Skiing in September in the Alps
8th September 2026
The summer ski area of Passo Stelvio in Italy has re-opened with four glacier areas in Austria planning to open for the season later this month. Val Senales in Italy also hopes to fire up some lifts shortly. NEW
Autumn is underway with the temperatures falling and the nights drawing in.
There is still a long way to go, but winter is getting closer.
Last weekend Passo Stelvio reopened for skiing after being forced to close on August 15th due to the deteriorating snowpack.
“Following the drop in temperatures, the facilities will reopen,” said a statement from the resort as it announced the reopening.
We reported on it at the time:
Conditions are not great with the two ski lifts, Pajer and Cristallo, closing at 12.00 and a 40cm base reported – but it is the only ski area in Europe currently open.
The resort says it hopes to remain open to its planned closing date of November 1st.
Elsewhere, Saas-Fee and Zermatt/Cervinia should be open at this time of year but have been forced to close.
The nights have not been cold and enough for a full overnight freeze and that is what the slopes rely on over the summer.
This summer has seen the freezing level above 4,000m for extended periods with all the glacier ski areas remaining closed for the first time in six decades:
It has been a poor summer for skiing in the Alps, and it is questionable how many years of the activity remain.
View from the top of Zermatt. Image © PlanetSKI
It has been a devastating summer for the glaciers in the Alps.
The situation in Tignes is reflected around the mountains.
“In ten years, the glacier will have almost melted,” said the first deputy mayor of Tignes, Olivier Duch.
The Grande Motte glacier lost 1m every two weeks this summer.
Grande Motte glacier, Tignes. August 2026. Image c/o David Morgan.
On brighter news the glacier resorts of Hintertux, Pitztal, Kaunertal and Soelden are preparing to open at the end of September, but no firm dates have been confirmed.
Val Senales in Italy is also oping to open in a couple of weeks.
One resort in the Alps has already held its first skiing event.
Livigno in Italy has held its annual ‘Gara da li Contrada’ cross-country ski event last month.
It was the 44th edition of the event and sees snow stored from the previous winter laid down in a pedestrian area in the centre of town.
There was a 1km sprint that attracted some top Nordic skiers.
There were freestyle and snowboard aerial demonstrations, and live music.
Plus, the very popular all-comers race with competitors dressing in historic skiwear.
In Norway Gladhøpiggen, Scandinavia’s only summer ski area, remains shut though a reopening is expected later in September.
Winter may still be a long way off, but it is getting closer by the day and our thoughts are already turning to the season of 2026/27.
Ski companies are also releasing news for the coming winter:
Winter is on its way folks!
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