Christmas In The Snow 2026

Here at InTheSnow we love skiing and riding, we love snow, we love being in the mountains and we love Christmas, so it’s our favourite time of the year when all these things come together once more!

Whether you want to visit an atmospheric Christmas market during the Advent period to add a little magic to the festive build up, meet Santa in his Lapland home before he sets off on his epic trip around the world, spend Christmas itself having someone else doing the decorations and cooking or ringing in the New Year in the mountains the great thing is you can do all these things and go skiing and riding too!

So here’s the InTheSnow Christmas 2026 Guide to all things Christmas in the mountains.  Scroll down for:

• Christmas 2026 Key Dates
• Christmas Markets in The Mountains
• Pre-Christmas Events
• It’s Krampus Night
• Where To Ski and Meet Santa
• The Best Resorts For Christmas
• The Biggest New Year Parties On The Slopes
• Is There Snow At Christmas?
• Christmas 2026 Travel Checker
• Christmas Ski Holiday Deals
• Christmas Ski Holiday FAQs

Check back too as we’ll be updating this guide over the coming months.

Last updated: 12 October 2026

Christmas 2026 Key Dates In The Mountains

The festive season in the mountains runs from the first Christmas markets in late November to New Year’s Day. Here are the dates to know for Christmas 2026, all covered in more detail below.

Val Gardena

Christmas Markets in The Mountains

Christmas markets bring an extra layer of magic to ski resorts right as the season is getting started. Lantern‑lit stalls line village streets, filling the air with the scent of mulled wine, roasted nuts and fresh gingerbread. Skiers can carve their first turns of the 26-27 season on quiet slopes before the Christmas and New Year crowds arrive, then wander into cosy market squares for handmade crafts, local delicacies and traditional live music.

Innsbruck

Christmas in Innsbruck combines the magic of a traditional Austrian Christmas with excellent access to some of the Tyrol’s best skiing. The city is home to six distinctive Christmas markets, each offering its own festive atmosphere. Visitors can explore the charming Old Town Market beneath the famous Golden Roof, browse artisan stalls along Maria-Theresien-Strasse, enjoy family-friendly attractions at Market Square, or take in spectacular Alpine views from the Hungerburg and Bergisel markets. Twinkling lights, handcrafted gifts, mulled wine and seasonal treats create a truly enchanting setting. Beyond the festive celebrations, Innsbruck’s Ski Plus City pass provides easy access to several nearby ski areas, blending city breaks with mountain adventures.

Christmas Market Innsbruck c Tirol Werbung Lisa Hîrterer

Val Gardena

Want more festive markets? See our full guide to the best ski resorts with Christmas markets

Verbier Opening

Pre-Christmas Events

If you want to get on the slopes early and enjoy an early Christmas fix, these are some of the events to head for!

Verbier Opening

Verbier‘s Christmas Opening Weekend marks the exciting start of the winter season in one of Switzerland’s most iconic ski resorts. The resort’s annual Opening Session combines skiing, festive entertainment and a lively village atmosphere as visitors gather to celebrate the return of winter. For 2026, the event takes place on 5 December, coinciding with the official launch of the Verbier ski season. Guests are encouraged to embrace the festive spirit, with Saint Nicholas-themed celebrations, family activities and special events throughout the resort.

Sunday River – Santa Sunday

Wham! Walk – Saas Fee

Krampus at Igls by Innsbruck Copyright Tirol Werbung Aichner Bernhard

It’s Krampus Night

If you’ve never heard of the Krampus on the German-speaking side of the Alps, it’s time to tell you the tale of the slightly dark, or perhaps different kind of fun, counterweight to Saint Nicholas. Essentially he’s a folkloric reminder that winter isn’t only about gifts and goodwill. So more grinch than Santa. In Alpine tradition, Krampus emerged as a pre‑Christian mountain spirit tied to midwinter fear and renewal. When Christianity spread, this wilder figure was folded into seasonal customs as the enforcer of good behaviour, a way for communities to teach morality through spectacle, humour and a touch of fright. The modern Krampuslauf keeps that energy alive: with noisy, chaotic parades where elaborately costumed “Krampuses” roam the streets, rattling chains and celebrating the unruly side at the start of Advent.

This December, a good many ski resorts across Austria and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Italy and even into Slovenia, will host their annual Krampus festivities. The highpoint of this is usually ‘Krampus Night’ (krampusnacht) when youths dressed in demonic looking wooden Krampus masks and scary costumes chase through the village as they have been doing since long before skiing. Some of the chases have got a bit too raucous in the past so more often now it’s a procession with fire torches, sometimes rattling chains. This year the main Krampus Night is Saturday, December 5th, 2026, the night before the feast of St Nicholas, but resorts can stage festivities a few days either side of that, which is before some resorts will have started their seasons but if you want to ski early and see the Krampus, here are some of the options.

