Industry News
Last year’s list of European resorts opening in September was a bit longer. This year, with a heatwave across Europe, the list of ski resorts with confirmed opening dates is much shorter: only three resorts currently have set an opening date. However, many of Europe’s glacier summer ski areas, which paused operations during the peak of the heatwave, are expected to reopen at some stage in September.
The first resort to open in Europe will be Val Senales in South Tyrol, Italy, followed shortly afterward by Austria’s Pitztal Glacier and Kaunertal Glacier. And while several of Europe’s traditional summer glacier ski areas have been forced to close temporarily because of exceptional warmth, cooler autumn temperatures could bring some of them back online in the coming weeks.
The good news is that the weather is finally starting to turn in our favor and the September ski offering should pick up soon.
Val Senales to Kick Off the European Ski Season
The Val Senales Glacier, also known as Schnalstal or Alpin Arena Senales, is currently scheduled to begin its 2026-27 winter ski season on September 18. The resort is located in South Tyrol, the German-speaking region of northern Italy, just south of the Austrian border.
Skiing begins high on the glacier, with the Grawand chairlift reaching 3,212 meters (10,538 feet) above sea level. The resort describes itself as one of Italy’s highest ski areas and promotes its unusually long season, with skiing possible from September into spring.
The altitude is a major reason Val Senales can get a jump on the European ski season. The glacier’s elevation keeps temperatures considerably lower than in the valleys, allowing the resort to preserve and prepare snow while much of the Alps is still experiencing late-summer conditions.
The Grawand area includes several pistes, including an approximately 850-meter (2,790-foot) run served by the Grawand chairlift. The glacier is also a significant training destination for national ski teams, with dedicated race-training terrain available for slalom and giant slalom.
The resort even has the Glacier Hotel Grawand directly at 3,212 meters, meaning skiers can essentially wake up on the glacier and step straight onto the snow. The Grawand Hotel will be open from September 19.
Pitztal & Kaunertal Glaciers Open September 26
Just across the Alps to the north in neighboring Austria, the Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to begin its 2026-27 ski season on September 26. The resort has officially published a winter operating period of September 26, 2026, through May 2, 2027, although it notes that the actual opening and closing dates remain dependent on snow and weather conditions.
Pitztal is home to some of Austria’s highest ski terrain and markets itself as the highest glacier ski area in Tyrol. The early-season skiing will be concentrated on the glacier, with the resort’s lifts accessing terrain high above the Pitztal Valley.
Nearby Kaunertal Glacier is also scheduled to open on September 26 — conditions permitting. Kaunertal sits right on the border to Italy and at the top of the Karlesjoch gondola, you can have one foot in Italy and one foot in Austria.
The resort sits at the end of the scenic Kaunertal Glacier Road and the Karlesjoch gondola takes you from the parking lot straight up to 3,108 meters (10,197 feet).
What About the Summer Ski Areas?
The September openings come at an interesting time for European glacier skiing. Several of the Alps’ traditional summer ski areas have had an exceptionally difficult 2026 season. Persistent warmth and a lack of overnight freezing have forced temporary closures at several glaciers, demonstrating just how challenging summer skiing has become.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
The Stelvio Pass is one of Europe’s most unusual ski areas because its season is effectively reversed from that of a conventional resort. Located high in the Italian Alps, Stelvio traditionally operates during the summer and early fall before closing when winter weather makes the mountain road inaccessible.
The resort’s official schedule currently lists a planned closure date of November 1, 2026, although access to the ski area remains dependent on road and weather conditions. Stelvio has historically been an important summer training destination for ski racers, although this year’s extreme glacier conditions have complicated the summer skiing picture across the Alps.
Hintertux, Austria
The Hintertux Glacier is one of the world’s best-known year-round glacier ski areas. Unlike most glacier resorts, Hintertux officially advertises lift operations throughout the entire year. However, actual ski operations can vary according to conditions and demand.
The resort currently expects ski operations to begin again in late September 2026, putting it right alongside the traditional start of the European glacier season. Hintertux’s ability to maintain year-round glacier access makes it one of the most reliable options for skiers looking to find snow outside the traditional winter months.
Zermatt Waiting for Cooler Weather
The Zermatt glacier is another story. Zermatt’s Theodul Glacier has been closed to public summer skiing since July 31 because of high temperatures, a lack of sufficient overnight cooling and changing glacier conditions. Zermatt Bergbahnen has not announced a firm date for reopening public summer skiing.
The transition into fall typically brings shorter days, cooler nights and, eventually, more reliable overnight freezing. Those conditions can make a substantial difference on glacier ski areas, where snow quality and glacier safety can deteriorate rapidly during periods of persistent warmth. For now, however, Zermatt remains a waiting game.
Saas-Fee Also Waiting
The same story is playing out just across the Swiss Alps at Saas-Fee. Saas-Fee temporarily suspended summer skiing on August 10 because of persistently high temperatures and changes to snow and glacier conditions. The resort says it will resume operations when conditions allow, but there is currently no firm reopening date.
That is particularly notable because Saas-Fee is one of Europe’s premier summer ski-training destinations. The resort says its glacier normally provides approximately 20 kilometers of prepared terrain and attracts ski teams from around the world.
Galdhøpiggen Waiting for September
Norway’s Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Center has also paused operations. The ski area, located on the Juvass glacier, opened for the 2026 season on May 8 and is currently listed as closed with plans to reopen in September.
Unlike the large glacier resorts of the Alps, Galdhøpiggen is a small, high-altitude summer ski area, but it provides another option for skiers chasing early-season turns in northern Europe.
September Skiing Is Almost Here
The start of September won’t suddenly transform the Alps into winter. For most European ski resorts, the 2026-27 season remains months away. But for skiers willing to chase glacier snow, the wait is almost over..
What to Expect & Things to Check
Even when resorts are technically “open” in September, conditions vary significantly:
- Limited terrain: Often only glacier lifts and high-altitude runs are in service. Lower mountain lifts, parks, or terrain far from glaciers may be closed.
- Snow quality can be sketchy, especially early. Frost, ice, or thin cover are common — especially in the mornings or before fresh snowfall.
- Lift schedules and hours tend to be reduced. Some lifts might run only for a few hours a day.
- Glacier access and safety: Crevasse risk, snow bridges, and weather changes can impact whether certain glacier routes are open. Always check with the resort for official opening dates and status.
