Val Gardena Winter Finals 2026: Ski & Fun in Val Gardena

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val gardena winter finals

Val Gardena Winter Finals: from 1 to 6 April, the ski season in Val Gardena will come to an end with music, skiing, fun and a touch of madness.

Val Gardena Winter Finals is an exclusive event packed with adrenaline, culinary delights and music. For six days, Selva di Val Gardena will become an open-air stage celebrating the perfect “Alpine Lifestyle” under the spring sunshine.

Every day, the most exclusive mountain huts in Val Gardena will turn into elegant lounges set against the stunning peaks of the Dolomites (UNESCO World Heritage Site), where guests can enjoy local cuisine while listening to great music ranging from relaxing sounds to energetic beats.

The venues will be: on 1 April at Dantercepies Mountain Lounge, followed by Baita Salei on 2 April and Piz Seteur on 3 April.

On 4 April, tradition will take centre stage with the classic white sausage festival at Baita Salei, alongside the lively “Lockenfest” in Plan de Gralba, followed by an electrifying evening at the Après Ski Snowbar.

The highlight will take place on 5 April with the Gran Finale. The centre of Selva di Val Gardena will transform into a grand stage where music, lights and atmosphere blend into a truly spectacular experience. National and international DJs will lead the evening, bringing the season to a stylish and engaging close.

 

val gardena winter finals concert

 

In addition to Val Gardena Winter Finals, the month of March will also offer plenty of entertainment, combined with excellent cuisine and lots of sport.

First of all, with the concerts of Rock the Dolomites, from Thursday 19 to Saturday 28 March, when rock music will once again take centre stage on the sunny terraces of mountain huts and lodges along the legendary slopes of Selva di Val Gardena. Enthusiasts will be able to dance and have fun surrounded by the most beautiful mountains in the world. Now in its twelfth edition, this event has become one of the most evocative music festivals in the Alpine region, set among the iconic peaks of the Dolomites. This year as well, Rock the Dolomites will bring concerts and performances to exceptional locations, transforming mountain huts and natural spaces into open-air stages. An event that goes beyond the traditional concept of a festival, offering the public the chance to experience music immersed in nature, surrounded by spectacular scenery and fresh mountain air.

The Spring Race Party, on 21 March, will be a true celebration of madness and eccentricity: an unconventional race featuring 50 teams plus one “Charity” team, each made up of six participants accompanied by a ski instructor. They will ski down La Longia, the longest slope in the Dolomites, dressed in fun and quirky outfits. The teams will not only compete to arrive first, as the race includes several stops at different mountain huts where mini-games and small challenges must be completed to achieve the highest overall score.

In addition, the team with the most extravagant costume will be selected and voted for by the public and will secure a place at the Spring Race Party 2027, while the overall winning team will receive a prize worth €1,000.

At the end of March, on the weekend of 28 and 29 March, the 28th edition of the Südtirol Gardenissima will take place, an iconic ski competition with around 700 participants who will have the honour and challenge of tackling the longest giant slalom course in the world, measuring 6 kilometres. One of the race’s special features is that, among the various categories, there will once again be Ski World Cup athletes and former champions (Old Stars), giving all participants the opportunity to compare their times with their lifelong idols. The following day, as tradition dictates, the Südtirol Gardenissima Kids will be held, dedicated to the next generation of ski champions and increasingly popular among ski clubs: 300 young athletes from all over the world will compete in a challenging slalom on a spectacular 2-kilometre course with a vertical drop of 463 metres.

Furthermore, from 14 March 2026, with the Dolomiti Springdays offer, visitors will benefit from exclusive promotions on accommodation, ski passes and rentals for the final days of the ski season.

INFO: Val Gardena

Sustainability Strategy 2023–26: a commitment to the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Sustainability Strategy 2023–26
Several years ago, Val Gardena launched the RESPECT THE DOLOMITES initiative: a working group that develops events, awareness-raising activities and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability in Val Gardena.


