Where to go Spring Skiing in 2026?
- Henry
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Alongside some traditional big hitters, shifting snow patterns in 2026 is unlocking new spring skiing destinations for March, April and even May.
More and more people are choosing to ski in March and April over the traditional mid-winter months of January and February – and there are so many great reasons for doing so! I love skiing in spring as it brings warmer weather, longer days, ski touring opportunities and the chance to relax with a glass (or two, or three) on the terrace.
But skiing in spring can be more complex than skiing in mid-winter, with snow and weather combining to limit the number of locations where good snow can be found.
This is especially true in 2026, when traditionally snow-sure areas have suffered from a lack of snow, and a range of different areas are experiencing record snowfall meaning spring skiing options for 2026 are different than in previous years.
This is my guide to 2026’s best spring skiing destinations.
Why Ski in Spring?
Like I said, there are so many good reasons to ski in spring. For starters, the weather is warmer – I’ve often said that if you are learning to ski or thinking of booking your first ski trip, March and April are brilliant times to go because you don’t have to worry about the cold.
Yes, it is still between freezing and 10°C, temperatures that normally have you wrapping up warm at home. But there is plenty of sun, and the sun’s energy reflects off the snow as well, meaning if often feels far warmer than it is! And remember, you are exercising as well, generating your own body heat.
The days are longer and open up more opportunities for other activities alongside the skiing. This can be ski touring, with sunrise or sunset skins now on the cards to more fully enjoy the mountains around you, or it could be more après time; very little beats sunning yourself on the terrace of your favourite restaurant with a glass of rosé or dancing on the tables at your favourite bar!
However you choose to spend your spring skiing time, make sure you add an extra layer of suncream, as goggle tans may look cool but the sun’s rays, reflected as they are off the snow, can be harmful.
The Usual Suspects
When suggesting places to spring ski, I often fall back on a handful of regular resorts and regions.
This includes France, where there are a wide range of resorts that you will be familiar with that tick every box for every kind of spring skier. These include my favourites, Tignes and Val d’Isere, where I’ve spent bits of March and April – or both – over the past few years. They have huge ski areas where most of it sits above 2,000m, a magic number for snow surety in this day and age, and plenty of off piste areas either lift accessible or from very easy tours.
And once you’re done with your skiing, there’s plenty of places to keep the fun going including my personal favourite après bar, Cocoricos in Val d’Isere.
Others on this list in France include the Three Valleys – especially Val Thorens – Les Arcs & La Plagne and Les Deux Alpes, all of which have seasons that regularly stretch well into April and often into May.
Elsewhere, Austria possesses a similarly enviable collection of snow sure resorts with great skiing opportunities and famous après ski scenes. St Anton, Solden and Ischgl top this list, with the latter embracing its glorious springtime reputation with a fantastic series of concerts scheduled for this spring.
And for those looking for a more relaxed time of things, Obergurgl brings all the excellence of Austrian skiing without the tubthumping après ski scene.
2026 Recommendations
But there’s a slight problem this year. Snow.
Austria is traditionally snow-sure; it is blessed with sitting in a part of Europe that mixes coastal climates from the Atlantic and Mediterranean with continental climates over Central and Eastern Europe, meaning it is colder than a lot of the rest of the Alps and generally more consistently snowier.
This year, something has changed. Austria has seen almost record-low levels of snowfall, so that, at time of writing in early February, large parts of Austria are bare and barren, grass and mud showing through were there should be metres and metres of snow. In places, ski runs have been left to the rocks and mud.
On the flip side of this coin, Italy is having a field day – the snow that was supposed to hit Austria throughout winter 2025/26 has consistently gone and missed the region, swinging in south of the Main Alpine Ridge and dumping on Italy instead. This is therefore unlocking a range of Italian resorts that are now great destinations for spring skiing in 2026.
Cervinia – always a spring big hitter – gets a boots, but so does neighbouring Champoluc, a delightful, quiet village of a ski area that offers impressive skiing, on- and off-piste, alongside the linked areas of Gressoney and Alagna.
Pila sits high above the Roman town of Aosta, and just down the valley is Courmayeur. All great ski resorts, and for those after some tub thumping après, Sauze d’Oulx and the Via Lattea lies equidistant the other way from Turin.
Final Thoughts
I love spring as a great time to head away and enjoy the mountains, and you can ski in the Alps way later than you think you can. This year, with shifting weather patterns unlocking new and different late season ski areas, 2026 could be the year to ski more unusual destiantions.
.jpeg)
Comments