Ski Closing 2025: The best events to end the season

The ski season is still underway, but the days on the slopes in the ski resorts are slowly coming to an end in spring. However, that doesn’t mean that the atmosphere in the mountains is winding down. Quite the contrary. In the ski resorts, both on and off the slopes, things are really heating up again in terms of events. SnowTrex has compiled a list of the top events that winter sports enthusiasts can look forward to at the 2025 ski closing in the coming weeks, with performances by Shaggy, Martin Garrix, The Prodigy and Amy Macdonald.

© Ötztal Tourismus/Nicolai Semrau

At the “Electric Mountain Festival” in Sölden, some of the world’s most famous DJs will be on stage at the end of the winter season.

29 March: South Tyrolean Gardenissima, Val Gardena

When talking about pure skiing tradition, the Gardenissima is an absolute must-mention in connection with the end of the season and skiing in 2025. This is because the slope in the South Tyrolean Dolomites is not only considered by winter sports enthusiasts to be one of the most beautiful of its kind in the Alps. For more than a quarter of a century, it has also served as the stage for the world’s longest giant slalom race in spring. The course is more than 6 km long, with 115 gates, and leads from Seceda (2,518 m above sea level) to the valley station in Val Gardena (1,485 m). And anyone can experience this legendary descent, whether they are amateur skiers or World Cup athletes.

The event is so popular that the available start numbers were sold out weeks ago. In 2025, more than 700 adults will take part, while 350 children will compete. All participants will be celebrated afterwards at the “After Race Party” in front of the Aprés Ski La Stua in Wolkeinstein, where the Dorfrocker and Matty Valentino will be performing on stage. And admission is free, of course!

29 March: Complètement à La Masse, Les Menuires

Modelled on the Gardenissima, one of the most athletic and fun events in the Alps takes place in the French high mountains at the end of the ski season. In 2024, Les Menuires in the Les 3 Vallées mega ski area will host the “Complètement à La Masse” for the second time. This is a giant slalom in which participants have to cover more than 1,000 metres of altitude and navigate more than 150 gates. But that’s not all. In addition to speed, technique and skill are also important on the piste. In addition to the classic giant slalom gates, the course is also peppered with obstacles such as moguls and even water basins. True to the motto “being there is everything”, participants and visitors can look forward to a big show on 29 March and enjoy the award ceremony and a party with DJ set after the race.

31 March to 4 April: Electric Mountain Festival, Sölden

Five days of partying in the snow and one of the best ski closing events ever – that’s the Electric Music Festival (EMF) in Sölden! In 2025, the party in the mountains of the Ötztal valley will take place for the eleventh time. The festival site at Giggijoch on the Rettenbach glacier at an altitude of 2,283 metres will be transformed into a huge dance floor. Internationally acclaimed DJs will perform here, celebrating their music, the party crowd and themselves. Ski passes are the ticket to the EMF. There is no extra charge for multi-day ski passes and season tickets, but the regular price for one- or two-day tickets (3 and 4 April) will be slightly higher.

In addition to the main stage, there are also several musical “side events”, for example in the ice Q gourmet restaurant, which became famous in the James Bond film “Spectre”, as well as in various huts and mountain restaurants throughout the ski area. Headliners at EMF 2025 include Dutch DJ superstar Martin Garrix and American EDM pioneer Steve Aoki. And so, as always, the Electric Mountain Festival in Sölden invites you to celebrate in style in 2025:

5 to 12 April: Cologne Week, Hintertux

A week full of events, starting with live concerts by artists from the Zillertal and Cologne, such as the Höhner and the Rabaue – that’s “Cologne Week” in the snow, now in its 21st year. But that’s not all for this anniversary. The marathon of celebrations in Hintertux am Gletscher also includes parties, for example in the legendary après-ski hut Hohenhaus Tenne, Early Bird Skiing, the Hintertuxer Gletscher Open Air and a picnic on the slopes. In addition to the concerts, winter sports enthusiasts can of course also enjoy a morning pint here – in true style with Früh Kölsch beer.

