Courchevel Winter 2025/2026: The Complete Season Guide (Sport, Culture, Animations & What’s New)

Season headline: Courchevel officially reopens for winter on December 5, 2025, with the Three Valleys full-area link scheduled from December 6, 2025 and planned closing on April 19, 2026 (Courchevel sector). (SeeCourchevel.com)

From night slalom under the lights to pyrotechnic art in the sky, torchlit descents for families, and a slate of luxury hotel happenings, Winter 2025/26 in Courchevel blends world-class sport with immersive cultural programming. Below is your insider roadmap—month by month, plus recurring experiences and what’s new on the mountain.

Key Dates at a Glance

• Resort opening (Courchevel): Fri, Dec 5, 2025

• 3 Vallées link: Sat, Dec 6, 2025

• Planned closing (Courchevel sector): Sun, Apr 19, 2026

• Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup (Night Slalom, 1850/Émile Allais Stadium): Tue, Dec 16, 2025 (evening) (SeeCourchevel.com)

• Men’s Alpine Ski World Cup (Downhill & Super-G, L’Éclipse, Le Praz): Sat–Sun, Mar 14–15, 2026 (Ski World Cup Courchevel)

December 2025: Opening Celebrations & Night Slalom Electricity

• Opening weekend ambience (from Dec 5): The resort and tourism board confirm reopening with a full agenda rolling out as lifts spin up. Expect village animations, snow-front music, and early torchlights as conditions permit. (courchevel.com)

• Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup—Night Slalom: Dec 16, 2025. Courchevel’s signature evening race returns for its 15th edition—one of the season’s most photogenic spectacles. Timings currently listed as 17:45 & 20:45 slots for runs (subject to final program). (Les 3 Vallées)

• Christmas week animations: Parades, meet-&-greets with Santa, creative workshops, treasure hunts, plus special torchlight descents typically land across the Christmas–New Year period in Courchevel’s villages. (SeeCourchevel.com)

January–March 2026: Fireworks, Torchlights & Speed on L’Éclipse

International Pyrotechnic Art Festival (Courchevel)

Courchevel’s famed Pyrotechnic Art Festival lights up multiple villages during late January through early March with themed nights and jury awards. It’s a resort signature—watch from snow fronts or terraces. The 2025/26 dates roll out on the Courchevel agenda, but the festival’s winter format is confirmed as a core seasonal fixture. (courchevel.com)

Weekly Torchlight Descents (ESF)

An unmissable family ritual: XXL torchlight descents guided by ESF instructors in the different villages (Moriond/1650, Village/1550, La Tania), typically during school holidays and selected weeks. Example 2026 schedule blocks already listed include every Tuesday from Dec 21, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026 and every Tuesday from Feb 1 to Mar 8, 2026 (weather-dependent). Local ESF pages announce exact meet points and torch purchase details. (Explore Savoie - Alpes |)

Men’s Alpine World Cup (Le Praz – L’Éclipse)

The speed weekend lands Mar 14–15, 2026 with Downhill and Super-G on the now-legendary L’Éclipse track—built for the 2023 Worlds. Expect village fan zones, athlete parades, and vivid race-day atmospheres. (Ski World Cup Courchevel)

Culture & Art: “L’Art au Sommet” and High-Fashion Moments

• Art in altitude—L’Art au Sommet: Courchevel’s open-air contemporary art exhibition places monumental sculptures around resort landmarks and on the slopes each winter. The 2024/25 edition spotlighted Léo Caillard; the 2025/26 curation publishes in season, but the format is a fixture—expect guided tours, gallery nights, and photo-friendly installs across 1850 and down the valley. (Galeries Bartoux)

• Luxury house happenings: Courchevel routinely hosts high-end brand activations and runway-style showcases. Last season’s example: Moncler’s star-studded show at the Courchevel Altiport, underscoring the resort’s fashion-meets-mountain profile—a sign of more immersive brand events to come. (Vogue Business)

What’s New on the Mountain (2025/26)

Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées continue to invest in lift and slope upgrades. Pre-season briefings highlight the new Chenus gondola and other improvements across the ski area for Winter 2025/26—enhancing uphill capacity and skier flow between key sectors. Full details are in the resort’s preseason “what’s new” round-ups. (skipasscourchevel.com)

Resort-Wide Animations You’ll See All Season

• Snow-front DJ sets & village shows: Look for weekly programming on each snow front—children’s entertainment, live music, and themed evenings, especially around holidays and race weekends. (courchevel.com)

