The first snow is dusting the peaks, the lifts are being tested, and in a few weeks the Alps will be full of little skiers again. Every year our resorts spend the summer building, improving and reinventing, and this winter there is plenty for families to look forward to.
From a toboggan run lit up through the forest in Courchevel to Christmas in Megève, heated chairlifts in Ischgl and a brand-new gondola in Chamonix, here is what’s new in the resorts where our MeriNannies work this winter, and how to make the most of it with children.
Courchevel & La Tania: a toboggan run through the lights
The highlight for families this winter is Fera Lumia, a new immersive toboggan experience between Courchevel 1850 and Courchevel Village. Children slide down through the forest past light installations, a magical end to a snowy afternoon with their nanny.
Higher up, a new 300 mZ wooden panoramic terrace at the top of Chenus faces south, making it one of the sunniest spots in Courchevel for a hot chocolate break. And in La Tania, the gondola has been refurbished with new eight-seater panoramic cabins, so little ones can watch the mountain roll by on the way up.
Nanny tip: Fera Lumia is perfect for the late afternoon, when the lights come into their own. Wrap up warm and finish with a hot chocolate in the village.
Méribel: a finished Rhodos gondola and a new place to explore
The Rhodos gondola project is now complete, with a refurbished platform, new toilets and a dedicated ski school area, good news for parents doing the morning drop-off. The Plattières gondola has been transformed into a moving art gallery with artist Lucas Beaufort, so even the lift ride becomes something to talk about.
Off the slopes, the new L’Écho cultural centre opens this winter, telling the story of the Méribel valley’s history and heritage, an ideal rest-day outing. In Méribel Mottaret, the Châtelet chairlift reopens, and at La Chaudanne there are new toilets and self-service ski pass machines (fewer queues with tired children in tow).
Megève: Christmas sparkle, free fun zones and free skiing for under-5s
Few villages do Christmas like Megève. The festive season begins with the Christmas tree lighting in the village square on Saturday 5 December 2026, a free evening of music and twinkling lights as the old façades light up around the tree. Over the holidays, horse-drawn carriages and a Christmas village with Santa and his elves make the medieval streets feel like a storybook.
On the slopes, the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area opens for the weekend of 5–6 December and fully from 19 December 2026 until 4 April 2027. Good news for families: children under 5 ski free (just
€2 for the hands-free card), families buying four or more passes with at least two children get up to 10% off, and there is 20% off in the quieter weeks of 12–18 December and from 20 March.
Megève’s free family zones are a big part of its charm: the Village of Elves, with huts, slides, swings and climbing frames for skiers and non-skiers alike; the Caboche sledging area next to the Rocharbois cable car on the Rochebrune side, with a free carpet lift to carry sledges back up; and a giant airbag at Rochebrune, where every lift pass includes three free jumps.
Nanny tip: Pack your own sledge for Caboche. It is one of the easiest afternoons out with little ones, and you can ski Rochebrune right next door.
Chamonix: the new Argentière gondola
The big news in the Chamonix valley is the first section of the new Argentière–Lognan gondola, due to open in December 2026. Its 10-seat cabins run between striking glass stations designed by the architect Renzo Piano, and at Lognan (1,972 m) there will be a beginner area and a place to eat, a new option for families who want to try skiing at altitude. The upper section to the top of the Grands Montets is planned for December 2027.
Morzine & Avoriaz: a 60th birthday and a family adventure game
Avoriaz turns 60 this winter, celebrating six decades as one of the Alps’ original car-free resorts, so expect celebrations throughout the season.
For families, the standout is La Folie du Dahu, a new interactive outdoor game on the Nyon plateau above Morzine. Children and parents use a tablet to solve puzzles and track down the legendary Dahu, the mythical mountain creature of Alpine folklore, with 216 possible storylines, so no two adventures
are the same. There is also a new picnic terrace at Plan Brazy in the Arare sector, perfect for a sunny lunch with little ones.
Nanny tip: Before you go, tell your children the legend of the Dahu, an animal said to have shorter legs on one side so it can walk around the mountain. It makes the treasure hunt even more exciting.
Ischgl: heated seats and weather hoods
Ischgl has replaced three of its busiest chairlifts, Höllboden, Höllkar and Sassgalun, with modern eight-seat chairlifts with heated seats and weather-protection hoods. For small skiers who feel the cold, that means a warmer, more comfortable ride. The new Höllboden lift also follows a new line designed to ease the crowds around the busy Idalp hub, and the stations are topped with solar panels.
Ischgl opens on 26 November 2026 and the season runs until 2 May 2027, one of the longest in the Alps, which makes it a great choice for Easter.
St Anton & Lech: the classics return
The Arlberg, home to St Anton, Lech and Zürs, opens on 2 December 2026 and closes on 18 April 2027. With one of the largest linked ski areas in Austria, there is something for every level, from gentle nursery slopes to legendary off-piste, and our nannies know the best family spots in both villages.
Opening dates at a glance
| Resort | Opens | Closes |
| Val Thorens | 21 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 |
| Ischgl | 26 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 |
| Chamonix (Grands Montets & Flégère first; whole valley open 19 December) | 28 November 2026 | 2 May 2027 (Grands Montets & Aiguille du Midi); Brévent, Flégère & Les Houches 18 April |
| St Anton, Lech & Zürs | 2 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 |
| Courchevel | 4 December 2026 (Village & Moriond from 5 December) | 18 April 2027 (Moriond 11 April) |
| Méribel | 5 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 |
| La Tania | 5 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 |
| Megève | 5–6 December (opening weekend), fully 19 December 2026 | 4 April 2027 |
| Le Grand Bornand | 5–6 December (pre-opening, snow permitting), fully 12 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 |
| Avoriaz | 11 December 2026 | 18 April 2027 |
| La Clusaz | 12 December 2026 | 25 April 2027 |
| Morzine | 19 December 2026 | 4 April 2027 |
Dates can change with the snow, so always check the resort’s own website before you travel.
Make the most of it with a MeriNanny
New lifts, new runs and new adventures are best enjoyed when everyone is having the holiday they want. While you explore the slopes, your MeriNanny can take the children sledging at Fera Lumia, visit the Village of Elves in Megève, or set off on the hunt for the Dahu, then have them bathed and in pyjamas by the time you are back.
Since 2003, we have hand-picked, DBS-checked and first-aid-trained nannies for families across the French and Austrian Alps. Christmas, New Year and February half-term are always the first weeks to fill, so now is the time to secure your dates.
Book your MeriNanny for winter 2026/27
Follow our winter on Instagram @ merinannies for snow updates and nanny adventures from the resorts.
With warm wishes, the MeriNannies team