The project includes sporting events such as the Sellaronda Bike Day, the promotion of local craftsmanship through the label “Made in – DOLOMITES Val Gardena – with LOVE”, waste management initiatives, spring water protection through the “Ega dla Dolomites” project, the care of alpine pastures, hiking trails and grazing livestock, the use of clean energy from hydroelectric sources, and, more generally, sustainable mobility through the Val Gardena Mobile Card, electric vehicle charging stations and the use of e-bikes.

The first official step towards sustainability was the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) Destination Certification, obtained in 2023. Preserving our extraordinary natural environment for animals, plants and people is our mission. Our task is to develop verifiable climate concepts and put them into practice.

Consequently, with even greater conviction, we design all our initiatives and events with full awareness of their economic, ecological and social impact, in line with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Here are some basic guidelines for a more sustainable experience in Val Gardena:

Stay longer and immerse yourself more deeply

Spending more time in a holiday destination not only allows for a deeper, more relaxing experience, but also leads to a significant reduction in emissions, as it reduces arrival and departure traffic (without using a car during the stay).

Low-impact, simple and efficient mobility

Free use of all buses in Val Gardena, for a traffic-free valley.

In Val Gardena, your car can stay in the garage. The digital Val Gardena Guest Pass, reserved exclusively for guests staying at accommodation facilities that are members of a local tourism association, allows free use of all buses. The card is provided at no extra cost upon arrival at the selected accommodation (if it is part of a Val Gardena Tourism Association).

Electric charging stations

Fast charging stations for electric vehicles are available in every village; charging is also possible at many rental facilities.

Val Gardena places a strong focus on eco-sustainable mobility. For this reason, ten hybrid buses of the Mercedes Citaro Hybrid model have been introduced.

INFO: Val Gardena

Skiing, sledding, snowshoeing… under the moonlight.
Val Gardena’s magical night experiences.

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sciare di notte

Moonlight cross-country skiing, night sledding, snowshoe tours after sunset and many other evening activities let you enjoy every moment of your holiday in Val Gardena
(Italy). A winter day in Val Gardena starts early, but who says it has to end early as well? To keep the fun going until late in the evening – or even deep into the night – there are the Special Nights, unique moments to spend with friends, as a couple or with the family, enjoying that magical light that only the moon reflecting on the snow can offer.

The Special Nights are open to everyone and include many different sports and non-sport activities. You can find all details – prices, schedules and booking info – on the dedicated website.

Here are the most fascinating and exciting activities offered by the various associations.

Let’s start with Moonlight Cross-Country Skiing, held at the Monte Pana Nordic Center in S. Cristina on 03.01.2026, 03.02.2026 and 03.03.2026 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Free entry and free equipment rental.

Also in S. Cristina, you can spend an evening on e-bikes, accompanied by a guide, discovering Monte Pana and Alpe di Siusi while riding on snow. The tour ends in a mountain hut where you can enjoy traditional local dishes. This activity is available every Thursday at 5:00 PM. Price: €45.00 for Val Gardena Active guests, €70.00 for guests staying in Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodations, and €90.00 for guests staying elsewhere. E-bike rental included; dinner not included.

For snowshoe lovers, every Wednesday there is a Night Snowshoe Hike with Dinner in a Mountain Hut. Meeting point is at 5:30 PM at the Active & Events office in Piazza Nives – Selva Val Gardena.
Cost: €30.00 for Val Gardena Active guests, €63.00 for guests of Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodations, and €78.00 for other guests. Snowshoe rental and drinks not included.

slittino in val gardena

Looking for a sledding adventure?

Every Tuesday you can join the Night Sledding on Resciesa. Meet at 6:20 PM at the bottom station of the Seceda cable car. The funicular brings you up to the Resciesa plateau in the Puez–Odle Nature Park, where a delicious dinner is served, followed by an unforgettable sled ride back down to the valley. Price: €94.00 for Val Gardena Active partner accommodation guests, €99.00 for guests of Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodations or guests staying elsewhere.
Included: guide, dinner (drinks excluded), sled, torch and lift ride.

