Val d’Isere is Best Resort in the World According to the Snomad Travel Awards
3rd November 2026
Europe swept the world’s Best Overall podium, with France’s Val d’Isère taking Gold ahead of Italy’s Livigno and Val Gardena. The result marks a change from 2025, when America’s Grand Targhee won the worldwide title. NEW
European ski resorts claimed more than two-thirds of the worldwide podium places in the 2026 Snomad Ski Resort Awards, taking 41 of the 60 available Gold, Silver and Bronze positions.
That’s 68.3% of the global total.
Across all 20 worldwide categories, European resorts took 41 podium places, compared with 11 for Canada and eight for the USA.
The awards are based on 153,854 ratings submitted by skiers and snowboarders during the 2025/26 season.
Val d’Isere in France was named the world’s Best Overall Ski Resort with a score of 4.62 out of five.
Snowmad Awards, 2026. Image c/o Snomad.
- Austria’s Ischgl took Gold for Après-Ski, Accommodation and Groomed Runs.
- Bulgaria’s Pamporovo was named the world’s Best Value resort and Best for Ski Schools,
- Switzerland’s Laax topped the world rankings for Snow Parks.
Less prominent names also claimed major accolades:
- France’s Les Carroz won the worldwide Best for Families award,
- Sainte Foy Tarentaise was named world’s Best for Intermediates.
- Switzerland’s Zermatt took the Snowboarding title
- Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo won Best for Eating Out.
In the European specialist categories:
- Verbier took Gold for Off-Piste and Mogul Skiing,
- Finland’s Ruka won Tree Runs and Quiet Slopes
- Laax added a European win for Powder Skiing.
- Val d’Isère also topped the European Advanced and Expert Skiers categories.
Snowmad Awards, 2026. Image c/o Snomad.
The third annual awards are based on 153,854 ratings submitted by skiers and snowboarders during the 2025/26 season, rather than paid nominations or an industry judging panel.
The awards cover 20 categories across worldwide, European and North American rankings.
“It’s interesting to see Europe take all three top spots for Best Overall this year, after a US resort won in 2025,” said the founder of Snomad, Dan Lever.
“Poor snow conditions across much of the western US may have played a part.
“More American skiers are also heading to Europe, where lift passes can be significantly cheaper and a week’s skiing can sometimes cost less, even including flights.”
Snomad Awards, Europe.
Rankings take account of average ratings and a minimum ratings threshold, with the number of ratings also contributing to a lesser extent.
Snomad has recorded 377,826 resort ratings cumulatively.
Its exact ranking calculations are not published.
About the Snomad Ski Resort Awards: The awards recognise ski resorts using ratings from skiers and snowboarders who have experienced the destinations first-hand.
Results are published in 20 categories across worldwide, European and North American rankings.
The 2026 awards use 153,854 ratings from the 2025/26 ski season.
Rankings take account of average ratings, a minimum qualifying threshold and, to a lesser degree, ratings volume; the exact formula is not disclosed.
About Snomad: Snomad is a community-driven ski resort information platform which brings together ratings and first-hand experiences from skiers and snowboarders to help others compare destinations and plan ski holidays.
About the podium counts: For European totals, results for the worldwide and corresponding regional rankings have been combined where stated.
Full 2026 results: https://gosnomad.com/ski-resort-awards/2026
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