7 Best Skiing Festivals in Europe for 2024
If you like the idea of skiing in to a stage, partying in the snow, and laughing in the mountains, then you’re going to love these skiing festivals. Book yourself in, you deserve it!
If there was ever a time for snow based fun and frolicking then it would be now. With resorts planned for full reopening this winter season, it’s time to let loose, have fun and of course spend some much needed time on the pistes with these ski festivals 2024.
With this in mind I’ve rounded up a list of some of the best ski festivals in Europe. Think shredding powder all day, then dancing on tables, ski shots and world class music and comedy performances all night.
FUN!
Best Skiing Festivals in Europe
Here are all the best ski festivals for 2024 to choose from this winter…
1. Rise Festival
- Where: Les Deux Alps
- When: 14th December 2024
Join hundreds of revellers high in the French Alps for one of the first post-Covid parties of the season at Rise Festival this winter, to ‘party on top of the world’. The French resort of Les Deux Alps will play host to some of the best DJs and electronic music acts in the world – previous headliners have included Annie Mac, Camelphat and Chase & Status.
You’ll find multiple stages across the resort alongside various afterparty venues and even wellness events such as yoga and spa retreats. The skiing festival draws an international crowd who are keen to party as hard as they ski so expect a lively atmosphere around the resort.
Les Deux Alps is perfect for beginners and lessons are available, so don’t worry if you’re not quite up to hitting the powder just yet. Rise also ensures that all the aprés parties are accessible on foot.
But if you are raring to get stuck into some serious shredding, in between dancing on tables and ski shots, then the resort has 220km of piste including Europe’s largest skiable glacier all serviced by a fast and modern lift system. Various packages are available from several tour operators for this snow festival, and you can tailor them to suit your needs.
It’s one of the coolest festivals in December, literally!
2. Altitude Comedy Festival
- Where: Mayrhofen
- When: 1st to 5th April 2024
‘Ski all day, laugh all night’ is the promise made by Altitude Festival – the world’s number one alpine comedy festival. Created in 2007 by comedians Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke, Altitude brings together the biggest names in comedy with snowsports fans in the picturesque Austrian resort of Mayrhofen.
Back after a two year hiatus, Altitude is confirmed and is set to be bigger and better than ever. With headline acts still to be announced, the multi award nominated festival promises big laughs from some of the best in the world of comedy in an environment that’s a little different to a local comedy club.
Found in the heart of the Zillertal mountains, Mayrhofen is a chocolate box village which combines a traditional alpine setting with a legendary aprés scene and vast and varied ski area – what better place to host a comedy festival?
During the day you can tackle some of the 515km of piste covered by the Zillertal Superski Pass then, after the lifts close, head to a range of intimate aprés gigs, full on stage shows and late night sets at this awesome ski festival. Days on and off the mountain can be long so make sure to stay warm by wearing the right snow gear.
Wristbands that give you access to all shows are available to buy now. Check out this list for more on the best festivals in April.
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3. Tomorrowland Winter Festival
- Where: Alpe d’Huez
- When: 19th to 22nd March 2024
Making its debut in 2019, Tomorrowland Winter is the newest addition to the famed Tomorrowland family. After a two-year Covid enforced hiatus, March 2024 will see the festival return to the French resort of Alpe d’Huez, as 30,000 ‘People of Tomorrow’ descend on the town to ski, party and watch some of the best DJs in the world perform.
Expect multiple stages around the resort with otherworldly set design creating a unique and hedonistic experience and a packed lineup keeping you entertained from aprés right through until sunrise. In the past the festival has welcomed the best in EDM, techno and house including Afrojack, Charlotte de Witte and Martin Garrix.
The slopes of Alpe d’Huez are on a south facing plateau, meaning plenty of sun and 250km of piste for you to ski off the night before. The resort caters to all different ability levels and for newbies, ski and snowboard equipment and lessons are easily available.
Pre registration for this skiing festival is now open, with the lineup and stages yet to be announced.
4. Snowboxx Festival
- Where: Avoriaz
- When: March 2024
March 2024 will hold the celebration of Snowboxx festival, where revellers can expect a week of snow covered fun and shenanigans, all soundtracked by world renowned drum and bass, electronic and house music acts.
The French resort of Avoriaz will play host with assorted stages around the resort which is fully pedestrianised. In addition to the music (previous years have seen the likes of Craig David, Fatboy Slim and Jax Jones perform) there are a host of other activities on offer. Think bottomless brunches on the mountain, karaoke, snowball fights, zorbing, fancy dress and the ever popular skim pool where brave participants attempt to ski or snowboard over a pool of water, much to the amusement of onlookers.
