Val Thorens wins world ski resort title for 11th time
The French resort topped the 2026 World Ski Awards, while Swiss properties won several hotel and chalet categories.
France’s Val Thorens has won the top resort honour at the 2026 World Ski Awards, its 11th victory in the category. Deer Valley in Utah and Austria’s Kitzbühel completed the leading three. Each also received the national award for its country.
The awards, now in their 14th edition, are decided by votes from the public and ski industry professionals, with each category going to the nominee receiving the most votes. Val Thorens stands at 2,300 metres, making it Europe’s highest ski resort, and belongs to Les 3 Vallées, a network covering around 600 kilometres of pistes.
Swiss properties collected several accommodation honours. W Verbier took the ski hotel title, while Grand Hotel Belvedere in Wengen won the new ski hotel category. The latter occupies a restored 1912 building in the car-free village. Chalet Zermatt Peak received the ski chalet award, and Chez Madeleine won the category for new ski chalets.
Val Thorens also secured a hotel honour through Pashmina Le Refuge, which won the boutique category. Switzerland’s LAAX received the freestyle resort award, ahead of Les 2 Alpes in France and Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb. The green ski hotel prize went to rocksresort, also in LAAX.
