From December 4–6, 2026, Saalbach Hinterglemm once again becomes the stage for the Alps' most rock-and-roll season opener. The BERGFESTival pairs world-class live music with the official ski opening in the Skicircus — and this year's lineup is packed.
Dolce Vita Meets Punk: This Year's Lineup
Kicking off the 2026/27 après-ski season are Roy Bianco & Die Abbrunzati Boys, who've crowned themselves ambassadors of Italo-schlager. Blending retro charm with a punchy, theatrical stage show, they bring a slice of Mediterranean dolce vita straight into the snow. Anyone who's caught one of their shows knows it's less a concert than a full-blown experience.
True BERGFESTival veterans, LaBrassBanda from the Chiemgau region have built a legendary reputation here — last time around, the Upper Bavarians stuck to tradition and played their set barefoot despite sub-zero temperatures. Their brass-meets-world-music sound never fails to get the crowd going. Also returning: Bavarian hip-hop crew dicht&ergreifend and Die Gute A-Band.
Bringing the international punk energy are California's Zebrahead, longtime mainstays of the skate-punk and alt-rock scene known for explosive live shows and an infectious mix of rock, rap, and pure party spirit.
New to the lineup this year: Punk Rock Factory, currently one of Europe's most successful fun-punk acts. The Welsh band describes itself as four guys making DIY punk-rock covers, and their high-energy pop-punk takes on famous film, TV, and pop hits have won them a fast-growing international fanbase.
Six Venues, One Backdrop
The BERGFESTival spreads across six different venues in Saalbach — from the big open-air show on the Schattberg stage right in the village center, to the Hinterhag Alm halfway up the mountain (reachable via the six-seater Turmlift or straight off the slopes on skis), all the way to the cozy hut vibes of the Gasteiner Stadl, club atmosphere at Castello, and dancing at the Taverne.
Box office opens at 4:30pm on Fridays and 5:00pm on Saturdays. No ski pass is needed for the concerts — only the Hinterhag Alm requires a separate mountain access ticket for 12 euros. Packages including accommodation and ski passes are still available at early-bird prices through the festival website.
Ski Season Starts November 27, 2026
Anyone heading to the BERGFESTival might as well bring their skis along: the official season opener in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn kicks off on November 27, 2026.
Running through early April, the resort offers 270 kilometers of varied terrain for every skill level — 140 km of blue runs, 112 km of red, and 18 km of black. Seventy modern lifts keep wait times short, and more than 60 mountain huts take care of the food and drink. Plenty of events round out the season too, including the legendary White Pearl Mountain Days in March.
For skiers wanting even more terrain, the Ski ALPIN CARD combines three premium regions — the Skicircus, the Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See, and the Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun — for up to 408 kilometers of skiing on a single ticket.
Beyond classic downhill runs, the Skicircus has plenty for freestylers and freeriders too: snow parks, fun slopes, snow trails, speed and racing courses, and a dedicated freeride area. Floodlit slopes (like the one at the Unterschwarzachbahn) and night sledding at the Reiterkogel keep the action going after dark.
Wettervorhersage
Major Investment: New Reiterkogel Gondola
The big news for the 2026/27 season is a complete rebuild of the Reiterkogel lift in Hinterglemm. The old system, dating back to 1997, is being replaced with a state-of-the-art 10-person gondola from Doppelmayr — identical in design to the existing 12-person KOGEL lift. The key upgrade is a new second section that, for the first time, allows a direct ride all the way to the summit.
With capacity for up to 2,500 people per hour, the Reiterkogel — a true family mountain with something for every age group — will be significantly faster and more comfortable to reach. Completion is planned for November 2026, right in time for the start of the season.
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