Andorra’s ski resorts have brought the 2025–2026 winter season to a close with unprecedented success. Under the Grandvalira Resorts banner, the ski area recorded its best-ever result with a total of 2,382,805 ski days sold, representing an increase of 2.7% compared to the previous winter. This performance is accompanied by remarkable financial strength, with a 4.25% increase in total turnover.
Grandvalira Resorts: record snowfall for a rapidly growing industry
The exceptional amount of snowfall was the catalyst for this historic season. At Grandvalira, the 716 cm of accumulated snow (an increase of 86% compared to the previous year’s 384 cm) meant that an average of over 200 km of skiable slopes could be maintained from the Christmas period onwards. This favourable weather had a direct impact on sustainability: snowmaking fell by 20%, with 877,600 m³ of water used, compared to 1.1 million last winter.
For its part, Pal Arinsal has capitalised on its record snowfall over the past 22 years to ensure that 100% of its ski area remained open for almost the entire winter, driving its growth of 9.1% .
Ordino Arcalís stood out for having the longest season in Andorra (137 days of operation). Despite 9 days of total closure due to storms, the resort took advantage of its 864 cm of accumulated snow (double that of last year) to reduce its snowmaking requirements by 36% , using only 127,644 m³ of water.
David Ledesma, Marketing Director at Grandvalira Resorts, highlights the effectiveness of the overall strategy: “ This winter’s heavy snowfall – with record accumulations at Pal Arinsal over the last 22 years, the second-best on record at Ordino Arcalís and the fourth-highest in the last 35 years at Grandvalira – has boosted the season’s strong results, with very impressive average daily occupancy rates thanks to the advance booking strategy and international markets ”.
29 December will remain a landmark date for the group, marking the all-time record for simultaneous visitor numbers across the three ski areas, with 34,523 skiers.
Weather and logistical challenges: obstacles to an even more exceptional season
Although the overall results were record-breaking, the resorts within the Grandvalira Resorts group had to contend with significant external factors that limited this winter’s full potential. Unstable weather conditions had a particularly significant impact on short-stay visitor numbers: 10 out of the 18 weekends of the season were affected by adverse weather (a figure rising to 20 weekends for Ordino Arcalís). This impact is quantifiable, with a direct loss estimated at 18,000 ski days on Saturdays alone, corresponding to local customers who purchase their ski passes at the last minute.
Even more disruptive, access from France via the RN-20 was severely disrupted for a total of 55 days. A breakdown of these disruptions reveals the scale of the logistical challenge:
- 37 days of closure following a rockslide between late January and early March.
- 12 days of disruption caused by protests and strikes by livestock farmers.
- 6 days of precautionary restrictions following weather warnings issued by the French authorities.
These complications have had a direct impact on the Pas de la Case area, where the loss is estimated at around 50,000 ski days. Whilst holidaymakers showed resilience by maintaining their bookings, day-trippers were conspicuous by their absence: sales of day passes to French customers at the ticket offices fell by 28% in February alone. Consequently, the French market’s share of total visitor numbers fell to 6%. This context explains, in particular, the slight decline of 4% in visitor numbers at Grandvalira in February, despite an exceptional January which had seen a 5% increase.
Digital transformation and global reach: the new drivers of growth
Grandvalira Resorts’ digital strategy is proving to be the driving force behind its commercial performance. Advance booking is now central to consumer behaviour, driving online sales growth to +6%. The group’s mobile app has become the cornerstone of this experience: it has reached nearly 380,000 active users, representing a staggering increase of +85.6% in one year (a figure that has more than tripled in two years). To make the stay easier for foreign skiers, the app even facilitated the sale of 3,672 Andorran eSIMs, thereby avoiding roaming charges.
The major innovation of the winter season, the Mobile Pass, has turned smartphones into ski passes thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. At its launch, more than 15,000 skiers used this system for 1- to 3-day passes, a technology that will be extended to season passes from next winter. David Ledesma emphasises: “The new Mobile Pass confirms that we are moving towards a more convenient, flexible and connected model”.
On an international scale, Andorra is becoming increasingly attractive, particularly across the Atlantic. Joining the prestigious Ikon Pass three winters ago is paying off: the North American and Latin American markets have surged by 40% since the 2023–2024 season. This year, Ikon Pass holders have generated 5,500 days of skiing, an increase of 57% compared to last year.
Whilst Spain remains the largest market (52%), a breakdown reveals a strong regional base: 25% from Catalonia and 17% from the Valencian Community, Aragon and the Balearic Islands. The remainder of the clientele is divided between the United Kingdom (17%), Andorra (11%), Portugal (6%) and France (6%), the latter having been disadvantaged by poor road access.
Global events and top-class après-ski
The Àliga run in the El Tarter area hosted the return of the Women’s World Cup from 25 February to 1 March, featuring one downhill and two super-G races. The event attracted between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators a day, earning praise from the International Ski Federation (FIS) for the quality of the organisation. Meanwhile, other events punctuated the winter, such as the Mamba Ski Race (350 participants) and the Borrufa Trophy, whose races were successfully moved to Grandvalira due to heavy snowfall in Ordino.
Ordino Arcalís also made history on 3 February by hosting the very first FIS Freeride World Championships. The media impact was colossal: 45 million digital impressions and a social media reach of 33 million people, doubling the usual figures for the professional circuit.
The best in après-ski and festival culture
When it comes to relaxation, L’Abarset confirms its status as the leading venue in the Pyrenees. With over 100,000 visitors, the venue has expanded its offering to include more than 30 après-ski events and the introduction of 11 ‘Afters’, extending the musical experience with big names such as Adam Beyer, Paco Osuna and 2manydjs.
The Snowrow festival, the result of a collaboration between elrow and Brunch Electronik, attracted more than 16,000 festival-goers to the Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa areas, drawn by internationally renowned artists such as Luciano and Carl Craig.
Customer satisfaction: a service quality that has won widespread acclaim
The quality-focused strategy is proving successful in satisfaction surveys conducted by external consultants:
- Grandvalira scores 8.85/10 (+0.3 points), with a rating of ‘excellent’ for its ski school (9.02/10).
- Ordino Arcalís scores 8.63/10, whilst its ski school is also highly rated at 8.88/10.
- The dining options, ranging from quick bites to Michelin-starred cuisine, are rated 8.35/10 in Grandvalira.
This operational excellence is reflected in an exceptional recommendation rate: 96% to 97% of customers say they would recommend the resorts to their friends and family.
Grandvalira Resorts: looking ahead to the 2026 summer season
No sooner have the winter ski lifts closed than the resorts begin preparing for their summer transformation:
- From 6 June: Access to the Mirador Solar de Tristaina will be available via the Creussans chairlift and the Tristaina gondola lift.
- From 20 June: Official launch of the season with the Pal Arinsal Bike Park, the Mon(t) Magic Family Park in Canillo, the Soldeu golf course and over 100 km of e-bike routes. The Funicamp will also resume operations for 4×4 excursions.
- Flagship event: Andorra will host the 11th edition of the UCI MTB World Series from 9 to 12 July, bringing together the world’s top mountain bikers in Pal Arinsal.
