2026 Crans-Montana bar fire

Rare card · No. 63227

On 1 January 2026 at 01:26 (CET), during New Year celebrations, a fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in the ski-resort town of Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. Forty-one people died in the fire, and 115 others were injured, with 83 initially being treated for severe burns. Intensive care units in Valais reached capacity, and victims were transported to hospitals in other parts of Switzerland and to other European countries. A national day of mourning was observed on 9 January 2026 in memory of the victims. Swiss authorities consider it likely that the ceiling caught fire after lit sparklers or more specifically gerbs attached to champagne bottles were held aloft in celebration. A criminal investigation was opened against the bar's owners.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0