A deadly fire tore through a luxury nightclub in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with officials and local media reporting “tens” feared dead and around 100 injured. The incident happened at about 1:30am local time (12:30am GMT) on January 1, 2026, in the basement of Le Constellation, a bar in the centre of town.
Several witnesses told French broadcaster BFM the blaze began when a sparkler or candle—used during champagne celebrations—was held too close to the ceiling. One woman said a waiter, lifted onto a colleague’s shoulders, raised a lit candle near the low ceiling and the fire spread within minutes. Others described fireworks-style candles placed in bottles on high tables, with flames racing across the ceiling “in seconds.”
Survivors also described a desperate rush to escape via a single, very narrow staircase. Some said smoke quickly blacked out windows, and they feared people inside suffocated. Reports from the scene mentioned people smashing windows to let in air as panic took hold.
Emergency services launched a major response, mobilising dozens of ambulances and multiple helicopters to move the injured to hospitals including Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. Authorities have set up a helpline and reception centre for families seeking information, while investigators say it is too early to confirm a precise cause. Prosecutors have ruled out terrorism and are treating the incident as a fire.
