One of Europe’s earliest ski seasons officially begins Friday, as Levi Ski Resort in Finnish Lapland has confirmed that its 2026-27 alpine and cross-country ski season will open Oct. 2. The opening comes while much of the surrounding landscape is still transitioning out of fall, but Levi does not need to wait for enough natural snow to cover the mountain.
The resort spent the summer preserving large quantities of snow from last winter and has spent the past several weeks spreading that stockpile across its Front Slopes. With those preparations now complete, Levi is ready to begin another season that is expected to stretch into early May.
Skiing Starts Friday Morning
Levi’s slopes and lifts are scheduled to begin operating at 9:30 a.m. Friday as part of a three-day opening celebration running through Sunday, Oct. 4. The resort’s official opening announcement confirms that alpine and cross-country skiing will both begin Oct. 2, while Levi’s current slope information says the 2026-27 season will begin on the Front Slopes using preserved snow.
That snow has effectively been waiting for opening day since last winter. Levi produces much of its preserved snow during the coldest part of the season, pushes it into large storage piles and covers those piles with insulation through the summer. Crews uncover the snow in fall and redistribute it across early-season terrain, allowing the resort to open before normal winter conditions arrive.
