What's new in the French Alps for the 2026/27 ski season?

From new lifts and enhanced facilities to exciting resort improvements, we’ve been speaking with our resort partners to uncover what’s in store for the season ahead. Here’s our roundup of the top developments across the French Alps for winter 2026/27.

Interested in a particular resort or topic? Jump to it here:

Chamrousse
La Clusaz
Courchevel
La Rosière
Le Grand Bornand
Les Carroz d'Araches
Les Gets
Les Menuires
Méribel
Montgenèvre
La Plagne
La Tania
Les Contamines
Megève
Peisey-Vallandry
Pralognan-la-Vanoise
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
Saint Sorlin d'Arves
Valloire
Valmorel
Val Cenis
Val d’Isère 
Val Thorens
Villard-de-Lans

Resort anniversaries
Shared news
2030 Winter Olympics update
Discover new accommodation

Montgenèvre's exciting lift news

The 10-seater Chalvet gondola replaces the old 6-seater and halves the journey time. Also, the Fournéous gondola replaces the old 2-seater chairlift and cuts the journey time to a third! The Fournéous gondola is the first lift in the Southern French Alps fitted with Doppelmayr’s AURO system, which allows autonomous operation without an operator. Both lifts are due to open for the Christmas 2026 holidays.

This season in Montgenèvre will see the start of a new high-altitude link at Collette Verte with the new Colletto Verde chairlift. This detachable 4-seat chairlift will enable a new way to access the Monts de la Lune ski area in Italy. It will open in the future season.

Another innovation, billed as a world first: the Monty Express monorail toboggan is now hauled up by dedicated cabins, loaded and unloaded by robots.

Pralognan la Vanoise beginner area enhancements

Replacement of the Crocus drag lift in Pralognan la Vanoise with a conveyor lift on the beginners area. This upgrade makes taking those first steps on skis easier and ensures the area (located at the top of the Mont-Bochor cable car) is more accessible to beginners. Located in the heart of the children’s ski area, the Pralognan ESF is further enhancing the experience for the youngest of skiers with a new wooden chalet designed for the Piou-Piou Club.

Val Cenis/Termignon lift news and panoramic walkway

Although not directly in Val Cenis, Val Cenis is lift-linked with Termignon where the Grand Coin drag lift has been removed and is being replaced with a 6-man chairlift. The Ramasse chairlift (opposite Hotel St Charles) is being replaced with a telecombi (AKA chondola or telemix). This alternates gondolas and chairs on the same lift, which allows pedestrains to use it. Both are set to open December 2026.

A new viewing platform built amidst the treetops is located at 2,100m at Replat des Canons 10m above the ground (the summit of Roches Blanches chairlift). This 126m long, 4-metre-wide walkway offers a panoramic view of the Vanoise National Park and its glaciers. It features interactive displays, a suspended resting net, a slide, an observation tower and is accessible to all.

Peisey Vallandry's revamped fun run

The resort of Peisey Vallandry has redesigned Les Pitchouns fun trail in the forest with new scenery, hidden characters and suprises! They have also introduced new Easy Ski routes to help beginners back to villages via quieter slopes.

La Rosière's White West Festival in April

4 days worth of all-day Western experiences in La Rosière. During the festival, head to Place des Eucherts, where the Western Village will be buzzing from morning until evening. The large Dance Hall marquee becomes the festive heart of White West, with concerts, country evenings and après-ski after the slopes have closed. From Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th April 2026.

La Tania gondola news and panoramic terrace in Courchevel

La Tania refurbished gondola is set to open in December 2026. All existing cabins are being replaced with modern 8-seater Poma panoramic cabins. In addition, a new 300m2 panoramic wooden terrace will open at the summit of Chenus with views towards La Saulire. Exceptional south-facing setting, among the sunniest viewpoints in Courchevel.

Méribel's new restaurant line-up

Opening on the Chaudanne snowfront in the heart of Meribél, NOMAD introduces an entirely new concept to Méribel. Breakfast service, chic après-ski experience from late afternoon featuring DJs, live entertainment, light shows, signature cocktails and an ice bar.

The famous La Folie Douce is opening a new Italian restaurant Cucucina. It replaces the former self-service restaurant.

Learning area in St Martin de Belleville gets a new lift

The children's learning area in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville benefits from a new generation conveyor lift.

Les Menuires additional snowmaking

A major program dedicated to strengthening snowmaking infrastructure is set to begin in Les Menuires (and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville).

Val Thorens new coffee shop and non-skiing activities to try

Already found its place in nearby Les Menuires, Zig Zag Café is opening its second location in Val Thorens, becoming the resort's very first dedicated speciality coffee shop.

Fancy something more invigorating? Then the Mountain Kart Xperience offers a thrilling downhill ride aboard a specially designed three-wheeled mountain kart.

And perhaps the most exciting is that Caron 3200 welcomes EVEREST: Unknown Territory. It is a brand-new immersive virtual reality experience using cutting-edge free-roaming virtual reality. Guests relive the legendary 1953 expedition that led to the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. Something quite special!

Les Contamines announces a new cable car

This winter Les Contamines-Montjoie is unveiling a new 10-seater cable car, which will improve access to Tappes Plateau.

Le Grand Bornand adds snowtubing to its offerings

Le Grand-Bornand adds a 160m long snowtubing slope (accessible from the age of 3) with speeds of up to 40km/h, sitting in a large rubber ring.

Valmorel gets a new 10-seater gondola

Valmorel is replacing both a 4-seater chairlift and a drag lift with the new 10-seater Combelouvière gondola. A new beginner area at the top will provide a safer progression space for beginners.