Seefeld, Austria

Organises one of the largest Krampus events in Tyrol with 30 groups from the Alpine region. It’s more traditional in character and there’s an after-show party afterwards. Their Krampusnacht is on Friday the 4^th and their 26-27 ski season starts next morning.

Schladming-Dachstein, Austria

The Krampus run in Schladming is one of the largest in the Alps, with around 800 Krampus, witches and other traditional figures parading from the Planai Stadium past the town hall to the main square, watched by thousands of spectators. It’s usually held in late November, so check the date before you book. Nearby Gröbming and Öblarn hold their own events in early December. Öblarn’s Krampus game uses 18th-century texts, is recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and leaves out the rods, which makes it a gentler choice if you have children with you.

Gastein Valley, Austria

In the Gastein Valley the tradition is more intimate. On 5 and 6 December around 100 “passes”, groups of Krampus with a basket carrier and St Nicholas, go from house to house, a custom that dates back to the 18th century. The Krampus wear sheepskins and hand-carved wooden masks with horns, and are there to drive away evil spirits while St Nicholas praises the well behaved.

These events blend folklore with winter tourism, giving early‑season visitors a vivid, atmospheric taste of Alpine culture just as the ski season gets underway.

Levi

Where To Ski and Meet Santa

Lapland is home to some great ski areas and it’s so snow-sure several of them have already opened in October for the 26-27 season. It’s also where Santa himself maintains several of his homes, Christmas villages and toy workshops. You can also sign up for a reindeer safari whether you meet Santa or not. Fortunately, they’re all pretty close together too.

On the upside Lapland’s ski slopes are pretty quiet in December as the Finns don’t really get into their skiing until it’s lighter and warmer. In fact, you’ll be skiing under floodlights all day as the sun hardly rises above the horizon that far north in December and in some cases doesn’t at all for several weeks around Christmas. That does give a dreamy feel to your skiing though and if you’re lucky you can see the northern lights 24-7.

The downside is planes are full of non-skiing families just heading to see Santa from late November which cuts availability and drives up prices.

Levi Ski Resort, Lapland, Finland

Levi is Finland’s largest ski area with 43 slopes and extensive snow-reliable tracks, plus dedicated Christmas and New Year events are organised. Santa’s Cabin, a picturesque wooden hut located directly on the Levi’s ski slopes is a scenic photo spot and you can meet the great man himself at Santa’s Secret Cabin about 15-minutes from the resort where you can enjoy guided tours with elves, meet Mrs. Claus, and a private meeting with Santa Claus. The Tonttula Elves Village (Tonttula Elämyskylä) is a little further away. Here you’ll find an elf school and a Christmas post office as well as another of Santa’s homes.  Crystal, Inghams and Heidi all offer holidays to Levi.

Ounasvaara Ski Resort

Ounasvaara ski area is located near the town of Rovaniemi and just 10 minutes from the world-famous Santa Claus Village.  It’s a smaller area with its longest runs only 600 metres in length, but worth considering if you fancy a Santa ski and city break on the Arctic Circle (and who wouldn’t?!)

Pyhä

Pyhä is one of Finland’s most scenic ski destinations, located in the heart of Finnish Lapland. The resort offers excellent downhill skiing, cross-country trails, and opportunities to experience the magical Northern Lights. Just a short drive away, visitors can discover enchanting Santa-themed attractions, including the popular Secret Village, where festive activities, reindeer encounters, and cosy Lapland traditions bring Christmas to life year-round. With its combination of uncrowded slopes, snowy wilderness, and family-friendly Arctic experiences, Pyhä is an ideal destination for winter adventures, whether you’re seeking thrilling skiing or a taste of Lapland’s famous festive magic. Again Heidi and Inghams and Crystal all offer holidays to Pyhä.

La Rosiere

The Best Resorts For Christmas (A-Z)

Pretty well every ski resort celebrates Christmas, but some go that bit further.

Arc 1950

Christmas in Arc 1950 brings a magical festive atmosphere to this charming pedestrian village in the French Alps. Throughout the holiday season, sparkling lights, decorated streets and seasonal entertainment create an enchanting setting for visitors of all ages. Families can enjoy festive activities, children’s shows, Christmas workshops and opportunities to meet Father Christmas, while live music and performances add to the celebration. The village’s traditional Alpine architecture and snow-covered surroundings make it feel like a real-life Christmas card.