Magic Sunset Skiing on Seceda lets you admire a stunning Dolomite sunset with an aperitivo, followed by a 10 km torchlit descent along the “La Longia” slope down to Ortisei.
Meeting point: Seceda top station – Ortisei.
Price: €36.00 for Val Gardena Active partner accommodation guests; €39.00 for Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodation guests or others.

mangiare in baita val gardena

The iconic Rifugio Comici hosts special themed dinners with transport by snowcat or snowmobile. Themes include Burning Flowers, Sweet Sparkles, Vintage Vibes, Cocktail Avalanche, Mission Dolomites and Lemon Squeeze.

For those who enjoy walking at night, there are the Torchlight Walks on Monte Pana (Art meets nature). Gardenese sculpture art, breathtaking natural scenery and a touch of romance come together during this evening walk along the “Troi UNIKA” themed path, with mountain guide and artist Diego Deiana explaining the local craftsmanship and the displayed artworks.
Meeting point: every Wednesday at 8:30 PM, Hotel Cendevaves Monte Pana – S. Cristina
Price: €5.00 for Val Gardena Active partner accommodation guests, €32.00 for Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodation guests, €42.00 for others.

in slittino di notte

Discover the universe: planets and galaxies observation

Among the Val Gardena Special Nights, there is also an event dedicated to the starry sky. Through various telescopes, you can admire planets, stars and distant galaxies up close. Astrophile Lukas will guide you in exploring celestial bodies and their fascinating secrets. A relaxing evening filled with wonder, knowledge and new perspectives on the universe.
Meeting point: 29.12.2025, 27.01.2026, 24.02.2026 and 24.03.2026 at 8:30 PM – Hotel Interski, S. Cristina
Price: free for Val Gardena Active partner accommodation guests; €15.00 for Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodation guests; €20.00 for others.

Finally, there is the Excursion to Mont Sëura to admire the enchantment of the “enrosadira” (alpenglow). A chairlift brings you up to the Mont Sëura plateau at the foot of the Sassolungo for a sunset hike. Every Thursday around 3:00 PM.
Price: free for Val Gardena Active partner accommodation guests; €27.00 for Dolomites Val Gardena member accommodation guests; €35.00 for others.

INFO: Val Gardena

 

Val Gardena’s countless (Michelin) ‘stars’

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Two Michelin-star restaurants have had their star confirmed and the Hotel Granbaita Dolomites has become the seventh 5-star hotel in Val Gardena, an iconic destination.

 

Val Gardena celebrates the winter season with good news: as of today, there are a good seven hotels boasting 5 stars in the valley. This special family has now grown in number thanks to the addition of the Hotel Granbaita Dolomites.

Val Gardena truly is a star-studded location: the Anna Stuben (Ortisei) and the Alpenroyal Gourmet Restaurant (Selva di Val Gardena) are also part of this constellation thanks to the recent confirmation of their Michelin star.

The Hotel Granbaita Dolomites has been managed by the same family for more than 50 years: their passion is at the heart of genuine hospitality. The hotel was renovated last summer and the works were overseen by the careful eye of Rudi Perathoner, a local architect who has already received numerous international prizes for his projects. The Hotel Granbaita Dolomites increased its stars this November, thus becoming the seventh 5-star hotel in Val Gardena. Luxury, elegance, and tradition come alive within the hotel’s halls, and the staff takes care of every last detail. After all, it is the small things that can turn an experience into a memory to cherish forevermore.

