Europe faces record heat and wildfires during summer 2026

Europe experienced a record-breaking summer in 2026, characterized by extreme heatwaves, intense wildfires, and severe droughts. August temperatures were 2.7 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms, contributing to an estimated 35,000 deaths across the continent.

Wildfires impacted diverse regions, including 300,000 hectares burned in Spain and historic incidents in Belgium’s High Fens nature reserve. In response, the European Union’s civil protection mechanism was activated ten times, mobilizing approximately 800 firefighters and 22 water-bombing aircraft.

In Switzerland, the crisis highlights long-term hydrological shifts. Decades of landscape modification—including the drainage of wetlands for agriculture and the straightening of rivers to prevent flooding—have altered the natural water cycle. These human-made changes, combined with urbanization and soil sealing, have impacted the country’s ability to manage extreme weather events.