What’s On in Verbier for winter 2018/19

All the best events taking place in resort this season

featured in News & Reviews Author Barnaby Bos, Verbier Reporter Updated 3 December 2020

Verbier hosts some of the best and biggest free events throughout the season and they will not disappoint this winter. After last year's record breaking snow levels, Verbier is opening fully on December 1st with hopes of a similar forecast.

With the likes of an epic opening day, lots of festive fun and interesting shows, this season hopes to be one of the most exciting and engaging. Here's a quick rundown of some of the best events you can expect over the winter.

Polaris Festival

Last year’s Polaris Festival was a massive success, drawing in huge names in the electronic dance music industry to provide an amazing spectacle, day and night, to kick off the winter season. This year will be no different, with Polaris taking place over four days from November 29th to December 2nd.

The festival’s main stage will be located in the middle of the ski slopes, offering festival-goers a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains. Following the daytime slope-side action, the party will move into the town, taking place in two of Verbier’s most celebrated clubs, L’Etoile and Farinet, and continuing into the early hours of the morning.

Buy Ski Passes

Verbier New Year

Celebrating the new year in Verbier is like nothing else. Thousands of people swarm the streets of Place Centrale to count down the clock with fireworks, flares, and champagne flying everywhere. In 2016/17, world-renowned DJ Martin Garrix headlined the night, making for some insanely good vibes to keep everyone dancing long after midnight. Following the famed street party, the vast array of Verbier clubs keep the night well and truly going, though book ahead for the after parties, as they’re extremely popular and sell out fast.

Find Clubs

Audi Quattro Ski Cup

The Verbier Audi Quattro Ski Cup lets aspiring ski racers and holiday makers have a shot at glory, with the amateur ski racing competition running from January 18th to 20th. This free event gives everyone over the age of 18 the opportunity to try their hand at downhill slalom racing on the perfectly prepared Les Attelas piste, complete with a start gate, flags and finishing arch. If you and your friend have always competed for first place on the slopes, then here’s the place to settle the battle.

Book Ski Hire

Verbier Art Summit

With so much going on in the world right now, it can often be hard to take the time to comprehend it all. The Verbier Art Summit is a wonderful event bringing together artists, museum directors, activists and academics to discuss various current geo-political topics. With a focus on exploring the power of the art world and its social and political responsibilities, this is a great event for those who are interested in art and politics.

Mardi Gras

This year’s Mardis Gras will take place on March 5th, and if last years is anything to go by, it promises to bean absolutely fantastic time to be in resort. Verbier is well known for its thriving nightlife scene, but there are a few dates in the calendar when the resort is alive with an even more amazing atmosphere than usual. This is one of those dates. Many of the bars in town play host to a different costume-themed night, creating an awesome vibe around resort as the party carries on late into the night.

Find Bars

Freeride World Tour 2019

Widely regarded as the biggest event of the Verbier winter calendar, this is the last stop on the Freeride World Tour. The event always draws large crowds, gathering at the base of the mighty Bec des Rosses to watch the world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders battle it out to see who will be crowned champion. As well as the amazing display of death-defying snowsports, there will be three days of unreal parties, pop-up shops, and ski testing facilities. Without a doubt, it’s going to be an awesome finish to the month, taking place this year between March 23rd - 31st.

Buy Ski Passes

Verbier High Five by Carlsberg

On April 6th, the Verbier High Five by Carlsberg will come to Verbier, a fantastic event aimed at getting more people involved with the competitive side of alpine skiing. As with every year, the competition will host some of the professional stars of the alpine racing season, showcasing their incredible speed and agility to the crowds across 4 disciplines; Giant Slalom, mini KL (Flying Kilometre), ski cross, and water slide.

However, not just being spectator event, the public is also invited to compete alongside the athletes and celebrities, with some often surprising results in this unconventional competition. There is a lively music stand and large food area situated below Chalet Carlsberg on the Les Atlas piste. The music doesn’t stop there though, as the apres-ski continues in Pub Mont Fort with a concert and barbecue.