The six best places to ski in 2026

From Italian Winter Olympic buzz to brand-new wellness retreats in the Canadian Rockies, these six ski areas are trending for 2026.

As the barometer drops in the northern hemisphere, skiers everywhere are preparing to shred black diamonds and show off their mountain 'fits. Tried-and-true hotspots like Aspen and Courchevel never lose their appeal, but according to Sara Haney, head of travel for concierge service Velocity Black which organises bespoke skiing experiences for travellers, skiers in 2026 "want a sense of discovery, not just lift access".

This season, snow reliability also remains a top priority. According to Cat Iwanchuk, vice president of business development at Ski.com, skiers are changing their plans to coincide with optimal snowfall. Favourable early forecasts boost the season's top contenders.

From exciting new openings to the chillest après ski, here are our picks of the six best places to ski in 2026.

Alta Badia, The Dolomites, Italy

The Dolomite Mountains, famed for their dramatic limestone peaks and perfect pink sunsets, have traditionally been an "Italians-only" ski destination. Thanks to hosting this year's Winter Olympics, ski-related searches from the US have risen 82% compared to the same timeframe in 2024 and up 16% in the UK, reports Herrmann Global Tourism Insights.

The focus is mostly on Cortina d'Ampezzo, which will host many of the Games' events, but "Cortina d'Ampezzo is only but a fraction of the vast Dolomites," says Agustina Lagos Mármol, owner of Italian travel operator Dolomite Mountains. The Dolomiti Superski stretches for 3000 sq km, encompassing a dozen different ski areas (one pass gets you into all 12).

To catch the Olympic buzz (without blowing your budget), Mármol recommends exploring other parts of the region, where accommodation is more accessible. Alta Badia, a stunning valley 50 minutes west of Cortina, is up and coming thanks to the July 2025 opening of the 51-room chalet-style luxury hotel Aman Rosa Alpina. Picturesque villages like Corvara (Alta Badia's adventure hub) offer easy access to 130km (81 miles) of skiing. Paired with stick-to-your-ribs South Tyrolean dishes like golasc y polënta (goulash with polenta) at Maso Runch Farm and après-ski bombardini (Italian-style eggnog) at Club Moritzino, you've got all the ingredients for an Italian ski holiday.

Big Sky, Montana, US

Can a hotel opening define an entire season? The November 2025 debut of One&Only Moonlight Basin just might. Caroline Hansen, trip designer for Indagare, reports the opening "has put Big Sky even more on the global luxury map." In addition to 73 upscale rooms and 19 cabins, the hotel flaunts world-class dining and a stargazing observatory.

Big Sky's ascent from under-the-radar cult favourite to one of the US' most popular resorts has been a decade in the making, thanks to updated lift infrastructure (from Ramcharger 8's heated seats to weatherproof bubbles) and a hospitality scene glow up. Foodies will love this winter's residency from Chicago's two-starred Michelin restaurant Alinea, and until 31 March 2026, head chef Grant Achatz and his team will run M x Big Sky Resort, highlighting alpine cuisine.

None of this overshadows the area's true appeal: 5,850 acres of some of the least crowded slopes in the American West.

"Big Sky still feels blissfully untouched by the heavy commercial footprint you see in other mountain towns," says Steve Orens, president of luxury travel agency Frosch. "Once you arrive, the scale and quiet hit you immediately. Also, it's not just for skiers. Think snowshoeing through Yellowstone and horseback adventures." Don't miss the DJ-fuelled après at the Village Plaza.

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Banff, Alberta, Canada

Despite its location in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff has traditionally been considered a summer travel destination thanks to its hiking trails and crystalline lakes. But this season's expansion plans might be poised to change that.

On 17 December 2025, Lake Louise Ski Resort unveiled Richardson's Ridge; 200 new acres of beginner-, intermediate- and tree-skiing terrain serviced by the high-speed quad chairlift that debuted in 2024. This season also welcomes wellness venues: Basin at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a 19,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor thermal bath on the shores of Lake Louise, while Everwild is a design-forward new hotel with a Nordic Spa in Canmore. But to experience the region's rugged roots, head to Rose & Crown, a 40-year-old local favourite with nightly live music.