It might seem like all this won’t leave much time for skiing, however as Avoriaz forms part of Les Portes du Soleil ski area – the largest connected area in the world, you’ll have 650km of pistes across France and Switzerland to get your teeth into at this snow festival.
Once you’ve finished on the snow for the day at this ski festival, head to world famous venue La Folie Douce, which has partnered with Snowboxx to throw huge daily aprés parties where you can dance on tables to your heart’s content before the evening’s music acts take to the stages and the fun continues into the early hours.
5. Zermatt Unplugged
- Where: Zermatt, Switzerland
- When: 9th to 13th April 2024
Zermatt in Switzerland is a wonderful spot to go skiing. Book tickets to Zermatt Unplugged and you’ll get to ski and party with singers, songwriters and music fans to celebrate five days of music in the mountains with the Matterhorn for a backdrop too.
This is a festival in the snow you won’t forget, especially with all that earned Swiss chocolate flying about and into your mouth afterwards. This ski music festival has huge artists come for slick sets up in the mountains.
6. Snowbombing Festival
- Where: Mayrhofen
- When: April 2024
Heading back to the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen for our penultimate skiing festival – Snowbombing.
Held in April 2024 Snowbombing ski music festival is back with a bang that’s two years in the making. As always there will be more music from acts and DJs than you’ll know what to do with, across many stages and venues both on the mountain and in the resort. The first wave of the electronic lineup has already been released and features the likes of Camelphat, Andy C and Gorgon City with many more still to be announced.
As well as epic music there will be plenty of other activities to keep you out of trouble including Bongo’s Bingo, the Snowlympic Games, chairlift speed-dating, mountainside yoga and meditation and spa retreats. Plus comedy sets and talks on subjects ranging from sustainability and snowsports to music and culture.
Mayrhofen is a picturesque village with a superb ski area that has plenty for all abilities to tackle. You’ll find a range of accommodation to suit your budget and the resort is a short transfer away from Innsbruck airport.
This season Snowbombing is continuing its focus on sustainability, encouraging it’s community to work together to protect the winters that make snowsports possible. With this in mind, they’re offering green travel options, including their ‘Road Trip’ carpool across Europe and highlighting local food and produce in resort. Snowbombing is one of the top winter festivals in the world.
7. London Ski & Snowboard Festival
- Where: London
- When: Cancelled for 2022
Held in London’s Grade II listed Battersea Park, London’s Ski and Snowboard Festival promises to ‘transport guests to the mountains for a day’. Sounds good right? Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait until Autumn 2022 to experience this immersive and vibrant event as it has been postponed due to Covid related travel concerns.
But once it comes round it will certainly be worth the wait. The festival is usually held around October each year and welcomes 18,000 snow sports enthusiasts over four days. Tickets are divided into Avant and Apres with each time slot offering a different experience.
Festival goers can expect 120 exhibitors covering every aspect of snowsports including Crystal, Inghams, Norway, Tirol, Planks, Warren Smith Ski School and many more. Whether you want to pick up a new pair of ski boots, book a holiday, improve your technique on the artificial snow slope or watch experts take on the 140ft ski jump, this is the place to do it.
Not forgetting arguably the best part of skiing – there will be daily aprés parties with live music and DJ sets and an alpine street market. With four-time Winter Olympian Chemmy Alcott hosting, and Team GB making an appearance, this winter ski fest is one not to be missed.
Skiing Festival FAQs
Good to know before you go to a snow festival…
- Don’t worry if you’re new to skiing or snowboarding – a skiing festival is the perfect place to learn. Tuition and equipment hire will be readily available and group lessons are a great way to meet people and make new festival friends.
- Be aware of Covid travel restrictions and requirements. Although it’s not the most fun topic, it’s going to be an important one this winter. Make sure you’re aware of what you’ll need to get in and out of the country you’re heading to – whether that’s tests, extra paperwork or vaccine passports.
- Pack for skiing accordingly – obviously that includes ski gear, clothing suitable for winter weather and sensible shoes but don’t forget suncream and fancy dress!
- Look at what’s on offer – make a rough plan of the DJs, parties and activities you don’t want to miss at the winter ski festival, so you make the most of your festival experience.
- Pace yourself – a week of skiing and partying can quickly take its toll so don’t go too heavy on the first couple of days to avoid burning out before the end of the festival! Remember that alcohol affects you more at altitude.
Best skiing festivals around the world
And that folks, is that! Hope you are pumped and ready to grab your skis and your pals while you make your way to the mountains for one of these skiing festivals. It’s going to be so exciting to experience snow, sun and music this winter – see you there!