Behind the Shift in Skier Visits That Crowned a New World Leader

After a tough and often snowless season stymied visitation in the western U.S., France has emerged as this past winter’s ski capital of the world, clocking more skier visits than any other country, according to an industry trade association.
During the 2025-26 season, France tallied 56.1 million skier days, beating out Austria and the U.S., which saw 53.7 million and 53.1 million skier days, respectively. France hasn’t claimed the top spot since the 2014-15 season.
For the uninitiate