Arc 1950

Châtel

“Christmas in the mountains at Châtel, from 19^th December – 3^rd January, is marked with special events including the arrival of Father Christmas distributing treats, torchlit descents to delight all ages, New Years eve parties in the great outdoors with a DJ and fireworks display, and a new year like no other,” a spokesperson says.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

“Cortina is one of the best places to ski in December, Cortina offers a traditional Alpine festive experience, from the sparkling Christmas tree in the main square to horse-drawn carriages and fairy-lit bars. Sitting at an altitude of 1,225m, Cortina is often considered Italy’s answer to St Moritz and Aspen, known for its stylish atmosphere and luxurious appeal. With 120km of ski area and a variety of blue, red and black runs, it combines fantastic skiing with an unforgettable festive setting,” say travel agency Ski Solutions.

Courmayeur

In Italy’s Courmayeur on Christmas Eve, children can join in the traditions that pay homage to local festive figure “Rhémy de Noël”. He’s the protagonist of a legend whose roots lie in the link between the town and Mont Blanc and provides the area with its snow. On Xmas Eve, there’ll be children’s workshops, theatrical performances, special guest appearances with gifts and the lighting of lanterns to direct Rhémy de Noël down from the mountain to Courmayeur.

Crans Montana

Christmas in Crans-Montana blends festive charm with spectacular mountain scenery. Throughout December, the resort comes alive with seasonal events, family activities and sparkling festive decorations. One of the highlights is the Lantern Path, a magical illuminated walk around a lake, where stunning light installations create an enchanting atmosphere after dark. For the 2026 festive season, the illuminations begin on 4 December, transforming the lakeside into a winter wonderland. Visitors can enjoy Christmas markets, entertainment and excellent skiing, all set against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Crans-Montana‘s festive ambience makes it a wonderful destination for a memorable Christmas holiday.

La Clusaz

Celebrate the festive season in La Clusaz with their magical ‘Les Pestacles du Père Noël’ celebration running from Sunday 20th December to Friday 1st January. The programme of family-friendly events and entertainment includes the Winter Tipi, Santa Claus’s grand arrival, daily street performances and festive activities across the resort. Highlights include the popular New Year’s Eve Ski Show, combining music, skiing displays and a vibrant atmosphere to end the year in style.

La Plagne

The week-long run up to Christmas for Dec 19 arrivals gives plenty of time to browse the artisanal products and sip hot chocolate among decorated wooden chalets, then head to Plagne Centre on Christmas Eve for Mother Christmas’s gourmet treat, followed by an elf parade, a ski instructor descent, and a grand firework display, ahead of Santa on tour on Christmas Day, handing out treats and meeting families.

Le Grand-Bornand

Les Menuires

Les Menuires

Megeve

Megève

Val d’Isère

Christmas in Val d’Isère transforms the Alpine village into a festive winter wonderland with a week-long celebration, a Christmas village, torchlight descent, fireworks, street parades and music, and Santa Claus arriving on his sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Andorra’s New Year on the slopes.

Zell am See

“A beautiful lakeside resort, Zell am See in Austria’s Salzburgerland combines excellent skiing with an abundance of festive magic. With runs ranging from gentle blues to thrilling blacks, there’s something for every ability, alongside a lively après ski scene. Off the slopes, the Christmas market offers local crafts and Austrian treats. On Christmas Day, visitors can watch Zell am See’s unique Christmas Tree Dive, where divers ceremonially retrieve an illuminated Christmas tree from the depths of Lake Zell. Between mulled wine, festive songs and snow covered scenery, it’s a magical choice for Christmas,” report travel agency Ski Solutions.

Planning a Christmas ski week? See our full guide to the best ski resorts for Christmas

The Biggest New Year Parties On The Slopes

New Year is a peak week to be in the mountains, meaning resorts don’t get much busier or prices much higher. But then what better way to start the New Year  than on snow?

Courchevel

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in spectacular style in Courchevel, where festive events take place across the resort’s villages. Enjoy an exciting programme of live music, DJs, performances, entertainment and a dazzling fireworks display, creating a memorable atmosphere for families and friends alike. At Courchevel 1850, the celebrations centre around the Front de Neige, featuring concerts, DJs and spectacular entertainment leading up to midnight. Free access to the Praz and Grangettes gondolas, along with shuttle services, helps visitors move easily around the resort. For 2026/27, guests are advised to book accommodation and dining well in advance due to high demand.

