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15 September 2026
New cable cars, modernized lifts, redesigned beginner areas, or even new experiences on the slopes: the French ski resorts are preparing many new features for the 2018-2019 season. the winter of 2026-2027.
As every year, the ski resorts take advantage of the off-season to modernize their equipment. Here we list the ski resorts of 2026 and 2027. The goal is no longer just to increase the lift capacity. The new projects also aim to facilitate travel, improve skiers’ comfort, make certain areas more accessible, and offer new mountain experiences.
So, What are the new features of the ski resorts for the 2026-2027 season? Overview of the main projects announced in the French ski resort sector.
Article updated in September 2026. The 2026-2027 ski resort updates presented correspond to the information available at that time. Some modifications may change before or during the season.
Among the changes to be noted this season, several directly affect the ski lifts.
Clusaz is notably transforming its Balme sector, while Valmorel is improving access from Doucy. On the side of Alpe d’Huez, the vast Altitude 3300 program continues to modernize the links within the resort.
The 3 Vallées also has many projects in the pipeline. Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens are preparing various improvements aimed at improving travel or the experience on the slopes.
Here are the new features to discover this winter.
Courchevel is one of the resorts that are undergoing significant changes for the 2026-2027 winter season.
The La Tania connection has undergone significant modernization.
The new installation must, in particular, offer: 8-seat panoramic cabins and improve comfort during the climb.
The modernization also addresses the issue of fluidity. The new cabins facilitate boarding and allow skiers to transport themselves more efficiently in this strategic area of the resort.
Another new feature in Courchevel: a 300 m² panoramic wooden terrace must be opened at the summit of Chenus.
Accessible to skiers as well as pedestrians, it will offer a new space to take a break at altitude and observe the surrounding peaks.
The resort therefore relies not only on the performance of its ski lifts; it is also developing areas designed to enjoy the resort in a different way.
The ski track that connects Courchevel 1850 in Courchevel Village It is also evolving.
A new screenplay titled Fera Lumia must accompany the visitors throughout their descent.
Light effects integrated into the forest will create a different atmosphere, especially during nighttime descents.
Méribel is also continuing to modernize its resort.
The transformation of the Rhodes cable car is entering its final phase.
After the departure and intermediate stations, the cabins and various technical equipment, the work now concerns the arrival station.
The quays and facades have been redesigned, and new toilets and a space dedicated to ski schools complete the project.
The goal is simple: to improve both the operation of the lift and the reception of skiers.
In Méribel-Mottaret, the The Châtelet's detachable chairlift It is expected to resume operations during the winter of 2026-2027.
His return will make it easier to use the snowpark. Skiers will be able to get to the top of the area more easily and make more turns without systematically having to return to the snow front.
The Plattières cable car also changes its appearance.
The French artist Lucas Beaufort intervenes in certain cabins in order to transform the ascent into a true artistic medium.
The mountain thus becomes a space where skating, landscape and contemporary creation intersect.
The Snowpark of Méribel-Mottaret is also adopting a new visual identity.
The signage has been redesigned to make it easier to read the different areas and for riders to find their way around.
Beginners are not forgotten among the new arrivals of the winter season.
In Aux Menuires, one new space for beginners It is expected to be unveiled at the summit of Roc 1.
The idea is particularly interesting for new skiers. The learning areas are traditionally located on the snow slopes. Here, beginners can discover skiing directly at altitude.
They will thus benefit more from the mountain environment and the views of the domain, while at the same time learning in an area designed for learning.
The resort's recreational areas also need to benefit from new improvements.
Skiing instruction is also evolving in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville.
The kindergarten welcomes one new Biolley 2 carpet.
More modern, this equipment should facilitate the progress of young skiers and allow them to perform their first exercises in better conditions.
This new feature illustrates a fundamental trend in French ski resorts: modernizing the smaller equipment used by beginners as well, and not just the large ski lifts.
Val Thorens is also continuing to modernize its infrastructure.
Among the notable projects is a new cable car designed to improve access to the altitude sector and traffic to Orelle.
The station is also working on its major infrastructure in order to maintain efficient connections on the highest sectors of the domain.
These developments take on particular importance in Val Thorens. Located at 2,300 meters, the resort relies heavily on its altitude sectors and its connection with Orelle to offer a vast ski area.
The Combe de Balme constitutes one of the major modernization projects in La Clusaz.
The former fixed four-seater chairlift installed in the early 1990s has given way to a new six-seater chairlift at the Col de Balme.
The change should be particularly noticeable for skiers.
The climbing time should be about 14 to 7 minutes, That means twice as much time on the climb.
However, the project is not limited to the ski lift.
Several areas in the sector, including Bergerie, Blanchot, Crintiaux and Tête Blanche, are undergoing work. A new culture snow network and a preventive avalanche-triggering device are also accompanying the transformation of the sector.
The new ski lift is also intended to make it easier for intermediate skiers to reach the summit of Balme.
Finally, pedestrians will also be able to access the col and its bridge.
Megève is also renewing one of its facilities.
In the sector of Radaz, The former fixed chairlift with four seats must be replaced by a six-seater chairlift more efficient.
The flow rate must increase by about 2,000 to 2,700 people per hour.
Above all, the time required to reach the summit must be reduced by almost half.
The station also plans to review the layout of the downstream station to simplify access and boarding.
