Austria's 2026–27 ski season starts in November at the earliest areas and in early December at most big resorts: Kitzbühel opens at Resterkogel on November 6, 2026, Ischgl on November 26, and Ski Arlberg (St. Anton and Lech Zürs) on December 2, 2026, running to April 18, 2027. All dates are planned and depend on snow (resort sites). In Austria, both the motorway vignette and winter tyres are required for drivers (Ski Arlberg), and you can reach St. Anton by direct train from Innsbruck, Zurich and Salzburg.
Photo: winter visual on Pexels (Pexels)
Key 2026–27 season dates
| Resort | Status | Planned dates |
|---|---|---|
| Kitzbühel | ✅ Official (Kitzbühel lifts), subject to snow | Resterkogel opens Nov 6, 2026; full ski connection Dec 11, 2026–Mar 29, 2027; season finale Mar 30–Apr 4, 2027 |
| Ischgl | ✅ Official (Ischgl lift operator, winter 2026/27 operating times), subject to snow | Nov 26, 2026–May 2, 2027; extended lift hours from Mar 28, 2027 |
| St. Anton and Lech Zürs (Ski Arlberg) | ✅ Official (Ski Arlberg) | Dec 2, 2026–Apr 18, 2027 |
| Schladming: Planai | ✅ Official (Ski amadé), planned data | Dec 4, 2026–Apr 4, 2027 |
| Schladming: Dachstein Glacier | ✅ Official (Ski amadé), planned data | Jan 12–Mar 29, 2027 |
Which resort to choose
St. Anton and Lech Zürs (Ski Arlberg)
- Ski Arlberg calls itself Austria's largest ski area, with 85 lifts and cable cars and 301 km of runs. Warth-Schröcken opens on December 4, 2026 and Klösterle-Sonnenkopf on December 11, 2026 (Ski Arlberg).
- The ski season is divided into three periods, which also affect lift-ticket pricing (Ski Arlberg).
Kitzbühel
- Planned operating times run from the November 6 opening at Resterkogel to a season finale on April 4, 2027. The Kitzbüheler Horn runs from November 28, 2026 to March 21, 2027 (Kitzbühel lifts).
Ischgl
- Ischgl's lifts run from November 26, 2026 to May 2, 2027, and the resort runs a full events programme, including the Nightshow starting December 29 and the Spring Blanc series in spring (Ischgl).
Schladming-Dachstein
- Reiteralm opens first, on November 20, 2026, followed by Hauser Kaibling on November 28 and Planai on December 4 (Ski amadé). The Dachstein Glacier opens on January 12, 2027, which makes it an option for later in winter.
7-day itinerary (example: Sat Jan 9 – Fri Jan 15, 2027, Arlberg)
Sat: Arrival in St. Anton
- Arrive by train (St. Anton station is a short walk from the town centre and the cable cars) or by transfer from the airport.
- Collect your ski pass and equipment.
Days 2–3 — Sun–Mon: St. Anton side
- Ski the St. Anton, St. Christoph and Stuben area; take a lesson on day 2 if you are new to the mountain.
Days 4–5 — Tue–Wed: Lech and Zürs side
- Use the Ski Arlberg connection to ski Lech, Oberlech and Zürs (check lift status each morning).
Thu: Rest or snowshoe day
- Take a day off the lifts for a walk in the village, a spa or a snowshoe outing; book locally.
Fri: Departure
- Allow time for the train or transfer back to your airport.
Getting there and getting around
- Airports for the Arlberg: Innsbruck (100 km, with a direct train to St. Anton) and St. Gallen-Altenrhein (100 km) are the nearest; Zurich is 200 km with a direct train, Munich 260 km and Salzburg 280 km (Ski Arlberg).
- Train: international Railjet and Eurocity trains reach St. Anton every two hours (Ski Arlberg).
- Winter tyres: from November 1 to April 15, cars and vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes must have winter tyres on all wheels when the road has snow, slush or ice; snow chains on at least two driven wheels are an alternative only on roads with continuous snow or ice. Tyres must carry an M+S or snowflake mark (Austrian government, oesterreich.gv.at).
- Vignette: a motorway vignette is also required (Ski Arlberg); buy it from the official operator ASFINAG before you drive on a motorway.
Combine it with other Alpine trips
For another Alpine week, see 7 days in the Swiss Alps in winter, Chamonix in winter or our roundup of winter vacation ideas for 2026–27.
Plan it with Lets2Go
Tell Lets2Go's AI trip planner your dates, level and whether you travel by train or car, and get a day-by-day ski week you can adjust. Also on the App Store and Google Play. Opening hours and dates can change, so confirm them on official sites before you go.
When does the ski season start in Austria?
It depends on the resort and the snow. Kitzbühel opens at Resterkogel on November 6, 2026, Ischgl on November 26, and Ski Arlberg on December 2, 2026, according to the resorts' own sites; all dates are planned and subject to change.
Which Austrian ski resort should I pick?
Ski Arlberg is Austria's largest ski area, with 301 km of runs, according to Ski Arlberg. Kitzbühel, Ischgl and Schladming-Dachstein each publish their own season dates and events; choose by the dates you can travel and how you plan to get there.
Can I get to Austrian ski resorts by train?
Yes. St. Anton has direct train connections to Innsbruck, Zurich, Salzburg and Vienna, and international trains arrive every two hours, according to Ski Arlberg.
Do I need winter tyres and a vignette in Austria?
Yes, if you drive. Winter tyres are required in wintry conditions between November 1 and April 15 (oesterreich.gv.at), and the vignette is required on motorways (Ski Arlberg). Consider a train or transfer if you are not used to snow.