Cult Cologne bands such as the Höhner and the Black Fööss will of course also be performing at the Hintertux Glacier Open Air on 11 April:

7 to 12 April: Snowbombing, Mayrhofen

The 2025 ski closing festival in Mayrhofen is also known as “Ibiza in the snow”, where popular acts from the international club scene and other musicians get skiers and partygoers in the mood. For a week, top DJs and other music stars can be found in a total of 16 locations, including the legendary Racket Club. Visitors can expect not only après-ski, but also sophisticated club sounds, fat hip-hop beats, fun comedy performances and culinary highlights. The musical headliners in 2025 will be the legendary English electro band The Prodigy and American house DJ Armand Van Helden, who has been shaping the scene with his music for almost 30 years.

8 to 12 April: Zermatt Unplugged, Zermatt

The acoustic festival in the Matterhorn village will once again be multinational and top-class in 2025. Since its first edition in 2007, the originally small singer-songwriter festival has developed into a real highlight among the end-of-season events. And so, one week before Easter, many internationally renowned musicians who have sold millions of records worldwide will once again be performing in Zermatt this year.

The top acts returning to their musical roots at the end of the skiing season in Switzerland now include Amy Macdonald, UB40, Cluseo and Samy Deluxe. Over a total of five days, there will be more than 130 concerts by 70 different artists on 17 stages spread throughout the village and on the mountain. In the shadow of the Matterhorn, top international acts will be playing acoustic and unamplified tunes before Easter:

10 to 13 April: Gamsleiten Kriterium, Obertauern

In Obertauern, the gold rush atmosphere will return in 2025. Several treasures are buried in the snow of the infamous “Gamsleiten 2”. At the end of the season, the Gamsleiten Kriterium challenge is to find one of over 30 treasure chests filled with various prizes. One lucky treasure hunter will even win a car. From 10 to 13 April, it’s time to start digging again! The only catch: anyone who wants to join in the digging must pay a participation fee of €60. After the treasure chests have been opened, visitors and participants can also enjoy a free concert by “K’S LIVE”, who will be performing their après-ski hits on stage.

11 to 13 April: Gastein Ski & Golf Competition, Gastein

First ski, then tee off – that’s the motto of the Ski & Golf Competition in Gastein. The double tournament traditionally heralds the end of winter in the Gastein Valley and at the same time marks the start of the new golf season. On Saturday, participants first tackle a giant slalom in the Sportgastein ski area and then practise their swings on the driving range. A golf tournament on Sunday finally decides the winners, because only those who prove themselves in both disciplines have a chance of winning a prize. In addition to skiing and golf fans, celebrities from the worlds of sport, business, politics and entertainment also take part. After its premiere in 1973, the event in the Gastein Valley will be held for the 52nd time in 2025 – with après-ski included as one of the best ski closing events.

13 April: Hochfügen rope race, Hochfügen

In Hochfügen, high above the Zillertal valley, winter is bid farewell in a traditional and family-friendly atmosphere. The main event is the Hochfügen rope race, which will take place on 13 April 2025. In this special race, the term “team spirit” has taken on a whole new meaning for almost six decades. Three skiers are tied together with ropes and have to complete a downhill run as a “fleet of three”. The rope teams, which also compete in mixed trios and usually wear flamboyant outfits, battle it out for a coveted challenge cup.

Visitors can not only watch the race live from the sidelines, but also meet former ski pros. Kids can also show off their skiing skills in the children’s rope race. Other highlights of the programme at one of the best ski closing parties in Hochfügen include lots of live music and a festive award ceremony.

19 April: Der Weiße Rausch, St. Anton

The best comes last – that’s the motto of the cult race “Der Weiße Rausch”, which marks the start of the Arlberg Adler triathlon. In 2025, 555 skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers will once again set off from the Vallugagrat on the 9 km long descent into the valley to St. Anton for the cult ski race on the Arlberg. In theory, any winter sports enthusiast can take part, but participants should be in good physical condition. Apart from the mass start and the high speeds involved, there is another difficulty: the course includes a 150-metre climb with a 37-metre difference in altitude. This means taking off your skis, scrambling up, putting your skis back on and continuing downhill. On average, athletes need between 11 and 18 minutes to complete this tour. The White Rush is a discipline of the “Arlberg Eagle”, an alpine triathlon consisting of a ski race (9 km), a bike marathon (41 km) and a half marathon (21.1 km).

The “Weiße Rausch mini” is slightly less extreme, but still challenging. For young skiers and snowboarders between the ages of 11 and 16, the programme includes the same sections of the course that the “big ones” had to conquer before them on 19 April, but on a shortened course starting from the Habri snow groomer garage.

© TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/Patrick Säly

The “Weisse Rausch” is the highlight of the end of the season in St. Anton, where 555 winter sports enthusiasts compete against each other in a spectacular ski race around the Arlberg.

20 April and 3 May: Top of the Mountain Concert, Ischgl

The list of ski resorts with end-of-season events in 2025 would not be complete without one of the highlights of spring: the Easter and closing concerts of the “Top of the Mountain” concert series in Ischgl. This year’s end-of-season concerts promise to be another smash hit, as the organisers have secured Shaggy as the headliner for the Easter concert. The ski closing will be celebrated in Ischgl in 2025 with a big performance by the Grammy-nominated band One Republic on the Ischgl Stage in Idalp. On 3 May, however, adults will have to pay £145 and children (under 17) £90 for a ticket. For the reggae legend’s performance on Easter Sunday (20 April), the day ski pass also serves as the ticket for the concert.

© TVB Paznaun-Ischgl

At the Top of the Mountain concerts in Ischgl, top international acts perform on stage at Idalp.

7 to 11 May: Ski & Golf World Championship, Zell am See – Kaprun

Skiing and golfing, a special combination that is traditionally fixed in the event calendar in Zell am See and Kaprun at the end of the current ski season. At the Ski & Golf World Championships in 2025, amateurs and professionals will once again compete, first proving themselves in the giant slalom on the Kitzsteinhorn before heading to the Zell am See-Kaprun golf course in smart outfits with clubs and balls. In addition to many amateur skiers and golfers, sports stars such as Bode Miller, Werner Franz and Thomas Sykora have taken part in this top-class combined sporting event in recent years.

© trattieritratti/Shutterstock

Set against a stunning mountain backdrop, the Ski & Golf World Championship combines two great sports.

FAQs about end-of-season events

Which events at the end of the 2025 ski season are particularly spectacular?

Winter sports fans can look forward to numerous highlights at the end of the 2025 season. Particularly spectacular are the Electric Mountain Festival in Sölden with international DJ acts such as Martin Garrix, Snowbombing in Mayrhofen, which is considered “Ibiza in the snow”, and the Top of the Mountain Closing Concert in Ischgl with One Republic. In addition to the music events, ski races such as the Weiße Rausch in St. Anton and the Gamsleiten Kriterium in Obertauern offer exciting competitions for participants and spectators alike.

Which ski races can amateur skiers take part in during the 2025 season finale?

In 2025, there will be several opportunities for amateur skiers to take part in spectacular ski races. The world’s longest giant slalom race, the South Tyrolean Gardenissima in Val Gardena, is open to skiers of all abilities – but the start numbers are highly sought after. Ambitious winter sports enthusiasts can also take part in the Complètement à La Masse in Les Menuires or the Hochfügener Seilrennen, in which teams of three ski connected by ropes.

Where are the best après-ski parties after the end-of-season events?

Après-ski fans will get their money’s worth at the end-of-season events. At the Electric Mountain Festival in Sölden, the Giggijoch is transformed into a huge party zone. Snowbombing in Mayrhofen offers the finest club sounds and hip-hop beats. In Hintertux, the concerts of the Kölsche Woche (Cologne Week) in the Hohenhaus Tenne ensure a great party atmosphere. And those who want to celebrate into May will experience a real highlight in Ischgl with the “Top of the Mountain” concerts.

Are there any skiing events that combine winter sports with other sports?

Yes, winter sports enthusiasts can not only ski at the end of the season, but also experience other sports. The Gasteiner Ski & Golf Competition combines ski racing with a golf tournament, while the Ski & Golf World Championship in Zell am See – Kaprun even attracts professionals from both disciplines. These events offer a unique combination of winter sports and summer golfing fun.

Where are the best live concerts for Ski Closing 2025?

The best live concerts for Ski Closing 2025 will take place in various top ski resorts. At Zermatt Unplugged, international musicians such as Amy Macdonald and UB40 will perform in an intimate atmosphere. In Ischgl, Shaggy rocks the Easter concert and One Republic bids farewell to the season at the big closing concert. The Kölsche Woche in Hintertux and the Electric Mountain Festival in Sölden also offer first-class live acts against a winter backdrop.