2025/2026 Winter Season Review: France Regains Its Position as the World?s Leading Ski Destination

It was the third-best season ever recorded by French ski resorts, behind the 2008/2009 winter season (58.6 million skier-days) and the 2012/2013 season (57.6 million skier-days). Domaines Skiables de France reviews a winter season that confirms the public’s strong attachment to the mountains, skiing and snow sports, and shared experiences at altitude, across all of France’s mountain ranges.

The 2025/2026 winter season was particularly dynamic in the Alps and the Pyrenees, which both recorded a very strong season and helped drive the national performance upwards. The Massif Central, the Jura Mountains and the Vosges Mountains had to contend with more variable snow conditions this year.

The pre-season was marked by early snowfall from the end of November onwards, allowing many ski areas to open under very good conditions.

The Christmas holidays were in line with the national average, with the Alps and Pyrenees benefiting fully from the snow cover already in place, while the Massif Central, Jura Mountains and Vosges Mountains had to deal with a temporary period of milder weather and thawing conditions.

The return of cold weather and further snowfall in early January enabled all mountain ranges to open most of their ski areas. Benefiting from particularly favourable weather conditions, the January inter-holiday period proved excellent, with national visitor numbers 3% higher than the previous winter and 9% above the average of the last four winters.

This momentum particularly benefited the Vosges Mountains, Jura Mountains and Massif Central, which were able to make up significant ground. As of 6 February, cumulative national visitor numbers were 9% above the four-year average, with the Alps and Pyrenees further consolidating France’s overall lead.

Across the entire four-week winter holiday period, national visitor numbers remained very close to the levels recorded during the previous winter and to the four-year average. The Southern Alps and Jura Mountains performed particularly well.

As of 6 March, cumulative national visitor numbers were 5% above the average of the previous four winters and at a level comparable to the previous season at the same point in time.

A March inter-holiday period that finally bounces back

The March inter-holiday period saw a clear rebound, with visitor numbers increasing compared with the previous winter for the first time since the post-Covid recovery: +20% nationally. This brought the period back in line with the average of the previous four winters.

This improvement, supported by generally above-average snow conditions, particularly benefited the Jura Mountains.

Notably, the end of the season, which included the Easter weekend, recorded a 3% increase in visitor numbers compared with the previous year.

This result confirms the vitality of April, a structurally important period for ski resorts and for the economy of the mountain valleys. It demonstrates the ability of ski areas to extend their operating season as long as snow conditions and the attractiveness of the mountains allow.

With 56.1 million skier-days, the 2025/2026 winter season ranks as the third-best season ever recorded by French ski resorts.

Season after season, it confirms the enduring appeal of skiing and the mountains: extraordinary experiences, fresh air, skiing and snow sports, shared moments – all of these motivations continue to attract a broad and loyal audience to the Alps, the Pyrenees and France’s mid-altitude mountain ranges.

In this respect, Domaines Skiables de France highlights the industry’s remarkable ability to adapt and its professionalism. The sector succeeded in delivering exceptionally high visitor numbers throughout the winter, thanks to the quality of investments made by operators, their outstanding expertise and their daily commitment to serving their customers.

Summer 2026 confirms the mountains’ position as a fully established summer destination.

During the core summer season (4 July – 22 August), the occupancy rate reached 65.8%, an increase of 2.5% compared with summer 2025, with a peak of 80.7% during the week of 8 August.

Across the extended season as a whole (13 June – 11 September), the French mountains continued their upward trend, with occupancy reaching 52.7% (+1 percentage point compared with 2025). This was driven by a particularly dynamic end to August: the week of 22 August increased by 2.3 percentage points, while August ultimately reached an occupancy rate of 72.8% (+0.7 percentage points).

This momentum is being fuelled by the search for cooler temperatures (“coolcations”), the breadth and diversification of the tourism offering, and major events, particularly the Tour de France and festivals.

All mountain ranges recorded growth. The Pyrenees confirmed their position as the strongest-performing mountain range, with an occupancy rate of 55.7% (+1.2 percentage points) and a peak of 79.4% in August.

They were followed by the Northern Alps at 50.8% (+1.3 percentage points), while the Southern Alps maintained a very strong level at 52.3%.

Among accommodation providers, the professional accommodation sector exceeded the 50% occupancy mark (+1.3 percentage points), while the peer-to-peer/private accommodation sector maintained an excellent level of 55.5%. The core season showed particularly strong growth, with occupancy up 2.3 percentage points in July and 1.5 percentage points in August.

Sources:

Winter review: Domaines Skiables de France

Summer review: G2A

Domaines Skiables de France (DSF) is the professional trade association representing French ski-area and cable-transport operators.

DSF brings together 380 members, comprising 230 active members (operators of ski lifts or ski areas) and approximately 150 corresponding members (suppliers, manufacturers, training centres, project managers, etc.).

Ski areas are the main source of attractiveness for mountain resorts, which welcome 10 million tourists every winter, 7 million of whom participate in snow sports.

As key players in the development of mountain resorts, ski areas have a decisive influence on the economic activity of local businesses and service providers, including retailers, accommodation providers, ski and mountain professionals, and others.

The operation of ski areas is essential for maintaining employment and social life in mountain regions. DSF members employ 18,500 people across around 20 different occupations.

Every winter, more than 120,000 jobs in France, both direct and indirect, depend on the opening of ski areas, including jobs in retail, accommodation, ski schools and resort services.

With 56.1 million skier-days in 2025/2026, France ranks first worldwide among ski destinations, ahead of Austria and the United States.