Winter Openings - Start of the Ski Season & Events

Lebensgefühl Östereich - sujet powder snow - cheers
Skiing again at last! All the dates for the start of the season in Austria's best ski resorts, including concerts and events!

The winter season openings in Austria mark the long-awaited start of the ski season for winter sports enthusiasts. When the first lifts in resorts such as Ischgl, Sölden, or Saalbach-Hinterglemm begin to operate, there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air. The anticipation of finally getting back on the slopes is tangible.

These days are often celebrated with major events, concerts, and sporting highlights. The first turn in fresh snow, the crisp mountain air, and the feeling of ushering in winter make the winter season openings a special experience for all winter sports lovers.

Please note:

Our list provides an overview of the season openings and events for each province. Please note that not all dates for the 2025/26 winter season are available yet. We are working to continuously add and update the information.
As weather conditions may lead to changes, please also check the website of the respective region or cable car operator, or contact the local tourism board directly.

Lower Austria

Annaberg
6 December 2025, start of season*

Hochkar
5 December 2025*

Lackenhof am Ötscher
6 December 2025, start of season*

Mönichkirchen-Mariensee
6 December 2025, start of season*

Puchberg am Schneeberg
25 December 2025, start of season*

Semmering
December 2025, start of season*

St. Corona/Wechsel
6 December 2025, start of season*

*with sufficient snow conditions

Operating times in Lower Austria

Upper Austria

Dachstein-West/Gosau
5 December 2025, start of season

Feuerkogel/Ebensee
13 December 2025, start of season

Hinterstoder/Pyhrn Priel
from 15 November 2025, weekend operation*
from 29 November 2025, daily operation*

Hochficht/Böhmerwald
06 December 2025, start of season*

Krippenstein Dachstein/Obertraun
20 December 2025, start of season

Wurzeralm/Spital am Pyhrn Priel
from 22 November 2025, weekend operation*
from 06 December 2025, daily operation*

*with sufficient snow conditions

Operating hours in Upper Austria

Carinthia

Ankogel - Mallnitz
20 December 2025, start of season*

Bad Kleinkirchheim
5 December 2025, preliminary start of season

Falkert/Heidi Alm
13 December 2025, start of season*

Gerlitzen Alpe
29 November 2025, start of season

Goldeck
19 December 2025, start of season

Heiligenblut am Grossglockner
20 December 2025

Hochrindl
06 December 2025

Katschberg
05 December 2025, start of season

Klippitztörl
6 December 2025, preliminary start of season

Mölltaler Gletscher
10 October 2025, start of winter season

Nassfeld
5 December 2025, start of season*

Turracher Höhe
25 December 2025, start of main season

Operating times in Carinthia

Styria

Die Tauplitz / Ausseerland - Salzkammergut
29 November 2025, start of season

Reiteralm & Fageralm / Schladming

Hauser Kaibling
TBC

Kreischberg / Murau
5 December 2025, start of season

Schladming-Dachstein region
5 - 7 December 2025 Ski Opening 2025 with the Backstreet Boys

Planai & Hochwurzen
5 December 2025, start of season Hochwurzen

Ramsau am Dachstein
5 December 2025

Schönberg-Lachtal
5 December 2025, start of season

Stuhleck – Spital am Semmering
TBC

Turracher Höhe
25 December 2025

Operating times in Styria

SalzburgerLand

Abtenau/ Karkogel & Sonnleitn
20 December 2025, start of season

Bramberg & Neunkirchen/ Wildkogel Arena
5 - 8 December 2025, weekend operation
from 12 December 2025, continuous operation

Filzmoos
TBC

Gasteinertal
28 November 2025, partial operation of the Schlossalm-Angertal-Stubnerkogel ski area
5 December 2025, start of the Dorfgastein-Großarltal ski area season
12 December 2025, start of the Sportgastein ski area season
12-13 December 2025, open-air music festival GASTEIN SOUNDS

Grossarltal
TBC

Hochkönig
5 December 2025, depending on the snow conditions

Lungau SkiLungau

Mittersill - Hollersbach - Stuhlfelden/ Kitz Ski
TBC

Obertauern
28 November and 05 December 2025, Ski opening 2025

Raurisertal
12 December 2025, start of the season

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
28 November 2025, start of season with partial operation
5 - 7 December 2025, BERGFESTival
11 - 14 December 2025, Rave on Snow Festival

Snow Space Salzburg (Flachau/St. Johann/Wagrain)
29 November 2025, preliminary season start

Werfenweng
6 December 2025, start of season

Zell am See - Kaprun

Zillertal Arena: Wald-Königsleiten, Krimml
5 December 2025

Operating hours in SalzburgerLand

Tirol

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal - Wildschönau
5 December 2025

Innsbruck and surroundings

Kaunertaler Gletscher
3 October 2025

Kitzbühel
22 November 2025, start of season with partial/weekend operations

Nauders
12 December 2025

East Tirol

Ötztal

Pitztal

Seefeld
5 December 2025

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
5 December 2025, start of season with partial operations
from 20 December 2025 full operations

Skicircus: Fieberbrunn
28 November 2025

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental
6 December 2025

St. Anton am Arlberg
3 December 2025
5 - 7 December 2025, Stanton Ski Open

St. Johann in Tirol
6 December 2025

Paznaun – Ischgl

Stubaital

Tiroler Zugspitzarena
TBC

Zillertal

Top events at the start of winter in Tirol

Operating times in Tirol

Vorarlberg

Lech Zürs/Arlberg
3 December 2025

Bregenzerwald

Montafon

Großes Walsertal

*depending on snow conditions

Operating times in Vorarlberg

Highlights & ski opening concerts

Ischgl

Ischgl is starting off the new winter season with its Top of the Mountain Operning Concert on 29 November 2025. This years' star: Rita Ora!

Learn more

Schladming-Dachstein

Celebrate the winter opening in the Schladming-Dachstein region on 5, 6 and 7 December 2025 with this years' headliners: The Backstreet Boys!

Learn more

Obertauern

Obertauern starts its winter season on two weekends - 28 November and 5 December 2025. This years' headliners: Seiler & Speer and Edmund!

Learn more

Gastein

On 12 and 13 December 2025, the new open-air music festival GASTEIN SOUNDS will kick off the winter season – with stars such as CRO, SKI AGGU, SDP, IKKIMEL and BELLA.

Learn more

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

From 5 to 6 December 2025, the BERGFESTival will combine ski opening, rock open air and club parties at various locations.

Learn more

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

Four days, 60 artists, 13 stages and more than 50 hours of music from 11 - 14 December 2025 kick-off the new winter season here!

Learn more

St. Anton am Arlberg

Stanton Ski Open 5 – 7 December 2025: Free ski and snowboard testing, live music on three stages – the Fäaschtbänkler will be celebrating the end of the festival.

Learn more

FAQ

A winter opening marks the official start of the ski season in Austria's ski resorts. In addition to the first days on freshly groomed powder snow slopes, events, live concerts and parties await you. Whether it's a ski opening, snowboard test or live acts – winter openings combine sport and entertainment, creating the perfect start to your winter holiday.

In the glacier ski areas, the first winter openings start as early as September or October. Most ski resorts open their slopes between late November and early December, depending on snow conditions.

At a winter opening in Austria, you will experience the perfect blend of sport and entertainment. Highlights include free ski and snowboard tests, live concerts by international top acts, legendary après-ski parties and sporting side events. Whether in Ischgl, Schladming, Obertauern or on the Arlberg – each ski resort has its own unique character. What they all have in common is that music, atmosphere and skiing fun are the focus at the start of the season.

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