For those thinking of planning 365 day skiing in the Alps, the chance may have passed. In fact, an era in European alpine culture has finally drawn to a close. For the first time in modern skiing history, there are no longer any lift-served outdoor ski resorts in the Alps or anywhere else in the world, offering guaranteed, year-round 365-day skiing.
This sad milestone follows recent decisions by operator Zermatt Bergbahnen in Switzerland and the Hintertux Glacier operator in Austria to temporarily halt public summer skiing due to persistent heatwaves and deteriorating snow conditions.
Heatwave Forces Public Closure on the Theodul Glacier
Zermatt, operating high on the Theodul Glacier (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise) at nearly 3,900 meters altitude, stood as the world’s final remaining year-round outdoor ski area. However, as of 31st July 2026, lift operator Zermatt Bergbahnen suspended public summer skiing operations following the prolonged heatwaves happening across Western Europe that saw alpine freezing levels climb near 5,000 meters.
This closure also affects the connected Italian resort of Cervinia, which shares the cross-border glacier slopes.
“The safety of guests and staff is always our top priority. At the same time, we attach great importance to ensuring that our guests can enjoy good and safe conditions throughout the entire operating season. If these conditions are no longer met, operations will be responsibly adapted to the natural circumstances,” explained Martin Hug, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen. (press release)
Confirming the decision from the Italian side, Federico Maquignaz, President of lift operator Cervino S.p.A., stated: “The situation is quite evident: the conditions required to ski safely on the pistes are no longer there.”
Unusually high nighttime temperatures prevented the surface snowpack from refreezing, while repeated summer thunderstorms rapidly eroded the remaining ice cover. While mountain sightseeing, hiking, and lift operations continue normally, public skiing will remain paused until colder temperatures or fresh snowfall restore safe piste conditions.
Hintertux Transitions to Seasonal Breaks
Austria’s Hintertux Glacier in the Zillertal Valley, which has long been marketed as Europe’s premier year-round ski resort, has also announced a planned summer break.
Hintertux previously joined a growing list of former 365-day glaciers (including Sölden and Tignes) by pausing operations in mid-to-late summer, aiming to reopen in autumn once fresh snow arrives.
Alps glacier resorts overview
- Zermatt / Cervinia (Switzerland / Italy – 3,899m): Suspended public skiing during peak summer heat; operating on seasonal conditions.
- Hintertux Glacier (Austria – 3,250m): Paused summer operations; re-opening planned for autumn.
- Tignes Grande Motte (France – 3,456m): Operating window reduced to early summer only (June/July).
- Les 2 Alpes (France – 3,600m): Shifted focus to late spring and early summer before glacier closure.
From 50 Glacier Resorts to Zero 365-Day Hubs
During the 1980s, over 50 glacier resorts across Europe offered summer skiing. Today, fewer than a dozen attempt to open at all between June and August, and none offer unbroken 365-day access.
While elite race teams (such as select Swiss-Ski national squads) maintain limited, strictly managed training access on specialized high-altitude tracks, casual recreational skiers seeking year-round turns must now turn to indoor snow domes or travel south to the Andes or Australasia for Southern Hemisphere winter operations.
Resort officials in Zermatt emphasize that glacier maintenance crews continue working on the ice daily, preparing the slope infrastructure so that public skiing can resume as soon as seasonal cooling allows.
Read more about Alpine ski resorts with Glaciers.
