In the early hours of January 1, 2026, the festive atmosphere of New Year’s celebrations at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana was shattered by a catastrophic fire that would become one of the country’s deadliest in recent memory. As the clock struck 1:30 a.m., what began as a night of revelry and hope for the year ahead was suddenly transformed into a desperate struggle for survival, leaving at least 40 people dead and more than 119 injured, many with severe burns and smoke inhalation.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, Swiss investigators believe the blaze was sparked by sparkling candles—those upward-shooting sparklers often used to top Champagne bottles—when they came dangerously close to the bar’s ceiling. The ceiling, lined with soundproofing foam meant to muffle noise, instead became fuel for a flashover, a phenomenon where combustible gases ignite violently and rapidly. The flames spread with terrifying speed, collapsing the wooden ceiling and plunging the crowded venue into chaos and darkness.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and horror as the fire took hold. Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they saw a bartender lift a colleague on his shoulders while she held a lit candle in a bottle, moments before the inferno erupted. In the scramble to escape, partygoers surged toward a narrow staircase leading out of the nightclub’s basement, only to be bottlenecked at a single, narrow exit. Some smashed windows in a desperate bid for freedom, while others were trapped by the crush of the crowd and the advancing flames.
Gianni Campolo, a Swiss teenager vacationing in Crans-Montana, rushed to help after receiving a frantic call from a friend who had managed to escape. He described the aftermath to TF1: “I have seen horror and I don’t know what else would be worse than this.” The sense of helplessness was echoed by others who watched, powerless, as the tragedy unfolded.
The fire’s toll was devastating. As reported by CNN and AFP, about 40 people were confirmed dead and more than 100 were injured, overwhelming the nearby regional hospital in Sion, just 10 kilometers away. Eric Bonvin, the hospital’s director, recounted how staff—accustomed to winter sports injuries but not mass casualties—scrambled to assess and treat the influx of severely burned victims. Within three hours, the hospital hit full capacity, and victims were transferred to specialized burns units in Zurich, Lausanne, and Geneva. Some were even flown to hospitals elsewhere in Europe.
The international impact of the disaster quickly became apparent. Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler reported that the injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italians, and citizens from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. The severity of the burns made identification agonizingly slow; authorities turned to dental records and DNA samples, a process that, as Crans-Montana’s mayor Nicolas Feraud told reporters, could take days or even weeks. Families, desperate for news, circulated photos of missing loved ones on social media, hoping for any sign.
Among the victims was Emanuele Galeppini, a promising 16-year-old Italian golfer who lived in Dubai and competed internationally. The Italian Golf Federation mourned his passing, calling him “a young athlete who carried with him passion and genuine values.” Italian officials reported six nationals still missing and 13 hospitalized, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani planning a visit to the site. The French foreign ministry stated that nine French citizens were among the injured and eight remained unaccounted for. FC Metz, a top-flight French soccer team, confirmed that one of its young trainees, 19-year-old Tahirys Dos Santos, was severely burned and transferred to Germany for treatment.
The task of determining exactly how many people were inside Le Constellation at the time of the fire has proven difficult. The bar’s official capacity was 300, with room for another 40 on the terrace, but the true number of attendees remains unclear. Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud, who is leading the investigation, noted that lists are being compiled from witness interviews but admitted it may never be possible to know the exact figure. She also stated that investigators are probing whether the acoustic foam on the ceiling met safety regulations and if the use of sparkler candles was permitted in such a setting. The presence of a narrow staircase and uncertainty over whether emergency exits were open are also under scrutiny.
“If this is indeed the case and these individuals are still alive, an investigation will be opened against them for negligent arson, negligent homicide, and negligent bodily harm,” Pilloud said, warning of possible prosecutions if criminal liability is established.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who took office on the day of the disaster, called the fire “a calamity of unprecedented, terrifying proportions” and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for five days. The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief and solidarity across Switzerland and beyond, with neighboring countries sending condolences and offers of support.
The owners of Le Constellation, reported by AFP to be a couple originally from Corsica, have been confirmed safe but remain unreachable. The investigation continues to focus on whether all safety standards were met and if the venue had the required number of exits. Videos verified by CNN captured the initial moments of the fire, underscoring the speed at which the situation deteriorated and the sheer terror experienced by those inside.
Crans-Montana, renowned for its world-class ski runs and prestigious golf tournaments, now finds itself at the center of a somber reckoning. The resort, which was preparing to host major international sporting events in the coming months, must grapple with the aftermath of a tragedy that has left deep scars on its community and raised urgent questions about safety in public venues.
As the investigation unfolds and families await word of their loved ones, the memory of that fateful New Year’s celebration lingers—a stark reminder of how quickly joy can turn to heartbreak, and of the enduring need for vigilance and compassion in the face of disaster.
