SalzburgerLand province in western Austria is preparing for the 2025/26 winter season with 22 ski resorts offering 2700 km of piste, 30 snow parks, 2400 km of cross-country and winter hiking trails, 100 toboggan runs, and activities ranging from ice-climbing and snow kiting to outdoor music at pop-up bars. The region is also known for its distinctive blend of sport and culture.
In 2026, Salzburg City will host the 70th Mozart Week from 22nd January to 1st February, coinciding with Mozart’s 270th birthday. Seventy live performances are scheduled, including a new staging of The Magic Flute, lectures, readings, film broadcasts and performances by the Salzburg Puppet Theatre. Many ski resorts are within an hour of the city, and none are more than two, making it easy for visitors to combine a winter holiday with cultural events or a city break.
Sustainability remains a focus for SalzburgerLand. The Guest Mobility Pass, launched on 1st May, provides free and unlimited use of public transport for every overnight guest once they check in. It covers regional buses, S-Bahn and long-distance trains throughout the province, and if booked in advance, includes transfers from Salzburg Airport to the destination. Ski lifts are not included.
Several resorts have new attractions and events for the coming season.
- In Flachau, Dips & Drops opened in May 2025. The new sports hotel caters to skiers in winter and cyclists in summer.
- Gastein will launch its first season-opening music festival, Gastein Sounds, on 12 and 13 December with an open-air concert in Bad Hofgastein. Art on Snow Week returns from 1st to 7th February for its 14th edition, with prizes available via the free SummitLynx app for visitors who complete seven of the nine installations. Other highlights include Full Moon Dinners on 3rd and 31st January, 2nd and 4th March and 1st April at €138 per person, Ski and Wine Week from 14th to 21st March, and early morning ski tours on alternate Wednesdays from 8 January to 19th February.
- Hochkönig adds a new family run in Mühlbach starting at the Zapferl Alm, featuring wave tracks, steep turns and a speed-check section for all levels. Visitors can also book a two-hour piste basher ride at €134 with reservations required.
- Obertauern will mark the 60th anniversary of the Beatles film Help! with concerts on 28th November in the town centre and 5th December on the slopes, with tickets from €69. The Christmas market has expanded with more artisan stalls, and complimentary advent hikes of 1½ hours will run on two weekends in December. The season closes with the Gamsleiten Kriterium treasure hunt on 17th April at 12pm and 18th April at 1:30pm, where participants pay €65 to dig for 30 prizes, including a new BMW.
- Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn will see the opening of the new five-star Falkensteiner Hotel beside the Reiterkogelbahn. In Saalfelden-Leogang, Hüttengaudi Leogang bar and restaurant opens near Leo’s Kinderland. New features include the Fisherman’s Friend SkiMovie piste on the Asitz mountain, a Funslope on the Steinberg piste and a Funcross on the Schanteilift. Events include the jazz festival from 23rd to 25th January, White Pearl Mountain Days from 20th to 29th March, and weekly Asitz Winter Nights. The area joins the Epic Pass partnership, offering Alpin Card holders 50% discounts at 37 North American resorts, while Epic Pass and Epic Adaptive Pass holders gain five days within the Alpin Card network.
- In Salzburger Sportwelt, Zauchensee will host the Audi FIS Ski World Cup races on 10 and 11 January and the Spring Battle Contest from 14th to 22nd March in Absolutpark. Four refurbished hotels reopen this season: Hotel Oberforsthof in St Johann im Salzburg/Alpendorf, Hotel Wenger Alpenhof in Werfenweng, Hotel Neubergerhof in Filzmoos and Zauchenseehof in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee. The Schwarzwandbahn gondola at Zauchensee/Flachauwinkl has also been renewed.
- Zell am See-Kaprun introduces two new winter hiking trails, one starting at Langwied and the other at the top of Gletscherjet 4, both with views of the Hohe Tauern peaks. Two refurbished four-star hotels reopen in December: the Revier Hotel in Kaprun and the ski-in/ski-out Berghotel Schmittenhöhe. The Gletschermühle Restaurant on the Kitzsteinhorn at 2450 m reopens after renovation, and the Kids Indoor Park Areit 1400 opens at the top of the AreitXpress with new play facilities. Zell am See-Kaprun has also joined the Epic Ski Pass partnership.