• Charity torchlights & fireworks: ESF and village associations often stage charity torchlit descents followed by fireworks—a great way to give back and enjoy a festive night out. (SeeCourchevel.com)

• Gala dining & festive hotel programs: Luxury hotels typically publish special Christmas and New Year’s galas with live music and culinary collaborations. Keep an eye on Courchevel’s booking and events portals as venues post their winter calendars. (reservation.les3vallees.com)

Planning Tips (Families, Fans & Foodies)

1. Lock key dates early. If you want race-view terraces or front-row fireworks vantage points, book restaurants and chalet catering well ahead of Dec 16 (Night Slalom), the pyrotechnic festival nights (late Jan–early Mar), and Mar 14–15 (men’s speed races). (Snow-Online)

2. Use village animations. For kids, Tuesday torchlight descents are a highlight; check your village ESF office for the week’s schedule and minimum level (often “2nd Star” for children) and small torch fee. (ski-school-courchevel1650.co.uk)

3. Follow official agendas. Courchevel’s weekly agenda and season calendar consolidate last-minute time changes and weather-dependent updates. Save their pages and check the day before. (courchevel.com)

4. Ski smarter around events. On race days, plan routes that avoid pinch points near Émile Allais (1850) or Le Praz for L’Éclipse if you’re not spectating. Lift upgrades (e.g., Chenus) help, but race perimeters can affect traffic. (skipasscourchevel.com)

Month-by-Month Snapshot

December 2025

• Dec 5: Resort opening; early-season village animations. (courchevel.com)

• Dec 16: Women’s Night Slalom—Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup (Courchevel 1850). (Ski World Cup Courchevel)

• Christmas week: Parades, Santa meet-ups, workshops, and first torchlight descents (weather permitting). (SeeCourchevel.com)

January 2026

• International Pyrotechnic Art Festival launches its winter sessions across the villages (program nights typically spread through late Jan/Feb). (SeeCourchevel.com)

• Weekly ESF torchlights continue during school holidays. (Explore Savoie - Alpes |)

February 2026

• Peak festival period: More fireworks nights; XXL torchlights in holiday weeks; family entertainment on snow fronts. (SeeCourchevel.com)

March 2026

• Mar 14–15: Men’s Downhill & Super-G World Cup on L’Éclipse (Le Praz). Expect big crowds and an electric finish-area atmosphere. (courchevel.com)

• Early-spring fireworks/animations continue into early March depending on the year’s festival calendar. (SeeCourchevel.com)

April 2026

• Spring skiing & closing parties as lifts wind down toward Apr 19 (Courchevel sector). (SeeCourchevel.com)

Beyond Courchevel: Wider 3 Vallées Highlights You Might Pair With Your Stay

If you’re exploring the full 3 Vallées ticket, note that Val Thorens hosts early-season Ski Cross World Cup racing (Dec 11–12, 2025)—a fast, spectator-friendly format you can day-trip to from Courchevel. (Les 3 Vallées)

Practical Resources (Bookmark Before You Travel)

• Official Courchevel agenda & “what’s on” (weekly updates, times, village-by-village listings). (courchevel.com)

• World Cup hub (Courchevel races). Dates, venue maps, and spectator info for Dec 16, 2025 and Mar 14–15, 2026. (Ski World Cup Courchevel)

• Ski season and lift dates (by area). Opening/closing guidance for Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, and the 3 Vallées link. (SeeCourchevel.com)

• ESF village pages (torchlights & children’s events). (ski-school-courchevel1650.co.uk)

• What’s new on the slopes (2025/26). Pre-season lift/slope upgrades including Chenus gondola news. (skipasscourchevel.com)

Final Word

Winter 2025/26 in Courchevel blends elite racing (night slalom in December; men’s speed in March), signature spectacles (the Pyrotechnic Festival), and family-first traditions (weekly ESF torchlights)—all layered onto a resort that keeps investing in lift comfort and cultural flair. Whether you’re here for front-row race drama, art-in-the-snow photo walks, or kid-friendly night glides by torchlight, the season is set to deliver.

Tip for readers: For medical, rehab, or on-snow performance needs during your stay, you can book an appointment with MyFrenchPhysio in Courchevel—home visits available.

All dates and programs remain subject to operational and weather updates—always re-check the official agenda the day before your event. (courchevel.com)

If you want, I can also generate a shorter “What’s On This Week” block you can drop at the top of each new Wix post during the season.