Val Gardena’s new 5-star hotel joins the constellation of outstanding hotels already present in the region: the Hotel Adler SPA Resort, an historic hotel in business since 1810 with spires, romantic towers, a spacious park and an amazing choice of swimming pools and saunas within its SPA; the Adler Balance, Medical Wellness, an ideal structure for guests looking for pure relaxation or wanting to surround themselves with unspoilt nature; the Alpin Garden Wellness Resort, a small, adults-only resort boasting just 30 rooms and suites; the Hotel Gardena – Grödnerhof Gourmet Hotel & Spa where charming hospitality takes centre stage, a harmonious blend between traditions and innovation, member of the renowned Relais & Chateaux group; the Montchalet, member of the Small Luxury Hotel chain, located just a stone’s throw away from the centre of Ortisei; and the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel Gourmet & Spa, the first 5-star hotel of Val Gardena to be a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group.

INFO: Val Gardena

 

Val Gardena turns into the
“Christmas Valley of the Dolomites”

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Val Gardena has been recognized as the Christmas Valley for years and, starting from 29th November, the miles of lights of the three Christmas Markets of Ortisei, S. Cristina and Selva Val Gardena – immersed in the natural setting of the Dolomites, UNESCO World Heritage Site – will light up again.

Each of the three markets, however, has different characteristics and peculiarities…let’s go and discover them

Ortisei will become the “Christmas Village” and its market will offer gifts and surprises among Christmas melodies, homemade cakes, handmade wooden objects and a myriad of lights. Every day you can watch the choir show or listen to the sounds of the mountain horns or even participate in Ladin cooking classes. There are many products offered by the stands, all original and authentic, from sculptures and dolls to Christmas garlands, from lanterns to frames, from candles to felt products. Finally, children will be able to pack their letters in a special mailbox in Stetteneck Square.

 

 

The Christmas Market of S. Cristina, traditionally offers many typical gastronomy and local craftsmanship products. The market is located in a panoramic location at the foot of the Sassolungo and Castel Gardena and has always offered a special atmosphere and many good ideas for a Christmas gift. In addition, you can attend live performances by master sculptors from Val Gardena and listen to music and mountain melodies. Every weekend and on weekdays, the peppery bread biscuits and the delicious “Spitzbuben”, short pastry biscuits filled with apricot jam, will be baked.

Finally, Selva di Val Gardena, famous for its “Mountain Christmas“. The village is located in the heart of the Dolomites, at the foot of the Sella massif… The atmosphere of the ski slopes will be ideally transferred to the pedestrian street in the centre of the village where a continuous strip of lights 350 meters long and 12 wooden reproductions of the cable car cabins will be realized. Among the stands you can taste the gingerbread, mulled wine, homemade cakes, chocolate production or buy unique items for next Christmas.

A multitude of balls and sparkling lights, together with Christmas songs, will cheer up the hearts and bring joy and wonder to the eyes of children. In addition, the traditional art of Val Gardena sculpture will be on display in a beautiful exhibition of nativity scenes.

INFO: Val Gardena

Val Gardena: a gourmet’s paradise and good, hearty mountain food

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Eating well is part and parcel of the South Tyrol experience: the local cuisine features rich, regional recipes with hearty and local ingredients such as spicy Speck, smoked sausage, tasty cheese and Schüttelbrot. The culinary experience boasts a variety of traditional restaurants, pizzerias and gourmet Michelin and Gault Millau restaurants. The offer is rounded off by the typical combination of Mediterranean lightness and grounded, alpine flavours. In Val Gardena there are two places which are considered the culinary Eldorado: the working stations of starred chefs Mario Porcelli at the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel in Selva Val Gardena and of Reimund Brunner at the Anna Stuben in the Hotel Gardena in Ortisei. Sublime dishes interpreting and combining the cuisine of the Italian and Austrian culture in outstanding ways.

 

 

Discover fine dining also up on high! Skiing in Val Gardena is a real treat thanks to the 65 traditional mountain huts peppering the edge of the slopes. Most of them have been run by the same family for generations, and each hut is proud to deliver a unique offer ranging from traditional dishes to sophisticated cuisine featuring grilled steaks and seafood. The offer is rounded off by a large selection of wines, mostly from South Tyrol.

Be inspired and book four stay on Val Gardena

In Val Gardena everything is ready for the new winter season!