Méribel

New Year’s Eve in Méribel starts early, with ESF torchlight descents in the late afternoon and fireworks at La Chaudanne in Méribel Centre, on the snow front in Méribel-Mottaret and in Méribel Village. Later on, La Folie Douce at the foot of the pistes in Mottaret puts on a show and DJ set to see the New Year in.

Val Thorens

Europe’s highest ski resort usually marks New Year’s Eve with an instructors’ torchlight descent at Place Caron, a free DJ set and light show on the roof of the Sports Centre and midnight fireworks over Cime Caron. The 2026 programme is published nearer the time, so check before you travel.

Don’t forget Châtel’s outdoor New Year’s Eve party with a DJ and fireworks, and the New Year’s Eve Ski Show in La Clusaz, both covered above.

Is There Snow At Christmas?

It’s the question everyone asks when booking a Christmas ski holiday, and the honest answer is that it varies from year to year. Most big Alpine resorts are open by mid-December and use extensive snowmaking to get the main runs ready for the festive weeks, but natural snow cover early in the season is never guaranteed, particularly at lower altitudes.

If snow is your priority, go high. Resorts with plenty of terrain above 2,000m, glacier ski areas and the far north of Scandinavia, where some of Lapland’s ski areas open in October, give you the best odds. Val Thorens, Tignes, Cervinia, Zermatt, Hintertux and Saas-Fee are all regulars on snow-sure lists.

For more ideas, see our guides to the best snow-sure ski resorts and the best resorts for early season skiing, and use our ski season planner to see when resorts open.

Christmas 2026 Travel Checker

It’s worth being aware that Christmas Day and New Year’s Day this season fall on a Friday, and with many ski flights travelling each direction early on Saturday morning, there’s been a boom in people looking for Sunday travel to give a bit more recovery time after the big events.

We’ve covered this in some detail here.

“With Christmas falling on a Friday, pressure is heavily on to secure trips departing on Sunday, December 27th. While we still have thousands of Sunday capacity options available, inventory is significantly lower than for Boxing Day departures. We strongly advise families and groups to lock in their plans now before the Sunday slots sell out,” commented Phil Wright, Head of Commercial and Operations at Iglu Ski.

Christmas at La Plagne

Christmas Ski Holiday Deals

Christmas deals keep coming in from tour operators so we’ll keep adding more as they come in adding the latest at the top. Please note (1) deals are described by the tour operators (2) tour operators don’t tend to let us know when deals end or sell out so the lower down the list they are, the more likely that might have happened…

La Rosiere – “A grand Christmas, for under a grand”

Depart the UK on 19th December for Christmas week in the snowy French Alps, where Ski Beat has a 7-night stay for £999pp, was £1379, saving £380pp, including accommodation in the homely Chalet Selvio in the high altitude resort of La Rosiere, with a private chalet host to prepare breakfast, afternoon tea, three-course meals with wine and a traditional Christmas dinner. Also includes return Gatwick or Manchester flights, and transfers.  Listed 13.09.26

Les 2 Alpes – “Fly Sundays And Save £350pp”

“For Christmas 2026, we’re steering clear of the chaotic Boxing Day travel stampede entirely. Instead, we’re running Sunday-to-Sunday flights (Dec 20th–27th), meaning travellers can actually enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and a proper recovery day on the slopes without melting down on the M25 or getting stuck at Heathrow.  The Price: 7-night catered ski trips starting from £1,299pp, including flights and airport transfers. The Savings: Up to £416pp off, plus an extra £50pp loyalty bonus for eligible returners (pushing total savings past £450pp).  The Perks: Fully decorated trees, midnight mince pies and bubbles on Christmas Eve, a festive breakfast, canapés, a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, free-flowing wine, and crucially absolute zero washing-up duties for anyone in the group.” Chalet Anemones (Les 2 Alpes) with Skiworld: Sleeps 14, skiing up to 3,600m. From £1,299pp (Saving £350pp).  Offer ends October 25^th, 2026.

Santa Skis Les Arcs

Les Arcs – “Fly Sundays And Save £400pp”

“For Christmas 2026, we’re steering clear of the chaotic Boxing Day travel stampede entirely. Instead, we’re running Sunday-to-Sunday flights (Dec 20th–27th), meaning travellers can actually enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and a proper recovery day on the slopes without melting down on the M25 or getting stuck at Heathrow.  The Price: 7-night catered ski trips starting from £1,299pp, including flights and airport transfers. The Savings: Up to £416pp off, plus an extra £50pp loyalty bonus for eligible returners (pushing total savings past £450pp).  The Perks: Fully decorated trees, midnight mince pies and bubbles on Christmas Eve, a festive breakfast, canapés, a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, free-flowing wine, and crucially absolute zero washing-up duties for anyone in the group.” Chalet Solomia (Les Arcs) with Skiworld: Sleeps 10, skiing up to 3,227m. From £1,299pp (Saving £400pp). Offer ends October 25^th, 2026.

