January Ski Holidays 2026

January is a great time to go skiing, with cold temperatures keeping pistes in perfect condition. For more security, you might want to go to high-altitude resorts like Val d’Isère, Tignes, or Val Thorens where snowfall and fresh powder is almost guaranteed, while lower altitude resorts such as Morzine or Kitzbühel may rely more on artificial snow at village level.

Over in North America, expect similar conditions. The likes of Whistler and Colorado offer great snow across the board in January. On the whole, American and Canadian resorts tend to be at higher altitudes than their European counterparts, and conditions usually reflect this.

With reliable snowfall, cold temperatures and quieter slopes after the festive season rush – and kids being back at school – January is one of the best times to go skiing.

Compared with Christmas, New Years and the later February half term, January is one of the cheaper times to go skiing, while still falling within the peak season.

Here at Ski Solutions, we endeavour to help you find your perfect skiing holiday and in January, you might be lucky enough to be on the receiving end of buy-one-get-one-free lift passes, kids ski-free deals, or complimentary equipment upgrades

While we love all of our resorts, you really can’t go wrong with going high-altitude for assured snow. For those sorts of conditions, you needn’t look further than the likes of Val d’Isère, Tignes, and Val Thorens in France, or St. Anton in Austria. Meanwhile, if it’s quieter slopes you’re after, then perhaps Italian resorts such as Cervinia or Livigno would suit you better. In North America, January is prime powder time for places like Whistler, Aspen and Banff.

As for the more nightlife-oriented side of things, St. Anton and Ischgl in Austria are famous for lively après ski, while Val d’Isère and Verbier in France and Switzerland respectively have similar reputations.

Since slopes are quieter in January, you’ll find that this is a great time to ingratiate yourself into the amazing world of winter sports. Off-peak times allow you to ski at your own pace and also make finding ski instructors and schools with spaces a much more fruitful task.

While you may think there will be a cooldown period after the New Years and Christmas festivities, things typically stay pretty busy in ski resorts in January.

Many resorts host the likes of torchlit descents, live music nights, firework shows and even winter sports competitions. On top of that, you have the usual alpine favourites, such as dog-sledding, ice skating, snowshoe tours and of course, spa facilities by the plenty.

Resorts such as Val d’Isère, Verbier, and St. Anton often feature international DJs and special après ski events in January, while smaller resorts focus on family-friendly shows and village festivities.