Discover how Courchevel transforms into a winter wonderland for New Year’s celebrations.
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When does the holiday in Courchevel begin and end?
The holiday season in Courchevel starts around 20 December. By this time, everything is already sparkling, but major events begin in the middle of the month: concerts, ice shows, torchlight descents.
At the beginning of December, the resort is still calm — but you can get inspired by the Christmas markets in Geneva or Lyon and then head up to the Alps, where Christmas smoothly transitions into New Year’s Eve.
The main wave of celebrations lasts until the first week of January. After that, life returns to its usual rhythm: skiing and snowshoeing during the day, wine and cheese tastings in the Alps in the evening.
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The main night in Courchevel
New Year’s Eve in Courchevel is celebrated in the highest village – Courchevel 1850. This is not a date, but an altitude above sea level, and it is here that the main celebration takes place. The central square, Front de Neige, turns into a large open space filled with music, lights, and hundreds of guests who gradually gather as evening approaches.
- The programme begins around four in the afternoon – DJs play their first sets right on the snow, saxophones sound through the air, and hot mulled wine and chocolate are served nearby. People arrive from the lower villages – Le Praz, Village, and Moriond
- By eight o’clock in the evening, most guests have already gathered: some come with their children after dinner, others with friends to dance under the open sky. Live performances and short shows begin, light installations appear, and the snow on the slope seems to glow from within
- Closer to midnight, the square falls silent for a few seconds: a countdown, a collective «trois, deux, un!», and the sky above the Alps explodes with fireworks. The reflection from the snow makes them even brighter – as if the light comes from below. Then the music starts again – some people are dancing, some are hugging, and some quietly watch the slopes, where the fireworks fade into the clouds of steam
- After midnight, the celebration spreads out along dozens of routes. Parties continue until morning in the village’s bars and clubs, with live music and champagne in the lounges. Those staying lower down return to their apartments on shuttles while the slopes are still illuminated by reflections of the lights
- Families with children may find it more convenient to keep the evening short: have dinner, walk to the square, watch the fireworks, and leave before midnight, before transport becomes crowded. Those without children usually stay longer, moving from the street celebration to a warm bar
The main rule of the night is simple: arrive early, around 10 p.m., to get a spot closer to the centre. Dress warmly – at an altitude of 1,850 metres, the frost is truly felt, especially when you’re standing still. And don’t forget to check when the last gondola leaves: after 1 a.m., transport gradually winds down, and the road down turns into a quiet walk through a sleepy resort.
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Courchevel for children and families
The resort officially bears the Famille Plus label, and this is not just a formality. Here, they know how to create a celebration for all ages. Children often stay up until midnight – it’s too fascinating to watch adults enjoying the snow as much as they do.
On 31 December, Courchevel 1850 hosts a children’s New Year’s Eve party with a DJ, entertainers, hot drinks, and the traditional photo with Santa Claus.
In other villages, you can go sledging, visit the ice rink, or spend the evening at the Aquamotion water park, which features a whole children’s water world with slides and heated pools.
Practical tips
Before New Year’s Eve, Courchevel runs at full speed – everything is scheduled down to the minute, but the details matter most.
- Book in advance. Hotels, restaurants, and even skiing lessons are reserved a month ahead – by December, everything is already full
- Dress in layers. The main events take place outdoors, and by evening the temperature drops to minus ten. Warm shoes and gloves are more important than any festive outfit
- Arrive early. It’s best to watch the concert and fireworks from around 10 p.m. – this way, you can secure a good viewing spot
- Check the transport. Free shuttles run between the villages until about 2 a.m. The ski lifts operate longer than usual but often require a valid ski pass, so check in advance.
- Sign up for ESF. If you plan to participate in the torchlight descent, registration is limited, and places fill up quickly
- Keep an eye on the programme. The most up-to-date opening hours for the slopes and events are published on the official website
- Don’t make plans for the morning. On 1 January, life in the mountains slows down: breakfast lasts until noon, and no one is in a hurry – even the sun seems to rise later
Hotels and accommodation in Courchevel
New Year’s Eve here feels like a theatre performance where all the seats have long been taken. By the last week of December, it’s nearly impossible to find a vacant room or a random guest: everyone knows why they’ve come – to spend the holidays in style, with good food and the right company.
- Apartments are the first to sell out – the simplest ones cost from €500 per night but have one key advantage: no one rushes you to breakfast in the morning
- Chalets are the next step up. For £2–3 thousand a week, you get your own fireplace, the scent of pine, and that rare feeling that the world has shrunk to a quiet snowdrift outside your window
- And the high-end hotels are in a class of their own: midnight here is celebrated with a Michelin-starred dinner, champagne, and a view of the fireworks right from the spa. Prices are already in the four-digit range, but no one talks about that out loud
The key is to book in advance. Not only because rooms sell out (and they truly do), but because New Year’s Eve in Courchevel doesn’t tolerate spontaneity. Everything is meticulously planned: some people wait for their usual table, others for a specific room overlooking the slopes, and some for that special dawn when 1 January smells not of hangovers, but of mountain air and coffee from a chalet, where no one is rushing anywhere.
Weather for New Year’s Eve in Courchevel
Courchevel was conceived as a ski resort, and skiing remains the main attraction. The ideal snow cover settles here just in time for the New Year holidays.
The air temperature invites you to stay outside as long as possible. It usually stays at a comfortable -5°C, occasionally dropping to -10°C. There are no strong winds here – the Alps provide reliable shelter.
Gala dinners and parties
Celebrations here are stylish: almost every restaurant, from brasseries at the foot of the slopes to Michelin-starred venues, prepares a special New Year’s menu. Sometimes it’s an intimate candlelit dinner, sometimes a lively evening with an orchestra and dancing until dawn. New Year’s Eve in Courchevel isn’t just a date – it’s an opportunity to show how beautiful a mountain holiday can be.
- Copiña Courchevel offers a six-course dinner with champagne for around €120
- Bagatelle, Koori, and La Table des Flocons host parties with live music and festive sets where no one stays seated for long – the tables quickly turn into a dance floor
- In luxury hotels, the programme is even more ambitious: multi-course tastings, performances by artists, and desserts accompanied by fireworks. Prices are higher, but the atmosphere feels cinematic
And if you prefer something simpler, you can book a table in a cosy brasserie with a view of the slopes. There, New Year’s Eve is celebrated without pomp, but with the very feeling people come to the mountains for – warmth, good food, and authenticity.
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What else happens during the holidays in Courchevel
The festive week here doesn’t end with one night: fireworks, torchlight descents, and music on the snow follow one after another. New Year’s Eve in Courchevel turns into a series of events where every day continues the celebration.
- Torchlight descent. ESF instructors descend the slope with torches in hand, turning the mountain into a fiery ribbon. The show takes place more than once – in different villages, but mainly in Courchevel 1850
The best viewing spots are at the foot of Front de Neige or on the square in Courchevel Village 1550, from where you can see the entire «snake.»
- Pyrotechnics and light shows. Besides the New Year’s fireworks, in January and February there’s the International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art – teams from various countries perform synchronized shows of light and music above the snowy slopes
- Evening skiing and nightlife. During the holidays, some slopes stay open after dark; later, there are bars with DJ sets, live music in hotels, street concerts, and encounters with Père Noël – the French Santa Claus
Courchevel doesn’t try to surprise – it simply does everything beautifully and calmly. Here, the New Year arrives with the gentle crunch of snow. And if you wish to begin the year without resolutions, this is the place where everything already feels fulfilled.
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