For Iwanchuk, what makes Banff best-in-class is the snow. "The combination of a location far north and high altitude means that snow conditions are typically among the best in the world," she explains. "You can feel confident booking in advance."

Two of Banff's ski areas – Banff Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resort – had such promising early snowfall that they were the first Canadian resort to open for the 2025-2026 season.

Hokkaido, Japan

From 2024 to 2025, Niseko, a town in Japan's northernmost Hokkaido region known for its fluffy, plentiful "Japow" (Japan powder), had a record-breaking season, welcoming more than 11 million visitors. Interest in skiing in Japan continues to grow, but ski travel advisor Alli Widman of The Avant Ski champions the lesser-known village of Furano, which has a 28-run ski resort located about two hours east of Sapporo. Its season started with a bang, receiving 190cm (75 inches) of snow as of 15 December 2025. "By August this year, I had booked more Furano trips than in any previous season," Widman reveals.

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Pair mornings on the mountain with a bowl of spicy Hokkaido soup curry at Furanoya or try the area's traditional post-ski treat at a Hokkaido-style ice cream making class at the Furano Cheese Factory. Given Furano's size (just 415 acres), Widman often builds multi-mountain itineraries, adding Asahikawa and Mt Asahi-dake, Hokkaido's highest peak with "incredible backcountry access".

Orens recommends an island road trip from Niseko to Iwanai and then to Rusutsu. "Each stop gives you a completely different view, snow and feel," he says. "At Iwanai Resort, you can go snowcat skiing straight into untouched powder, and in the mornings, they'll hand you hot coffee and doughnuts before you even clip in. Rusutsu caps the trip with some of the area's most consistent snow."

In the French Alps, Chamonix, Val d'Isere and Courchevel get the most attention, but this year, train your skis towards Méribel, which makes up one-third of the Les 3 Vallees ski area. This quaint ski town with wood chalet architecture has access to 600km (373 miles) of trails, a lively après-ski scene (slopeside cabaret at La Folie Douce, anyone?) and gorgeous views of the Les Allues valley.

"We've seen a significant uptick in Méribel enquiries this season – around 50% more interest than last year," says Nickie Mabey, founder of Mabey Ski. She adds that snow reliability comes with "a more grounded, authentic Savoyard feel [for guests who] want private mountain guides who know which refuges serve the best hay-matured raclette, torch-lit forest dinners and wine tastings with local sommeliers".

This season, the Côte Brune lift, which connects Meribel to Val Thorens, has been updated into a lightning-quick 10-person gondola. Forty-year-old Les Rhodos, too, has been given a €10m (£8.7m) makeover, and a new green run debuts at Rhodos mid-station to the Rond Point. The First Track experience will be taking place every Wednesday from Roc de Fer, a World Cup downhill ski course.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Eager to extend the snow-cap fantasy beyond March? Head to Queenstown, home to one of the world's longest winter sports seasons, stretching nearly five months from June to October. Four distinct resorts – all within a short drive of the city's downtown – offer beginner-friendly tracks, freestyle parks and plenty of backcountry fields. Winter 2026 also marks the first full season of the Soho Basin expansion, which added another 370 acres to the Cardrona Alpine Resort trail map, making it the country's largest commercial ski resort.

ROKI Collection, a luxury hotel that opened on the banks of Lake Wakatipu on 1 September 2025, is within striking distance of the slopes on The Remarkables ski area. Queenstown's winter season is also full of events, including the 10-day Winter Pride in August – the Southern Hemisphere's largest LGBTQIA+ winter festival.

"I think people tend to approach Queenstown differently," Mabey says. "It's often booked as part of a broader New Zealand winter trip. The town itself is such a major draw with adventure activities, wine regions and that stunning lakeside setting that skiing becomes one element of a multi-faceted holiday."

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