Val d’Isère has been named the world’s Best Overall Ski Resort in the 2026 Snomad Ski Resort Awards, leading an all-European top three.
The French resort scored 4.62 out of five, ahead of Italy’s Livigno on 4.56 and Val Gardena on 4.53. Canada’s Sun Peaks was named North America’s best overall resort with a score of 4.52.
Ratings from skiers and snowboarders
The third annual awards draw on 153,854 resort ratings submitted by skiers and snowboarders during the 2025/26 season. Results cover 20 categories, and Snomad says it has now recorded 377,826 resort ratings in total.
Rankings take account of average scores and a minimum ratings threshold, with ratings volume contributing to a lesser extent. Snomad does not publish its exact ranking calculations.
Dan Lever, founder of Snomad, said: “It’s interesting to see Europe take all three top spots for Best Overall this year, after a US resort won in 2025. Poor snow conditions across much of the western US may have played a part. More American skiers are also heading to Europe, where lift passes can be significantly cheaper and a week’s skiing can sometimes cost less, even including flights.”
Category winners
Kicking Horse won the worldwide awards for powder skiing, off-piste and advanced skiers, while Austria’s Ischgl took worldwide Gold for après-ski, accommodation and groomed runs. Pamporovo was named the world’s best-value resort and best for ski schools.
Other worldwide Gold winners included Les Carroz for families, Sainte Foy Tarentaise for intermediates, Laax for snow parks and Zermatt for snowboarding.
Lever added: “A resort that is brilliant for experts may not be the best choice for families or beginners. That’s why the awards cover 20 different categories, and why it is so interesting to see resorts such as Les Carroz, Sainte Foy and Castle Mountain earning recognition alongside some of skiing’s biggest names.”
Source: Snomad Ski Resort Awards 2026 press release. Featured image supplied by Snomad.
