Swiss Alpine Ski Resorts Face Closures Amid Financial Crises

The Braunwald ski area in the Glarus region announced that ski operations will end in winter 2026, shifting to winter hiking and cross‑country activities. Local ski‑school chief and SVP politician Reto Glarner is leading an effort to purchase the Mattwald lift and preserve at least one blue piste, arguing that the loss would harm mountain farmers and seasonal workers who rely on tourism income.

In the Wallis canton, the Télé Evolène ski resort is on the brink of bankruptcy. Residents of the municipality will vote on 27 September 2026 whether to approve a rescue plan that includes a debt‑repayment moratorium and a cut in the cost of a new chairlift from about 12.8 million to 6.4 million Swiss francs. Without approval, the resort faces insolvency and the loss of more than 20 jobs, compounded by past financial mismanagement allegations.

Both cases illustrate the growing financial pressure on small Alpine ski resorts in Switzerland, where declining profitability and high maintenance costs threaten local economies and winter tourism.