A devastating fire tore through Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana early on 1 January 2026, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 115 others during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with authorities pointing to sparklers on champagne bottles as a likely cause.
At least 40 people died and over 115 were injured, many seriously, when flames rapidly engulfed Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Valais canton, Switzerland, at 01:30 CET on 1 January 2026, as more than 100 revellers marked the new year.
Swift Spread of Blaze Overwhelms New Year’s Revelry
The fire erupted in the basement bar packed with young crowds celebrating the arrival of 2026, according to reports from Wikipedia detailing the incident and KTLA 5 coverage by Chris Wolfe, which described flames exploding within seconds and what investigators called a flashover. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a waitress carrying bottles of champagne fitted with sparklers, held aloft on the shoulders of a barman wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, with sparks mere centimetres from the wooden ceiling that quickly ignited, as noted in Wikipedia’s account of the event. A photo obtained by French media, referenced in the Wikipedia entry, showed flames emerging from the ceiling amid the sparkling champagne bottles being paraded through the venue. One witness stated the fire engulfed the nightclub within about 10 seconds, while images suggested ceiling-mounted acoustic foam may have accelerated the blaze’s spread. According to the Valais cantonal police, as cited in Wikipedia, authorities were alerted at 01:30 CET due to smoke emerging from the bar, with police arriving at 01:32 followed immediately by firefighters.
As reported by Chris Wolfe for KTLA 5, the incident occurred less than two hours after midnight on Thursday, ripping through the bar’s New Year’s celebration in the Swiss Alpine resort.
Emergency Response Mobilises Across Valais Canton
In the immediate aftermath, a massive emergency operation unfolded, with 150 personnel, 10 helicopters, and 40 ambulances deployed to the scene, according to Wikipedia’s documentation of the response. Police cordoned off the entire town of Crans-Montana and imposed a no-fly zone overhead, while the Valais cantonal government declared a state of emergency. Triage centres were established in neighbouring bars—one of which provided tablecloths to cover the dead—and a UBS bank branch, as detailed in the Wikipedia entry on the fire. Swiss authorities confirmed around 40 fatalities and approximately 115 injuries, with several victims being foreign tourists and many among the younger demographic, per statements from the head of the helicopter rescue team cited in Wikipedia. KTLA 5 reporting by Chris Wolfe echoed these figures, noting that most of the 115 injured suffered severe harm in the basement bar fire.
Investigation Focuses on Sparkler Use and Venue Conditions
Investigators have zeroed in on the use of sparklers attached to champagne bottles as a probable ignition source, given eyewitness accounts of sparks igniting the wooden ceiling, according to Wikipedia. The rapid progression to a flashover, as described by Chris Wolfe for KTLA 5, underscores the intensity of the blaze that struck the crowded venue. No further details on structural violations or permit issues have been released by authorities, based on available reports from these sources.
Tragic Toll Highlights Risks in Festive Settings
The incident has drawn international attention, with the world feeling the sting of the loss, as Chris Wolfe reported for KTLA 5 on 2 January 2026. Official tallies from Swiss authorities, relayed via Wikipedia, confirm the deaths of at least 40 individuals, predominantly young people including foreign tourists, alongside more than 115 injuries requiring extensive medical intervention. No specific next steps in the probe or victim identification processes have been outlined in the sources, though the scale of the response indicates ongoing efforts to support survivors and families. Implications for safety regulations in ski resort nightlife venues remain unstated by officials in the covered reports.
The fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on 1 January 2026 resulted in 40 confirmed deaths and over 115 injuries, triggered during New Year’s Eve festivities likely by sparklers near flammable materials, with a full emergency mobilisation containing the immediate crisis according to Valais cantonal police and media accounts.
