Three Areas Now Open in the Alps but Two Others Postpone September Openings
26th September 2026
Last modified on September 28th, 2026
Pitztal in Austria opened on Saturday, joining Val Senales & Passo Stelvio in Italy. The Austrian glacier areas of Soelden & Kaunertal have cancelled their scheduled opening as there is not enough snow. UPDATED
The Gletscherexpress opened at 7am taking skiers and snowboarders to the top of the glacier area.
1.6 miles of slopes were open on Piste 26 and Piste 29.
The resort will open more terrain as the snow falls and plans to remain open until May 2nd.
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Pitztal set its opening date of Saturday September 26th some time ago and it was feared the resort might have to push it back after the high temperatures of the summer and lack of autumn snow.
Conditions on the glacier are not great, but there is enough to offer some September skiing and snowboarding.
“It’s about to start again!” said Pitztal on social media ahead of the opening of part of its glacier area.
“On Saturday, September 26th, we’ll kick off the new ski season at Pitztaler Gletscher.
“We’re looking forward to the first runs of the season with you.”
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Kaunertal is not so fortunate and has been forced to delay its planned opening.
“Our planned season start for a training operation from 26.09.2026 cannot take place due to the current weather conditions.”
“Instead of snow, there was rain recently, and the temperatures are still too high to start with snowfall.
“As soon as the snow and temperature conditions allow, we will start.”
Soelden has also cancelled its September 26th opening.
Hintertux is planning to open next weekend.
The resort used to open 365 days a year, but this summer it closed in July.
Saas-Fee in Switzerland has announced that it will re-open in Saturday 3rd October.
“Due to the current glacier conditions, skiing operations can only resume on a limited basis for the time being,” said Saas-Fee as it announced the re-opening.
“From 3 October, the two upper ski lifts, Allalin 2 and Allalin 3, will be in operation.
“The two lower ski lifts cannot be opened at this stage.
“Snow and glacier conditions will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
“Further lifts will open as soon as conditions permit. We will provide information on any changes in due course.”
Saas-Fee shut its summer slopes on August 10th.
“The extent of skiing on all these glaciers remains very limited with just two runs open in Pitztal on a heavily managed base,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“There was a dusting of snow on the Austrian glaciers mid-week, though not enough to radically transform the otherwise barren landscape for any length of time.
“Overall, the weather in the Alps this September has again been exceptionally dry and warm.
“Looking a bit further ahead, the forecast for the Alps remains unfavourable for the glaciers, with next week set to get off to a very warm start across the board.
“It will turn a fraction cooler mid-week with some showers and even a dusting of snow possible at high altitude, however, temperatures will remain above average for the foreseeable future.
The Italian ski area of Val Senales has some very limited skiing with just 1km of terrain open.
Passo Stelvio in Italy re-opened earlier in September after closing in mid-August due to the warm temperatures.
Its glacier ski area was a sorry sight.
Photo: pirovano.it, 15 August 2026
It has 3kms of slopes open.
Zermatt/Cervinia remains closed.
The area shut it summer slopes on 1st August.
The 2026 summer ski season in the Alps has been the worst since summer skiing began around 60 years ago with areas shutting early amid heatwave after heatwave.
At one point there was no lift served skiing on offer – a first.
Once all the numbers are collated it will be the warmest summer on record in the Alps and likely the shape of things to come.
However, our thoughts at PlanetSKI are turning to the winter ahead.
Austria usually sees the first resorts to open.
- Hintertux glacier – Early October 2026.
- Molltal glacier – 3rd October 2026
- Kitzsteinhorn – Mid-October 2026
- Stubai glacier – Mid-October 2026
See here for a related PlanetSKI post as we detail the opening and closing dates for the major ski areas in Austria:
In Finland two resorts are preparing to open on October 2nd.
Levi and Ruka will offer the earliest non-glacial skiing and snowboarding without relying on fresh snow.
They are using snow stored from last season.
Ruka preserves around 150,000 cubic meters of snow over the summer, enough to cover around 67 football pitches.
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The summer of 2026 has been very poor for the Alps with long-term changes taking place as the glaciers melt and the mountains become more unstable.
PlanetSKI reported across the summer on the impact of the rising temperatures on the Alps:
- Another heatwave hits the Alps with damage to glaciers and mountains
- Further rockfalls threaten the Alps
- Swiss villages threatened by melting glaciers
- Another Swiss village evacuated due to landslide threat
- Monitoring rockfalls in the Alps
Winter may still be some way off, but it is getting closer by the day and our posts on PlanetSKI are already turning to the season of 2026/27.
Ski resorts & companies are also releasing news for the coming winter:
- What’s new in Verbier for next winter?
- See what’s new at Alpine Fleet for next winter
- Interest in complimentary ski guiding from VIP SKI rises
- Inghams Ski expands ski programme for next winter
- VIP SKI aims to boost skier’s confidence
- Austria looks forward to next winter
- Iglu Ski unveils what’s new for next winter
- Luxury Chalet Company reveals what’s new for next winter
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