Val Gardena Winter 2026: from the ski season to snow activities, with events combining sport and tradition. The valley prepares for winter 2026/27 with an offering that goes beyond the slopes.
In the heart of the Dolomites, within the Puez-Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Val Gardena is preparing for the 2026/27 winter season. Skiing will be one of the main highlights, but the valley also offers hiking, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing and opportunities to discover the area through its natural environment and traditions.
The ski season will begin on 4 December 2026 and end on 4 April 2027, during the weekend of the Gardenissima. The Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi ski area offers more than 500 kilometres of slopes, with runs suitable for different ability levels and connections allowing skiers to take on the Sellaronda. In addition, 98% of the slopes are covered by artificial snowmaking.
Skiing against a spectacular Dolomite backdrop
The variety of skiing opportunities is one of the key features of the season. From more accessible runs to steeper and more demanding slopes, the ski area also includes courses that host FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races, most notably the famous Saslong.
Val Gardena has a long-standing connection with alpine skiing. Following the 1970 World Championships, the valley became one of the best-known international destinations for winter sports. The landscape, however, remains an integral part of the experience: the Sassolungo and Sella Groups provide a spectacular backdrop to days on the snow, while the three villages of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Val Gardena are the valley’s main points of reference.
For winter 2026/27, there will also be an upgrade to the Ciampinoi No. 3 slope. Its final section has been improved and now continues straight west towards the Ciampinoi valley station. The new section is wider and may be used as a competition course for the 2031 World Championships, while the construction of a bridge serving as the finish area is planned for the coming years.
A season for those looking beyond alpine skiing
Winter in Val Gardena is about much more than alpine skiing. The valley offers 30 kilometres of hiking trails and 115 kilometres of cross-country skiing tracks, along with numerous opportunities to experience the mountains in winter.
Among the areas dedicated to cross-country skiing is the Monte Pana Cross-Country Ski Centre, above Santa Cristina, with trails suitable for both skating and classic technique. Vallunga, meanwhile, is a destination for winter hikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers, surrounded by dramatic rock walls and featuring the Way of the Cross, with its 15 stations carved from Swiss stone pine.
Tobogganing is also part of the winter offering. The Resciesa funicular connects Ortisei with the Resciesa Alpine pasture in just eight minutes, reaching an altitude of 2,200 metres and the start of a six-kilometre toboggan run, described in Val Gardena’s official material as the longest in the Dolomites.
From the opening of the season to spring
The 2026/27 winter calendar will accompany skiers from the beginning of the season through to spring. From 4 to 19 December 2026, the Ski Opening will combine winter sports, a festive Christmas atmosphere, markets and events celebrating the local woodcarving tradition, alongside the FIS Men’s Alpine Ski World Cup races on the Saslong.
Later, from 13 March to 4 April 2027, it will be time for SpringSkiing Val Gardena. Longer days, spring sunshine, perfectly groomed slopes and earlier lift openings will be accompanied by music, events and après-ski moments. Special offers for guests and dedicated family benefits will also be available.
The calendar also includes numerous events throughout the winter, from Christmas markets to snow and ice sculptures, drone shows and spring music events, culminating in the Gardenissima at the beginning of April.
A valley where nature, sport and tradition meet
The Val Gardena winter 2026/27 offering reflects a destination where outdoor activities and local identity coexist. Beyond its sporting dimension, the valley has a strong craft tradition, particularly in woodcarving, which has been developed here since the early 17th century.
The Ladin population, described in the official material as passionate about sport and nature and characterised by the use of four languages, further contributes to the identity of a destination that brings together the environment, outdoor activities and culture.
With skiing at its heart but plenty of other ways to experience the mountains, Val Gardena winter 2026/27 offers a varied season designed to accompany visitors through their Dolomite experience from the opening in December all the way into spring.
INFO: Val Gardena
