. Many resorts charge low-season prices until Christmas, and some advertise opening packages. Three examples from official price and offer pages:
| Resort | Early-season deal 2026/27 | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nassfeld (AT) | Low season 4–24 Dec 2026 | Adult day pass €67.50 instead of €73 in high season, 4 days €258 instead of €278 |
| Zermatt (CH) | Winter Opening Weeks 1 Nov–6 Dec 2026 | 10 % off stays of 4+ nights and 10 % off the Flex ski pass |
| Saas-Fee (CH) | Pre-Season Special 1 Nov–18 Dec 2026 | Pre-season offer, details from the tourist office |
Over four ski days at Nassfeld, that's a €20 saving on the lift pass alone. Accommodation is often cheaper before Christmas too, except around the big opening concerts. For more ways to save, see cheap ski trip tips, and for day-pass comparisons, see ski pass prices 2026/27.
What are snow conditions like at the start of the season?
In late November and early December, expect:
- Ribbons of man-made snow: often only the runs with snowmaking are open, with grass on either side.
- Hard pistes in the morning: artificial snow is dense and can be icy early on. Sharp edges help.
- Closed home runs: in lower resorts, you'll often ride the gondola back down.
- Short days: it gets dark around 16:00, and the lifts close early.
Early-season checklist
- Check the resort's official site for the opening date and which lifts are running.
- Look at webcams and snow depths the week before you travel.
- Book accommodation with free cancellation in case the opening is delayed.
- Buy your lift pass late or choose a flexible ticket.
- Get your skis serviced and waxed before your first day.
- For concerts, check ticket and lift pass conditions in advance.
- Make sure your travel insurance covers winter sports. See ski insurance for students.
Are there ski openings for students?
Yes, but few official "student openings" exist. Most offers aimed at young people are tour-operator packages built around well-known opening dates, often with a party programme. The most interesting options for students are:
- Party resorts with a big opening: Ischgl, Saalbach (Rave on Snow if you're into electronic music), Obertauern and Schladming. More in ski resorts for young people and après-ski in Austria.
- France at the start of the season: Val Thorens and Tignes open on 21 November with opening weekends. Val Thorens also lists a "Ski and Boarderweek" in its events calendar, but the date wasn't confirmed when we checked.
- Ski tests: the Stanton Ski Open in St. Anton (free entry to the festival area) and ski tests in Zermatt or Saas-Fee let you try new kit before you buy. See renting vs buying ski equipment.
Opening dates usually fall in the middle of term, so weekend trips or a trip after term ends are more realistic for many students. Plenty of students prefer February or March anyway, when every piste is open. If you're on Erasmus, our Erasmus ski trip guide explains how to fit a trip into your semester. Late-season ideas are in spring skiing in March and at Easter.
When does the 2026/27 ski season end?
Some closing dates have been announced too, subject to conditions:
| Resort | Planned closing |
|---|---|
| Nassfeld | 4 April 2027 |
| Ischgl | 2 May 2027 |
| Val Thorens | 2 May 2027 |
| Tignes | 2 May 2027 |
| Val d'Isère | 2 May 2027 |
| Breuil-Cervinia | 2 May 2027 |
| Zugspitze | Early May 2027, depending on snow |
High resorts stay open until the first weekend of May. If December doesn't work for you, April is another chance to ski at spring prices.
Which opening suits you?
- You want to ski as early as possible: a glacier such as Hintertux, Stubai, Pitztal or Kaunertal in October.
- You want parties and pistes: Ischgl in late November or Saalbach in early December.
- You want lots of pistes for less money: a big resort in low season in early December, such as Nassfeld. Everything you need is in our Nassfeld ski resort guide.
- You want France: Val Thorens or Tignes from 21 November.
If you'd rather ski after term ends and with a group, take a look at Semesterkur's winter trips. If you study in Berlin, there's also the Große Skifahrt 2027 to Nassfeld from 21 to 26 March 2027. Both booking pages are in German.
Sources
- Austrian National Tourist Office: winter openings 2026/27
- Sölden: winter
- Davos Klosters: Parsenn season start
- Val Thorens
- Tignes
- Val d'Isère
- Cervinia: winter opening dates 2026/27
- Zermatt: Winter Opening Weeks
Data as of 6 November 2026. All dates are planned and depend on snow and weather. Check the resorts' websites before you travel.