St Anton – “Fly Sundays And Save £416pp”

“For Christmas 2026, we’re steering clear of the chaotic Boxing Day travel stampede entirely. Instead, we’re running Sunday-to-Sunday flights (Dec 20th–27th), meaning travellers can actually enjoy Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and a proper recovery day on the slopes without melting down on the M25 or getting stuck at Heathrow.  The Price: 7-night catered ski trips starting from £1,299pp, including flights and airport transfers. The Savings: Up to £416pp off, plus an extra £50pp loyalty bonus for eligible returners (pushing total savings past £450pp).  The Perks: Fully decorated trees, midnight mince pies and bubbles on Christmas Eve, a festive breakfast, canapés, a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, free-flowing wine, and crucially absolute zero washing-up duties for anyone in the group.”  Chalet Galzig (St Anton): Sleeps 6, high-altitude skiing up to 2,811m. From £1,299pp (Saving £416pp) with Skiworld.  Offer ends October 25^th, 2026.

Val d’Isère – “Christmas with £501 saving”

You can double the festive fun in Val d’Isere after all the village events with more of the same, and a full-on British dinner prepared in a snowy Alpine chalet. All for £1264pp, was £1765pp, saving £501, with 7 nights’ catered accommodation at Ski Beat’s Chalet Cristal, a host to prepare breakfast, afternoon tea, and three-course evening meals with wine and a traditional Christmas dinner, includes return Gatwick or Manchester flights and transfers. Listed 13.09.26

Val Thorens – “Christmas in Europe’s highest ski resort, saving £500pp”

Spend Christmas week in Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens, for Santa Claus parades, street shows, torchlight descents and a grand firework show on 24th December. Depart on 19th December and save £500pp saving off a week’s stay in the modern, apartment-style Chalet Loup Blanc in the resort centre, with use of an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi. The price of £1191pp, was £1691pp, includes a chalet host to prepare breakfast, afternoon tea, and three-course evening meals with wine, a British roast turkey Christmas dinner, return Gatwick or Manchester flights and transfers. www.skibeat.co.uk listed 13.09.26

Verbier’s Opening Session

Christmas Ski Holiday FAQs

When is Krampus Night 2026?

The main Krampus Night (Krampusnacht) is Saturday 5 December 2026, the night before the feast of St Nicholas. Resorts can stage their festivities a few days either side, so Seefeld’s Krampusnacht is on Friday 4 December, while the Gastein Valley’s house-to-house Krampus visits take place on 5 and 6 December.

Which ski resorts have the best Christmas markets?

Innsbruck is hard to beat, with six Christmas markets and easy access to several ski areas on the Ski Plus City pass. In the Dolomites, Val Gardena has Mountain Christmas in Selva and the Christmas Village in Ortisei, while Zell am See, Megève and Crans-Montana all add festive markets to excellent skiing. See our full guide to ski resorts with Christmas markets for more.

Where can you ski and meet Santa?

Finnish Lapland. Levi, Finland’s largest ski area, has Santa’s Cabin on its slopes and Santa’s Secret Cabin about 15 minutes away. Ounasvaara is just 10 minutes from Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi, and Pyhä is a short drive from the Secret Village. Crystal, Inghams and Heidi all offer holidays to Lapland.

Is there snow in the Alps at Christmas?

Usually enough to ski, but it isn’t guaranteed. Most big resorts are open by mid-December and rely on snowmaking for the main runs early in the season. For the best odds, choose a high-altitude or glacier resort such as Val Thorens, Tignes, Cervinia, Zermatt, Hintertux or Saas-Fee, or head to Lapland.

What days do Christmas and New Year fall on in 2026?

Christmas Day is Friday 25 December 2026 and New Year’s Day is Friday 1 January 2027, with New Year’s Eve on Thursday 31 December. Because many ski flights travel early on Saturday mornings, Sunday 27 December has become a very popular departure date.

When should I book a Christmas ski holiday?

As early as you can. Christmas and New Year are peak weeks in the mountains, with the highest prices and the most limited availability, and in 2026 Sunday departures after Christmas are expected to sell out first. Tour operators do release Christmas deals through the autumn, and we add the latest to this guide as they come in.