In short
Courchevel's 2026-2027 season runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027. Confirmed highlights include the Courchevel 80 evening on opening day, a World Cup night slalom on 22 December and New Year's Eve fireworks. The Freeride World Tour visits Val Thorens from 24 to 30 January. The 2027 fireworks festival dates are not yet published.
When does the 2026-2027 winter season run in Courchevel?
Courchevel's lifts run from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 18 April 2027. Courchevel Village, Moriond and La Tania open on 5 December; Moriond and La Tania close on 11 April 2027. Every event in this guide falls inside that window.
Two French holiday periods frame your choice: 19 December to 4 January, and 6 February to 7 March 2027.
Key facts: Courchevel 2026-2027 season dates and French school holidays
| What | Dates | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Courchevel lifts (main opening) | 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 | Opening day is also the Courchevel 80 evening |
| Village, Moriond and La Tania sectors | From 5 December 2026; Moriond and La Tania until 11 April 2027 | Two lower sectors close a week early |
| French Christmas holidays | 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 | Busiest fortnight of early winter |
| French February holidays, Zone C (includes Paris) | 6 to 21 February 2027 | First wave of French families |
| Zone A | 13 to 28 February 2027 | Overlaps with Zone C for one week |
| Zone B | 20 February to 7 March 2027 | Last wave, into early March |
Source: Les 3 Vallées lift opening dates; Franceinfo and vacances-scolaires.com school calendar 2026-2027, checked October 2026.
What is on in Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées, month by month?
Most headline events of 2026-2027 already have published dates; the fireworks festival is still waiting for its 2027 programme. Unconfirmed dates are marked as such.
Programme: Courchevel events month by month, 2026-2027 season
| Date | Event | Where | Audience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 December 2026 | Courchevel 80 evening, launch of the 80th anniversary | Forum ice rink, Courchevel 1850 | Public access not yet detailed | Confirmed |
| 7 to 12 December 2026 | FIS Ski Cross World Cup | Val Thorens | Spectators on the slopes | Confirmed |
| 11 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 | Forum ice rink open for the season | Le Forum, 20 place du Forum, Courchevel 1850 | Families, skate hire on site | Confirmed |
| Tuesday 22 December 2026 | FIS Women's World Cup night slalom | Émile-Allais stadium, Courchevel | Spectators; VIP packages sold separately | Confirmed |
| 24 and 25 December 2026 | Christmas entertainment, torch-lit descents | Courchevel villages | Families | To be confirmed |
| 31 December 2026 | New Year's Eve fireworks | Several levels of the resort | Everyone, from terraces and village centres | Confirmed in principle, times to come |
| 24 to 30 January 2027 | Freeride World Tour, Val Thorens Pro | Val Thorens (Pointe de Thorens or Cime Caron) | Spectators | Confirmed, day set 48 hours ahead |
| February to March 2027 | International Pyrotechnic Art Festival | Courchevel | Evening shows | 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| 20 March 2027 | Complètement à la Masse, 5 km downhill race | Les Menuires | Participants and spectators | Confirmed |
| 12 to 17 April 2027 | 75th Challenge des Moniteurs (ESF instructors) | Méribel | Spectators | Confirmed |
| 18 April 2027 | Last day of the season | Courchevel | Everyone | Confirmed |
Source: Les 3 Vallées press guide, highlights and events 2026-2027; Courchevel Tourism; Courchevel World Cup, checked October 2026.
What happens in Courchevel in December 2026?
December is the month with the most fixed dates: the season opening, a World Cup night slalom and the New Year fireworks. On 22 December the sun sets at 4:53 pm, so evening events start in the dark.
4 December: opening day and Courchevel 80
Courchevel was created in 1946. On opening day, Les 3 Vallées announces an anniversary evening at the Forum ice rink, with live performances, a film and a coffee-table book. Public access has not been detailed yet.
7 to 12 December: Ski Cross World Cup in Val Thorens
Val Thorens, linked to Courchevel by the 3 Vallées ski area, hosts another stage of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup.
22 December: the Women's World Cup night slalom
The headline sporting date of the winter is a women's slalom under floodlights on the Émile-Allais stadium. Courchevel Tourism publishes this programme:
- 4:00 pm: the partners' village opens in the finish area
- 5:45 pm: first run
- Between runs: DJ set
- 8:45 pm: second run, flower ceremony and prize giving
Our guide to the Courchevel Ski World Cup covers where to stand, how to get there and what to wear.
Christmas and New Year's Eve
The Christmas programme, including any torch-lit descent, had not been published in October 2026.
"The arrival of the New Year in Courchevel is marked by fireworks illuminating the different levels of the resort." Source
For crowds and booking order over the fortnight, see our Courchevel at Christmas and New Year guide.
Is January 2027 a good month for events in Les 3 Vallées?
January is the calmest month in Courchevel, and its one big date is the Freeride World Tour in Val Thorens from 24 to 30 January 2027. No French school zone is on holiday.
The world's top freeride skiers and snowboarders compete on the Pointe de Thorens or the Cime Caron.
"The face, timings and competition day will be decided 48 hours in advance, within the weather window." Source
So keep one day flexible. Our guide from Courchevel to Val Thorens explains the ski route.
What should families know about February 2027 in Courchevel?
February brings the French school holidays and, most years, the start of the fireworks festival.
The three waves of French families
- 6 to 12 February: Zone C only, which includes Paris
- 13 to 21 February: Zones A and C together, two zones at once
- 22 to 28 February: Zones A and B together
- 1 to 7 March: Zone B only
Compare your school's half-term with these waves before choosing.