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The skiing season in the Dolomites’ and Italy’s best skiing area, crowned as such on numerous occasions, starts on 5 December and ends at Easter on 14 April 2020.

 

Pleasant hills as well as steep slopes, including the ones featured during the World Cup, pepper the landscape of the skiing carousel, where skiers start whizzing down the slopes from 5 December. In the Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi skiing area, which includes the Sellaronda, more than 500 perfectly groomed kilometres of slopes await passionate skiers.

The region in and around Val Gardena counts some famous slopes among the ones found in its network: take the worldfamous Sellaronda for example, a 40-kilometer ski excursion around the Sella massif, which leads through four Ladin valleys and three Italian regions, attracts numerous visitors. It offers unlimited skiing and snowboarding fun for all levels, always against the backdrop of stunning views over the Dolomites; moreover, it’s connected to the world‘s largest ski carousel via the Dolomiti Superski lift network.

 

The Saslong, on the other hand, is an alpine slope legend: what with its 3.4 kilometres and 839 metres of elevation gain, it turns into the venue of one of the most important downhill races in the international Ski World Cup circus shortly before Christmas every year. But the view of the Passo Sella is also a breathtaking one: nestled between the Sella massif in the south with its bizarre rock faces and the Cir peaks in the north, you can enjoy the fantastic view of the valley and the Sassolungo on the other side of the valley.

 

Whoever wants to combine winter sports with pleasant skiing sessions and physical well-being can do so in the Col Raiser/Seceda area featuring spacious and wide slopes. There are a good 16 mountain huts – out of 65 in the whole Val Gardena skiing area, which will charm skiers with their traditional character and cosy interiors – tourists can stop at to enjoy culinary delicacies and for a bit of a break out on the sunny terraces. What better complement than traditional South Tyrolean specialities such as Schlutzkrapfen, a range of different dumplings and sensationally good cheese as well as delicious desserts. You won’t find any fast food here!

You can easily plan your winter holiday in Val Gardena at www.valgardena.it – see you on the slopes!

INFO: Val Gardena

Art in Val Gardena – Idea Unika & Sculpture Fair Unika

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Two summer events to enhance the artistic heritage of Val Gardena

 

Since 1994, Unika has been a platform for promoting sculpture, painting and photography of local artists. Every year Unika artists present themselves and their works at various events, fairs and exhibitions, including the Unika Sculpture Fair and the Idea Unika – Art in the Centre.

Idea Unika – 2019, Art in the Centre (in Ortisei) will take place from 11 July to 15 September. “Ie é na idea” – I’ve got an idea! . . . these are the words of an artist from the Unika group, destined to mark, two years ago, the beginning of this cultural initiative.

A project that aims to bring art to the centre of the village of Ortisei and to stimulate passers-by to stop, observe and reflect. On this occasion, the sculptors and painters of the Unika group will present their new works: sculptures and installations created specifically for this exhibition, one of them was created by several artists together. The material and dimensions are at the discretion of the individual artist, while the themes and messages conveyed are different and thus express the variety and creativity of local artists.

 

The exhibition will be organized for the third time by the Unika group in collaboration with the Municipality and the Tourist Association of Ortisei. This year 6 artists will participate with 6 projects, consisting in sculptures and installations. The outdoor exhibition will be curated by the art critic and historian Andrea Baffoni of Perugia.

The 6 artists are: Walter Pancheri, Ivo Piazza, Roland Perathoner, Livio Comploi, Hubert Mussner and Matthias Kostner.

The Vernissage with presentation of the new catalogue is scheduled for 11. July 2019 at 6 p.m., in Stetteneck Square in Ortisei.

Since 1994, instead, the Unika Sculpture Fair has been held every year, an artistic event that is the result of an association that counts about 30 artists and craftsmen from Val Gardena. The artists who exhibit are not only wood carvers, but also barrel painters, gilders, ornamental sculptors and more. The freedom of expression of each artist allows visitors of the Fair to admire a huge variety of styles and motifs. The only thing that unites works of art and artists is their deep connection with the territory and the fact that they are all unique pieces that can be purchased. The 2019 edition will start on the 29th of August and will end on the 1st of September.