New zipline and lift in Les Carroz d'Arâches

The Gron fixed-grip chairlift gives way to a refurbished 6-seater detachable chairlift in Les Carroz d'Arâches. Its redesigned route serves the Gron combe and makes the link with Morillon easier.

There will be a new 1,125m twin-cable zip line built on the old Gron lift route above, with an average gradient of 33.6%. You ride it seated, alone or in pairs, and skiers keep their skis on. The departure is at the old arrival station of the chairlift and the arrival is near the start of the new chairlift, above the Gron combe and lake.

La Clusaz new lifts and fantastic new luge

The Col de Balme chairlift is replaced by a 6-seater detachable chairlift which serves the Balme sector. The Louveteau sector will welcome a new 125m long magic carpet and a dedicated beginner area.

A short walk from the village centre of La Clusaz, the Luge des Bois offers an 820m descent at up to 40km/h, with bends and a 360° spin. Open to skiers and pedestrians alike, it runs one night session a week.

Megève's new chairlift

The Radaz chairlift (Rochebrune) is replaced by a 6-seater detachable chairlift in Megève.

Extra non-skiing activities in Villard de Lans

The Activ’Park (500m2 of trampolines) and the Bloc de l’Ours climbing hall open their doors this winter in Villard de Lans.

Fancy new zip-line at St Sorlin d'Arves

SlalomFly will offer a 989m zip line with 360-degree and 720-degree turns. Described as Europe’s longest zip line with bends, it will be operational during the winter season in St Sorlin d'Arves.

Les Gets gets a new snowpark for beginners

A new snowpark beneath the La Croix chairlift will replace the mini boardercross course in Les Gets. Designed for beginners, it will feature obstacles suited to riders developing their freestyle skills.

Chamrousse's beginner improvements and new non-skiing activities

Chamrousse is improving its beginner areas with a double-covered conveyor belt and larger learning zone in the Lauze sector. La Croisette will become a multi-leisure hub with tubing, a Big Air Bag, play areas and discovery trails, while La Montagne de Téo will expand with new fun zones.

Also new this winter is the Olympic Games House at Chamrousse. Developed to celebrate the role the resort played in the 1968 Winter Olympics, the exhibition is set at 2,253m in the former meteorological station at Croix de Chamrousse.

Valloire's inviting new spa

A space of 250m2 balneo, 100m2 hammam and 50m2 sauna opens next to the ice rink in Valloire, offering guests sessions of 2 hours.

New coffee shop by La Folie Douce in swanky Val d'Isère

Winter 2026 sees the opening of the new La Folie Coffee shop in the village of Val d'Isère (same people as La Folie Douce).

Celebrating anniversaries!

A handful of resorts are celebrating their milestone birthdays this season. Avoriaz is celebrating its 60th anniversary, Couchevel resort is turning 80 and Pralognan la Vanoise plus Arêches-Beaufort are also celebrating their 80th anniversary!

Shared resort news

The first mass-produced electric snow groomer enters service this winter in three Compagnie des Alpes ski areas: La Plagne, Val d’Isère and Serre Chevalier. Ahead of its worldwide launch for the 2027-2028 season, feedback from the teams will be used to fine-tune the final settings. Powered by renewable energy, it emits 93% less CO2, releases no fine particles, runs almost silently and costs half as much to run.

Exciting news about the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

For the fourth time in its history, the Olympic Winter Games will be held in France, with the next edition taking place in February 2030 (with the Paralympics in March).

The Briançonnais hub has been selected to host events at the Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre resorts, as well as to host the Olympic Village at the Fort des Têtes site in Briançon.

In Serre Chevalier, the planned works include the reconfiguration of existing slopes, the installation of high-performance lighting systems, and the redevelopment of the snow front areas. The resort is hosting three freestyle disciplines (moguls, freestyle skiing and ski & snowboard big air) on the Villeneuve snow front.

Montgenèvre is hosting ski mountaineering, which debuted in the Olympics recently.

La Plagne will host the Olympic bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events on its renovated track. This marks a symbolic return, 38 years after the 1992 Albertville Olympics and highlights the scope of this legacy.

Courchevel and Val d'Isère will host the Alpine skiing. Courchevel is hosting the speed events of downhill and super-G, while Val d'Isere is hosting the tech events of giant slalom and slalom.

Finally, Cross-country skiing will take place at La Clusaz (at the Nordic Centre) and Biathlon will be held in Le Grand-Bornand.

La Plagne has some exciting prospective news - a permanent project consisting of building a cableway link (gondola lift) from the SNCF railway station in Aime-la-Plagne to Plagne Centre. Designed in two sections, the route would include an intermediate stop at the Olympic bobsleigh track.

Discover new accommodation from Peak Retreats

For winter 2026/27, we’ve added a selection of new accommodation across the French Alps. We have luxury 4* apartments in La Tania and Courchevel plus quirky lodges in Aussois, and many more. View new accommodation.

Book your French Alps ski holiday

Are you ready to book your ski holiday or would you like to pick our brains? Peak Retreats are French Alps experts and we have a small friendly team on hand to help with any questions you may have. Give us a call on 023 9283 9310 or email reservations@peakretreats.co.uk. 

Why book with Peak Retreats?

We’re a small, UK-based team of French Alps experts who are here to make your holiday hassle-free. We’re proud winners of the Telegraph Travel Award for Best Ski Operator 2025 and we’re members of ABTA, for your peace of mind.

We are committed to going the extra mile, from booking travel and activities to offering you tailored advice on the best resorts and accommodation. We're always just a phone call away.

But our support doesn’t end when you book! We provide 24/7 assistance while you’re away, personalised info packs and regular travel updates to keep you informed.

With over 20 years experience and in-depth knowledge of the French Alps, we’re dedicated to ensuring your trip runs smoothly.