Where to Ski in Europe, Winter 2026/27: Seven Ski Areas in Four Countries

Choosing a ski area is mostly a question of what you want from the mountain: size, altitude, a race to watch, or a village to come home to. This guide takes seven ski areas across France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, gives the size and the dates each area has published, and says what we plan around each one. Opening dates depend on snow and can change at short notice, so treat them as the dates announced so far.

The Three Valleys, France

The Three Valleys describe themselves as 600 km of slopes in the French Alps. Seven resorts make up the area: Courchevel, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. The season opens in Val Thorens with La Grande Première on 21 and 22 November 2026, and the valleys link up from 5 December 2026.

For Courchevel in particular, see our Courchevel 1850 hotel guide.

Arlberg, Austria

Ski Arlberg publishes 301 km of ski runs across St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Oberlech, Zürs and Warth-Schröcken. The season opens on 2 December 2026 and, according to the Austrian National Tourist Office, runs to 18 April 2027.

Kitzbühel, Austria

According to the Austrian National Tourist Office, Kitzbühel opens on 6 November 2026 and closes on 4 April 2027. The 87th Hahnenkamm races are scheduled for 18 to 24 January 2027, with the Super-G, the downhill and the slalom run from Friday to Sunday, 22 to 24 January.

Race week is one of the busiest weeks of the Austrian winter, so rooms and cars for those dates are worth reserving early.

Dolomiti Superski, Italy

Dolomiti Superski is 12 ski areas in the Dolomites on one ski pass, with over 1,200 km of slopes. Its best-known circuit is the Sellaronda: 44 km around the Sella massif, of which 23 km are skied and 21 km are covered by lifts. The official winter season begins with the opening of the Sellaronda.

Zermatt–Cervinia, Switzerland and Italy

The Matterhorn Ski Paradise lists 360 km of pistes across two countries, linking Zermatt in Switzerland with Cervinia in Italy. Cervinia’s season runs from 24 October 2026 to 2 May 2027. Zermatt’s own 2026/27 opening date had not been announced when we checked.

Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier 4 Vallées lists 410 km of slopes, with a highest point of 3,330 m, and calls itself the largest ski area entirely located in Switzerland. It gives the season as November to the end of April, and had not announced its 2026/27 opening date when we checked.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

Engadin St. Moritz lists 350 km of slopes across four ski areas: Corviglia/Piz Nair, Corvatsch, Diavolezza/Lagalb and Zuoz. The summit station of Corvatsch is at 3,303 m. The 2026/27 opening date had not been announced when we checked.

The opening dates so far

According to the Austrian National Tourist Office, Kitzsteinhorn opens its glacier on 10 October 2026 and Sölden in mid-October. Then, in order: Cervinia on 24 October, Kitzbühel on 6 November, Val Thorens on 21 and 22 November, Ischgl on 26 November, Arlberg on 2 December and the Three Valleys links on 5 December.

How we organise it

Tell us the dates, who is skiing and the level of the group. We plan the hotel, the car and the transfers between airport and resort, and we book what needs booking. For hotels, see our hotel and villa service, for the car our private chauffeur service, and for off-piste and wellness our Alps ski holiday guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which area opens first? The glaciers: Kitzsteinhorn on 10 October and Sölden in mid-October, then Cervinia on 24 October.

When are the Hahnenkamm races? 18 to 24 January 2027, with the Super-G, downhill and slalom on 22, 23 and 24 January.

Are the opening dates fixed? No. They depend on snow and can move.

Why are some Swiss areas without dates? Zermatt, St. Moritz and Verbier had not announced their 2026/27 opening dates when we checked.

Photo credits

• Florian Pépellin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Gemeinde St. Anton am Arlberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Michael Fleischhacker / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Wolfgang Moroder / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Roy Egloff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Realleok / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Zaschid / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
• Triplec85 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
• DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons, CC0