People are seen from behind on the chairlifts, drag lifts and ski slopes in the heart of the Hirmentaz ski resort in France on 22th February 2026. For the past two weeks, exceptional snowfall has been falling in the French Alps, allowing even the smallest ski resorts to open their entire ski areas.Des personnes sont de dos sur les telesieges, les tire fesses et sur les pistes de ski au coeur de la station de ski d Hirmentaz en France le 22 fevrier 2026. Depuis deux semaines, des chutes de neige exceptionnelles ont lieu dans les Alpes francaises permettant aux plus petites stations de ski d ouvrir leur domaine en totalite. (Photo by Capucine Veuillet / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
With the French Alps preparing to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, France is heading into its next great chapter in the mountains on a particularly strong note: it has once again become the world’s leading ski destination.
During the 2025–26 winter season, French ski resorts recorded 56.1 million skier visits, a 2.4% increase on the previous winter and 6% above the average of the past four seasons, according to Domaines Skiables de France, the professional chamber of French ski area and cable transport operators. That put France ahead of Austria, with 53.7 million skier visits, and the United States, with 52.6 million.
It is the first time France has topped the global rankings since the 2014–15 season, indicating that the country’s mountains are entering a period of renewed momentum just as the countdown to the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics gets underway.
The numbers also put 2025–26 among France’s strongest ski seasons ever. Only the winters of 2008–09, when French resorts recorded 58.6 million skier visits, and 2012–13, with 57.6 million, have attracted more skier visits.
For an industry accustomed to navigating increasingly unpredictable snow condition and changing consumer habits, the trend suggests that France’s appeal as a winter destination remains remarkably resilient.country’s vast network of resorts continues to attract skiers well beyond the traditional holiday peaks.
Alps Drive Skier Visits
The performance was driven principally by the French Alps and the Pyrenees, both of which enjoyed a particularly strong season. Elsewhere, resorts in the Massif Central, Jura and Vosges faced more variable snow conditions, highlighting the growing differences between France’s mountain regions.
An early start helped set the tone. Snow arrived at the end of November, allowing numerous ski areas to open in good conditions ahead of the holiday season. January was particularly strong, with national skier numbers running 3% above the previous winter and 9% above the averages of the previous four seasons. By February 6, cumulative skier numbers nationally were already 9% above that four-year average.
That momentum held through March, when skier numbers jumped 20% year over year, marking the first year-over-year growth during the March period since the post-pandemic recovery. Even in April, visitor numbers during the spring holidays rose 3% compared with the previous year, helped by a strong Easter weekend and snow conditions that allowed resorts to extend their seasons.
The timing of the resurgence couldn’t be better for a nation that is prepared to capture the world’s attention as the 2030 Winter Olympics come to the French Alps. The Games will be staged across numerous existing mountain venues, putting some of France’s best-known ski destinations at the center of the international winter sports calendar.
Rather than relying on the Olympics to revive interest in French skiing, the country’s resorts are approaching 2030 from a position of strength. Visitor numbers in the 2025–26 season saw robust performances across the whole season, not just during traditional peak weeks.
French Ski Areas’ Capital Investment Pays Off
Domaines Skiables de France points to the scale of investment behind the country’s resorts. French ski areas invested €555 million (about $631 million USD) in 2025, roughly 50% above the industry’s 10-year average.
About half of total investment went into new lifts, while €62 million went into large reception and hospitality buildings. Of the 48 new installations, there was a surprisingly large emphasis on beginner-oriented lifts, demonstrating France’s investment in developing the next generation of skiers.
The 2030 Winter Olympics will bring athletes, spectators and global attention to the region. But before the opening ceremony kicks off, French resorts have already demonstrated that their mountains can command the world’s attention on their own terms.
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