CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland – A night of celebration turned into one of the country’s most devastating peacetime tragedies when a fire ripped through the packed Le Constellation bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early morning hours of 1 January 2026. The blaze, which erupted shortly after midnight as revelers welcomed in the New Year, has so far claimed at least 40 lives and left roughly 115 people injured, many seriously, according to local authorities.
The bar, a popular destination for young people and tourists celebrating New Year’s Eve, was crowded with around 200 to 300 patrons when the fire started at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time. It was described by the witness as a scene of utter chaos and panic as flames continued to spread rapidly through the basement as well as the ground-level venue, trapping the guests at the party who struggled gravely to escape through the limited exits.
Eyewitnesses proclaim that the fiery blaze may have been accidentally triggered by sparklers or candles that were being carried around the crowded venue. Two young women told French broadcaster BFMTV that a lit candle on a champagne bottle was held too close to the low, wooden ceiling, which burst into flames within seconds. Flames then raced across the ceiling and down through the venue, forcing people to flee or attempt to break windows to escape.
Horrified bystanders reported frantic attempts to flee the inferno as smoke filled the room and heat intensified. One survivor, a 16-year-old from Paris, recounted hiding behind tables before breaking a window to escape to safety. “People were screaming and running. I saw friends hurt… I lost everything, but I’m alive,” he said.
The Swiss emergency responders, including the fire crews, medical personnel and police, were swift to arrive and didn’t hesitate to be on the scene. But the sheer scale of the blaze as well as the number of casualties escalated beyond expectation, which overwhelmed the local hospitals. As a result of the intensive care units in the Valais canton reaching maximum capacity, the transfer of some severely injured victims to specialised burn centres in cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne was followed right after. Even neighbouring countries, such as Italy and France, also received injured patients, while several foreign nationals were reported as dead or missing.
In response to the tragedy, the Swiss government has declared a five-day period of national mourning. President Guy Parmelin described the fire as one of the most traumatic events in recent Swiss history, noting its emotional toll on families, first responders and the tight-knit resort community. “What was meant to be a night of joy has turned into profound sorrow,” he said.
Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a cause of the blaze and stated that the incident appears to have been accidental, though the exact origin is still under investigation. Fire officials and prosecutors are examining potential safety lapses, including whether the venue adhered to fire-prevention codes and if the use of pyrotechnics inside the bar contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Severe burns have compounded the difficulty in identifying victims, necessitating detailed forensic work using dental and DNA records. Authorities have set up temporary helplines and gathered relatives of missing people outside hospitals, searching for news of their loved ones.
Crans-Montana, a luxurious winter sports destination in the canton of Valais, was poised to host major ski events in the coming months. Instead, its festive atmosphere has given way to grief and reflection on safety standards at public venues, a painful reminder of how quickly celebration can turn into tragedy.