The International Pyrotechnic Art Festival
Courchevel's fireworks festival is an international competition. The 2025 edition ran from 13 February to 6 March, with torch-lit descents before each show.
The 2027 dates had not been published in October 2026. Treat late February to early March as likely, not certain.
What is on in March and April 2027?
Spring has fewer events but the longest days and quieter slopes after 7 March. The sun sets at 6:38 pm on 15 March.
- 20 March: Complètement à la Masse in Les Menuires, a 5 km downhill course with 1,000 metres of vertical drop
- 4 to 9 April: Yogiski Week in Les Menuires
- 12 to 17 April: the 75th Challenge des Moniteurs in Méribel, for ESF ski instructors
- 18 April: the last day of the season in Courchevel, and of the Forum ice rink
French spring holidays start on 3 April for Zone C. For snow and crowd trends by week, see the best time to ski in Courchevel.
Which week should a family choose, based on the events?
Choose the week of 22 December for a fixed sporting event, late January for space on the slopes, and early March for long days and a likely fireworks show. Each option trades crowds against events.
Choose your week: three Courchevel weeks compared for a family
| Week | Fixed events | Crowds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 to 26 December 2026 | Night slalom on 22 December; Christmas entertainment to be announced | High: French Christmas holidays from 19 December | A World Cup race and Christmas on the snow |
| 23 to 30 January 2027 | Freeride World Tour in Val Thorens, day set 48 hours ahead | Low: no French school holidays | Confident skiers who want quiet pistes |
| 27 February to 6 March 2027 | Fireworks festival likely, 2027 dates to be confirmed | Medium to high: Zones A and B, then Zone B alone | Long afternoons and a chance of fireworks |
Source: Les 3 Vallées press guide; Courchevel Tourism; Franceinfo school calendar 2026-2027, checked October 2026.
If the fireworks matter most, wait for the 2027 programme before paying a deposit.
Is it worth booking a photographer for a Courchevel event week?
Yes, if you want the whole family in the picture rather than behind the phone, and the event weeks offer the strongest backdrops of the winter. Riva Photography Courchevel is a private photography agency working only in the Alps' most exclusive resorts, and its photographers ski.
Photo session: the best weeks and moments for a family shoot in Courchevel, 2026-2027
| When | Where | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| December, 4 pm to 5 pm | Courchevel 1850 snow front and village streets | Lit chalets under a deep blue sky after a 4:53 pm sunset |
| 31 December, early evening | Your chalet terrace or hotel | Festive outfits before dinner; fireworks seen from a terrace |
| February to March, fireworks evenings | Public viewing areas in Courchevel | Torch-lit descents and colour in the sky |
| Mid-March to April, late afternoon | Sunny pistes above 1850 | Light until 6:30 pm or later, calmer slopes |
Source: sunrise-sunset.org for Courchevel; Courchevel Tourism, checked October 2026.
What Riva takes care of
- A photographer who skis and follows you on the slopes, in the village, at the chalet or at the hotel
- Timing around ski lessons and your chosen event
- First photos within 48 hours, the full gallery within 7 days
- Free rescheduling for weather if you ask more than 72 hours ahead; 10% is due below that
Sessions take place in public areas, never in race zones; a private venue must agree first.
How much does it cost?
- 640 €: 1 hour, 30 photos
- 990 €: 2 hours, 60 photos
- 1,290 €: half day (4 hours), 120 photos
- 1,970 €: full day (8 hours), 250 photos
All prices include taxes for the 2026-2027 season. For a session on the slopes, the photographer's lift pass is added at the public price. See our pricing page, ideas for a family ski photoshoot and how a ski photoshoot in Courchevel works.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Courchevel World Cup slalom in 2026?
The FIS Women's World Cup slalom is on Tuesday 22 December 2026 on the Émile-Allais stadium in Courchevel. It is a night race, with runs at 5:45 pm and 8:45 pm.
When is the Courchevel fireworks festival in 2027?
The 2027 dates of Courchevel's International Pyrotechnic Art Festival had not been published in October 2026. The 2025 edition ran from 13 February to 6 March.
What is Courchevel 80?
Courchevel 80 marks the 80th anniversary of the resort, created in 1946. It opens with an evening at the Forum ice rink on 4 December 2026, the first day of the season.
When are the French school holidays in winter 2027?
The French February holidays run from 6 to 21 February 2027 for Zone C, 13 to 28 February for Zone A and 20 February to 7 March for Zone B.
When does the 2026-2027 ski season end in Courchevel?
Courchevel's lifts close on Sunday 18 April 2027. The Village, Moriond and La Tania sectors close earlier, on 11 April 2027.
Planning a session in Courchevel?
Send us your dates and where you are staying. We reply on WhatsApp within the hour with an available photographer and a quote.
contact@rivaphotography.com
Book a photographer in Courchevel
Sources
Facts, times and rules in this guide come from these sources, checked in October 2026.
- Les 3 Vallées press, highlights and events 2026-2027, checked October 2026.
- Les 3 Vallées, Courchevel lifts and trails opening dates, checked October 2026.
- Courchevel Tourism, the events of winter in Courchevel, checked October 2026.
- Courchevel World Cup, official site, checked October 2026.
- Courchevel Tourism, 80 years of Courchevel, checked October 2026.
- Courchevel Tourism, the Pyrotechnic Art Festival, checked October 2026.
- Courchevel Tourism, Forum skating rink, checked October 2026.
- Les 3 Vallées, New Year's Eve in Courchevel, checked October 2026.
- Franceinfo, French school holiday calendar 2026-2027, checked October 2026.
- Vacances-scolaires.com, winter holidays 2027, checked October 2026.
- Sunrise-Sunset, Courchevel December 2026 and March 2027, checked October 2026.