INFO: Val Gardena

 

 

Gastronomic events and Show Cooking for an unforgettable summer in Val Gardena

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During the summertime in Val Gardena, there are plenty of opportunities to spend beautiful evenings together while enjoying excellent cuisine accompanied by a good glass of wine.

We have selected some events that, although very different from each other, have a strong connection with the territory of this beautiful valley of the Dolomites. Let’s start with the invitation to a by now very famous dinner in a…cableway!

Dolomites Skydinner is back: an exciting appointment for fine palates under the stars of Val Gardena, which will take place on July 10.

Now in its 12th edition, the successful format of the event has not changed: elegant tables set in the gondolas of the Mont Sëuc / Alpe di Siusi, suitable for 6 people, in which a 6-course menu will be served, created by the chefs of the ADLER SPA RESORTS & LODGES, ACADIA ADULTS MOUNTAIN HOME, Mont Sëuc Dolomites, Mont Chalet and SUINSOM – Hotel Tyrol. Each dish will be paired with fine wines, in an event in which a form of informal elegance will ensure strong emotions. The evening will be crowned by a splendid view of the Dolomites and musical entertainment during the aperitif, in the valley, in addition to the grand finale, with the dessert served at the restaurant at the top of the cable car.

If the connection with the territory during the Dolomites Skydinner dinner is given by the panorama and the choice of dishes and wines, during the ”Sëira dl vin”; you can grasp it from the name of the event.

It is, in fact, a wine tasting – offered along a red carpet, at the pedestrian zone “Bën unì” in S. Cristina – where 20 renowned wineries of South Tyrol will present their fine bottles. The appointment is for July 12, at 07.30 pm, with exquisite wines in addition to various culinary specialties from the traditional cuisine and live music with the bands “Take Off” and “Demetz Duo”.

 

Furthermore, on July 15, from 05.00 pm, don’t miss South Tyrol is cooking – event of Show Cooking sponsored by the Tourist Association of Ortisei, in collaboration with the Restaurant Vives.

A gastronomic event on the small Piazza S. Antonio, where the Chef Simone Rondini will prepare three courses on a specific theme. Delicacies can be tasted free of charge by the public.

Last but not least: With DolomiteSushi, Japan meets the Dolomites. Where? In the old tunnel of the Val Gardena train, in S. Cristina, on the 2nd August, when unique creations inspired by the Far East will be offered. In addition to the original Japanese sushi, very special dishes based on local products will be served between 07.00 pm and 10.00 pm.

Every Friday in July and August there will be exclusive evenings in Ortisei “Aperitif Urtijëi” from 6:00 pm to 08.30 pm with music and bubbles.

INFO: Val Gardena

Sellaronda Bike Day 2019 – Thank you!

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Last Saturday, 22nd June, one of the greatest bike events in the Dolomites took place: the Sellaronda Bike Day. From 8.30 am until 3.30 pm o’clock all the Dolomites passes around the Sella Group (Sella, Gardena, Pordoi and Campolongo) were reserved to the bicyclists.

Also this edition of the Sellaronda Bike Day was a true bike-celebration. The weather forecast announced a rainy weather, which kept many cyclists from reaching the Dolomite valleys around the Sella massif. Despite the not really cooperating weather, about 12,000 cyclists, well equipped for the rain, have traveled the dolomite bike ride with refreshing temperatures between 4 ° and 16 ° C.

A 58 km long asphalted road at about 1800 meters on the legendary Dolomite passes. Strongly promoted by the tourism offices and public administrations of the four Ladin valleys, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Fassa and Arabba/Fodom, this car-free Sunday is a welcoming change for all cycling enthusiasts.

See you all next year for the 15th edition of the Sellaronda Bike Day on the 27th of June 2020.

INFO: Val Gardena