Crans‑Montana bar fire site to become youth centre and memorial
On the night of 1 January 2026 a fire ripped through the bar Le Constellation in the Swiss ski resort of Crans‑Montana, killing 41 people – many of them teenagers – and injuring 115 others. Prosecutors say champagne bottles fitted with sparklers were held too close to the ceiling, igniting acoustic‑foam insulation that turned the venue into a full‑scale blaze within seconds.
Legal proceedings have been opened against co‑owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti, and the cantonal court has placed the surviving owner under supervised release. The incident also sparked a brief diplomatic row with Italy after six Italian citizens died in the fire.
Six months later Valais Council President Christophe Darbellay announced that the site will never reopen as a bar. It will be converted into a space dedicated to young people and a physical memorial will be built. Darbellay stressed that the project must arise from civil society and give families of the victims a leading role. A formal commemoration is planned for 1 January 2027.