World Ski Awards 2026 Reveals the World’s Best Ski Resorts, Hotels and Travel Companies

France claims the title of World’s Best Ski Resort, Switzerland dominates hotel and chalet categories, and Ski Dubai leads indoor ski resorts as winners are recognized across 25 markets.

The World Ski Awards has announced the winners of its 14th annual edition for 2026, recognizing leading ski resorts, hotels, chalets, tour operators and transport providers across the global winter tourism industry.

Announced on November 10, 2026, the results include international and national awards spanning 25 tourism markets, highlighting the diversity of winter sports experiences across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

The winners were selected through a voting process involving ski industry professionals, travellers and consumers of winter tourism services.

France’s Val Thorens secured the title of World's Best Ski Resort 2026, while Switzerland’s LAAX was named World’s Best Freestyle Resort.

In the accommodation categories, Switzerland’s W Verbier won World’s Best Ski Hotel, while Grand Hotel Belvedere received the award for World’s Best New Ski Hotel.

Switzerland’s rocksresort was recognized as World’s Best Green Ski Hotel, while France’s Pashmina Le Refuge claimed the title of World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel.

The chalet categories also featured Swiss properties, with Chalet Zermatt Peak named World’s Best Ski Chalet and Chez Madeleine receiving the award for World’s Best New Ski Chalet.

The United Arab Emirates secured a place among the global winners, with Ski Dubai, located inside Mall of the Emirates, receiving the title of World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort 2026.

The attraction offers skiing, snowboarding and other winter-themed activities throughout the year, independently of the seasonal weather conditions that determine operations at mountain resorts.

The award highlights the diversity of the global ski tourism industry, ranging from natural mountain destinations operating during the winter season to indoor facilities welcoming visitors year-round.

France’s Compagnie des Alpes was named World’s Best Ski Resort Group for the fifth consecutive year.

Austria’s Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel received the award for World’s Best Ski Resort Company, recognizing resort operations as a distinct category from individual ski destinations and accommodation providers.

The awards also recognized companies specializing in ski holiday planning and travel services.

Sunweb was named World’s Best Ski Tour Operator, while Leo Trippi received the title of World’s Best Ski Travel Agent.

In the transport category, SkyExpress won World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator, while Canada’s Northern Escape Heli-Skiing was recognized as World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator.

Additional awards acknowledged specialist ski tour operators and travel agencies serving individual destinations, including Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the United States.

Alongside the global categories, World Ski Awards announced national winners across several established and emerging ski tourism markets.

In Europe, Austria’s Kitzbühel, Andorra’s Grandvalira, Bulgaria’s Bansko and Italy’s 3 Zinnen Dolomites were recognized as the best ski resorts in their respective countries.

In Asia and Oceania, winners included APPI Kogen in Japan, Songhua Lake in China and Thredbo in Australia.

Across the Americas, the list featured Deer Valley in the United States, Lake Louise in Canada and Nevados de Chillán in Chile.

The geographical distribution of winners reflects the international reach of ski tourism, with destinations competing across different climates, landscapes and visitor segments.

Established in 2013, World Ski Awards recognizes excellence across the global ski tourism sector through votes cast by industry professionals and the public.

The nominee receiving the highest number of votes in each category is declared the winner.

Sion Rapson, Managing Director of World Ski Awards, said the 2026 results reflect the industry's vitality and the continuing evolution of its tourism products, with growing emphasis on sustainability, innovation and luxury experiences.

The 2026 World Ski Awards results highlight the expanding ecosystem of winter tourism, which now extends far beyond mountain ski resorts to include hotels, chalets, resort management groups, specialist tour operators and transport services.

The diversity of winners also reflects different patterns of traveller demand.

Some visitors prioritize extensive ski areas and advanced slopes, while others seek luxury accommodation, family-friendly experiences or indoor winter attractions.

Separate award categories for sustainability, freestyle skiing and new properties further illustrate the range of tourism products competing for international visitors.

For travellers, the awards provide a useful starting point for identifying established destinations and specialist brands. However, they should not replace comparisons of prices, suitability for different skiing abilities, operating seasons and weather conditions.

For tourism and hospitality companies, the results underline the importance of integrating accommodation, transport, travel planning and skiing experiences to create comprehensive winter holiday products.