For skiers, the benefit will therefore be twofold: less waiting time and a faster ascent.
Another important project of the season: the transformation of the connection from Doucy.
The new cable car from Combelouvière replacing a four-seater detachable chairlift dating from 1987.
She will have cabins of 10 seats.
This installation also has a technical peculiarity. Its design must allow for a slight change in direction directly on the line, without building an intermediate station.
The goal is, in particular, to reach the upper station of the Celliers cable car while avoiding flying over certain plots of land.
For holidaymakers staying in Doucy, the change will be particularly noticeable, as the resort now announces a connection to Grand Domaine by cable car for the winter of 2026-2027.
In Alpe d’Huez, the changes are part of a much broader program called Altitude 3300.
The project spans several years and aims to modernize the connections between Alpe d’Huez, Oz 3300, Vaujany, Villard-Reculas and the various sectors of the resort.
For the stage to be held in 2026, the The Villarais chairlift is replaced by a 10-seater cable car.
This new development should improve the connection between Villard-Reculas and the rest of the area.
The station located 2,700 meters on the axis of Pic Blanc is also undergoing renovation.
The program also includes the replacement of the Lièvre Blanc chairlift with a 10-seat cable car during the 2026-2027 period.
However, please note that not all infrastructure for the Altitude 3300 program will be completed this winter. The new cable car from Sarenne and the final phase of the project are scheduled to be completed later, with completion announced for the winter of 2027-2028.
The new features of a resort are no longer limited to the slopes and lifts.
In Méribel, the sector of La Chaudanne For example, new facilities are being installed. An additional sanitary block and kiosks for purchasing self-service packages are intended to improve the reception at the main departure point of the resort.
In Brides-les-Bains, the calendar is also changing.
For the first time, the station plans to open as early as December 5, 2026, That is one week earlier. The opening will therefore be aligned with that of Méribel.
Thanks to the Olympe cable car, skiers staying in Brides-les-Bains will be able to access the resort from the beginning of the season.
The investments do not only concern experienced skiers.
The resorts are increasingly developing spaces for children, beginners and families.
The new carpets in the snow gardens, the learning spaces at high altitude or the playful courses respond to this evolution.
Some resorts also offer non-skiing activities so that the whole family can enjoy the mountains.
This diversification is becoming an important element of the experience at the resort. A stay in the snow is no longer based solely on the number of skiable kilometers available.
A large part of the investments announced for 2026-2027 concerns the replacement of existing facilities.
Several reasons explain this trend.
First, the new vehicles generally carry more people. This means they can reduce waiting times on some very busy routes.
Then, modern cable cars improve comfort and often make it easier for pedestrians, families, or certain audiences who do not necessarily want to ski to access the slopes.
Operators are also seeking to simplify connections between the various sectors.
Finally, replacing an aging lift can help reduce operational constraints and provide equipment better suited to the current uses of the mountain.
The projects underway for 2026-2027 show an interesting evolution in the French ski areas.
For a long time, the investments were primarily aimed at transporting skiers to the slopes ever faster.
This logic still exists, but it is now accompanied by other objectives.
The resorts are looking to improve accessibility, beginner areas, panoramic experiences, and activities offered to non-skiers.
The modernization of La Clusaz, for example, is part of a long-term reflection on the Balme sector. At Alpe d’Huez, Altitude 3300 seeks to create simpler connections between several villages and sectors of the resort.
The cable car thus gradually becomes a means of mobility in the mountains as well as a simple way to access the slopes.
The winter 2026-2027 It promises to be particularly interesting for observing the transformation of the French ski resorts.
Skiers will discover, among other things, New ski lifts in La Clusaz, Megève, Valmorel and even in the Alpe d’Huez area.
In the 3 Vallées, Courchevel and Méribel are also continuing to modernize their infrastructures, while new areas for beginners and families are emerging.
Other new features will likely be announced as the domains open.
The stations are gradually publishing their schedules during the autumn. This selection will therefore evolve over time as official announcements are made.
Several French ski resorts are renewing their ski lifts. Clusaz is modernizing the Balme sector, Valmorel is improving the connection from Doucy, and Alpe d’Huez is continuing its Altitude 3300 project. Courchevel and Méribel are also announcing several new features in the 3 Vallées.
Several new installations are planned, including the six-seater chairlift at the Col de Balme in La Clusaz, the six-seater chairlift at Radaz in Megève, and the Combelouvière cable car in Valmorel. Other areas are also renovating their installations.
Among the plans Courchevel includes the modernization of the La Tania cable car, a new 300 m² panoramic terrace at the summit of Chenus and a new layout for the toboggan run between Courchevel 1850 and Courchevel Village.
Méribel has completed the renovation of the Rhodos cable car. The Châtelet chairlift in Méribel-Mottaret is also back in service. The snowpark has adopted a new visual identity, and the Plattières cable car hosts an artistic creation by Lucas Beaufort.
Altitude 3300 is a vast program of modernization of the lifts and connections of the Alpe d’Huez domain. Several installations are being replaced or renovated between 2025 and 2027 in order to improve the connections between the different sectors and access to Pic Blanc.
Yes. The resorts are gradually communicating their new features until the season opens. Some new activities, slopes, play areas, or experiences may therefore be unveiled during the autumn of 2026.
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