The blaze at a crowded New Year’s Eve party in Crans-Montana killed about 40 people and injured over 100
A festive New Year’s Eve celebration at a popular Swiss ski resort bar turned into one of the nation’s worst tragedies when a fast-moving fire, likely ignited by sparklers on top of champagne bottles, tore through the crowded basement venue, killing at least 40 people.
Swiss authorities confirmed Friday that preliminary evidence points to “sparkler candles or sparklers placed on bottles of champagne that were moved too close to the ceiling” as the cause of the blaze at Le Constellation bar in the upscale Alpine resort of Crans-Montana.
The fire broke out around 1:30am on January 1, 2026, as the bar was packed with young revelers celebrating the New Year.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene where a “show” involving the sparklers quickly turned deadly.
Photos and videos shared online show at least six bottles with lit sparklers being held aloft by staff and patrons. In one of the photos, a woman is seen sitting on another’s shoulders with the bottles, waving them too high, apparently hitting the ceiling.
A new video from the bar in the Swiss ski resort Crans-Montana shows people still partying and filming the fire as it spreads through the anti-acoustic plastic foam in the ceiling.
The flames ignited acoustic foam panels lining the bar’s low wooden ceiling. Officials are investigating whether this material, used for soundproofing, complied with safety regulations and contributed to the fire’s ferocity.
The fire spread within seconds, according to witnesses. Patrons in the basement nightclub rushed toward a narrow staircase and a single main door, causing a crowd surge. Some resorted to smashing windows to escape.
The process of formally identifying the deceased victims has been slow and challenging. Many bodies were so severely burned that they are unrecognizable, and personal items like wallets were destroyed by the flames.
Officials have stated that this work will take several days as they must be “100% sure” before informing families. Authorities are now relying on DNA analysis and dental records to make positive identifications.
Many of the 119 injured victims remain in life-threatening condition, described as “still fighting for their lives.” The scale of injuries overwhelmed local hospitals, as many of the burns sustained require highly specialized, resource-intensive care from entire teams of specialists.
