This page contains official and verified information about the fire at "Le Constellation" bar in Crans-Montana.
| Event | Major fire at "Le Constellation" bar |
| Date and time | Night of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026, around 01:30 |
| Location | Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland |
| Casualties | 41 deaths (41 identified), 115 injured (115 identified, 83 hospitalized initially) |
| Main hypothesis | "Fountains" (pyrotechnic devices) on bottles + ceiling acoustic foam → flashover (investigation ongoing) |
| State of emergency | Declared by the Canton of Valais |
Toll updated during the January 2nd press conference at 3:20 PM.
Main hypothesis: "Fountains" (pyrotechnic devices) placed on champagne bottles + ceiling acoustic foam, causing a rapid flashover. Investigation ongoing.
Investigation: The bar managers (a French couple) have been questioned. The investigation focuses on the premises' compliance: fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, maximum capacity.
This is NOT a terrorist attack. A public memorial will be held on January 9 at the CERM in Martigny.
Official correction (January 5): Toll updated from 119 to 116 injured (later revised to 115 after an injured person died on January 31). Three people admitted to emergency services that night were not related to the fire.
83 injured remain hospitalized.
| Switzerland | 68 (21 women, 47 men) |
| France | 21 (10 women, 11 men) |
| Italy | 10 (4 women, 6 men) |
| Serbia | 4 |
| Poland | 2 |
| Belgium, Portugal, Czech Republic, Australia, Bosnia, Congo, Luxembourg | 1 each |
| Dual nationals | 4 |
Source: Valais Cantonal Police, January 5, 2026
Event feed, automatically generated from official sources.
A public planning application document concerning the alteration of the Constellation's terrace was falsified in December 2025, two weeks before the fire: a civil engineer's name appeared on it without his knowledge, as the project draughtsman lacked the diploma now required in Valais to sign plans. The engineer reported the matter to the police.
The Beloved Foundation, set up on 27 March by the canton of Valais to support victims and their families, has received some seventy applications. Endowed with 24 million francs from the cantons of Valais and Vaud, the municipality of Crans-Montana and private donors, it is chaired by Doris Leuthard and directed by Christian Cardon. It supplements statutory benefits without replacing them.
Questioned on 28 July by the prosecutors, Chermignon's former safety officer states that no thorough inspection took place before the Constellation opened in December 2015. He filled in the fire safety document without visiting the site, working from plans and photomontages. The basement works, where the acoustic foam was located, were never inspected.
Rose-Marie Clavien, former municipal councillor for construction of Crans-Montana (2017-2024), becomes the seventeenth defendant. She is accused over the 2017 opening of the cigar bar fitted out in the Constellation's basement without official authorisation. The defendants are now the Moretti couple, eight elected or former elected officials and seven municipal employees or former employees.
Jacques Moretti is placed in pre-trial detention in proceedings separate from the fire investigation, on suspicion of violence against his wife, herself a defendant in the Constellation case. Two confrontation hearings of the couple are scheduled for November and December.
Thibault Beytrison, former municipal councillor for security of Crans-Montana (2017-2020) and former head of the fire and rescue centre (2008-2014), becomes the sixteenth defendant. His hearing is set for 29 September.
The compulsory measures court extends by three months, until 9 October, the substitute measures applying to the Moretti couple: a ban on leaving Swiss territory and a daily reporting requirement at a police station.
The Valais public prosecutor's office denies the Italian Republic the status of civil party: neither the Italian nationality of several victims nor the costs incurred to assist its nationals confer the status of injured party. An appeal is filed.
One of the three prosecutors leading the investigation will leave the Public Prosecutor's office on 31 December 2026 for a new professional opportunity. The investigation is now conducted by deputy attorney general Catherine Seppey and the remaining prosecutor.
Alain Mittaz, former vice-president of Chermignon and former municipal councillor of Crans-Montana, becomes the fifteenth defendant. He chaired Chermignon's fire commission during the 2015 conversion works.
Confrontation hearing of the Moretti couple in Sion (about eleven hours). Jessica Moretti is notified of a new charge — forgery of documents — over a false invoice linked to the acoustic foam.
The investigation into the fire at the «Vieux Chalet» — another Moretti establishment destroyed by fire in February 2024 — is reopened. Suspicions of insurance fraud are raised following a report.
The Federal Council appoints Laurent Kurth, a former Neuchâtel cantonal minister, to chair the round table tasked with facilitating out-of-court settlements between victims, families, insurers and authorities.
The Public Prosecutor's office refuses to appoint an extraordinary prosecutor requested by a civil-party lawyer. An appeal to the Federal Supreme Court is announced.
The Moretti couple is placed under investigation in Italy. The Rome prosecutor's office, coordinating its investigations with Switzerland, is investigating for multiple involuntary manslaughter and arson. Six of the victims were Italian.
The Criminal Chamber of the Cantonal Court rejects the requests to recuse the prosecutors handling the case (Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud, Deputy Attorney General Catherine Seppey and two other prosecutors). An appeal is announced.
A national ban on lighting pyrotechnic articles in premises open to the public comes into force — an immediate measure decided as part of the revision of the Swiss fire protection regulations (AEAI). The new regulations are expected in autumn 2027.
Investigation extended to five current and former municipal officials, including the president of the Crans-Montana municipality, Nicolas Féraud. The number of defendants rises to nine. All face charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson.
The Federal Council proposes an urgent law for the victims: a solidarity contribution of CHF 50,000 per victim (injured persons and families of the deceased) and a round table bringing together victims, families, insurers and authorities for out-of-court settlements.
Civil parties' hearings: Jacques (11 Feb.) then Jessica Moretti (12 Feb.) questioned in Sion by the victims' lawyers. The couple was violently confronted by relatives at the building's entrance.
Fire at the Crans-Montana memorial: the place of remembrance dedicated to the victims caught fire (probably caused by a candle). No one injured. The memorial has to be dismantled; the book of condolences was saved.
41st death: an 18-year-old young man from Lutry (VD) died on 31 January at the Zurich hospital. The toll rises to 41 dead and 115 injured. 64 people remain hospitalised (23 in Switzerland, 41 abroad).
Investigation widened: the Public Prosecutor's office charges the current and the former safety officer of the municipality. 4 people are now indicted. The former officer was a lumberjack by training (10 days of fire-safety training); his successor had failed the required examination.
Jacques Moretti released on bail: payment of CHF 200'000, financed by a Geneva businessman. Substitute measures for both spouses. Indignation among the victims' families.
The Coercive Measures Court (TMC) confirms the pre-trial detention of Jacques Moretti for 3 months. Letter rogatory between Rome and Valais.
Jacques Moretti placed in pre-trial detention. At the end of the hearing, the co-manager (49 years old) is incarcerated due to flight risk (French nationality). Jessica Moretti remains free after expressing the wish to "apologise to all the victims".
Tribute ceremony concluded. More than 2000 people attended the ceremony at the CERM in Martigny. Speeches by Presidents Parmelin, Macron and Mattarella. Laying of roses in memory of the 40 victims.
Tribute ceremony at the CERM in Martigny: national minute of silence at 2 p.m., bells ringing for 5 minutes. Guy Parmelin promises measures: "We owe the victims the commitment to do everything possible so that such a catastrophe never happens again."
First hearing of the Constellation's managers: Jacques and Jessica Moretti appear this morning as defendants. Questioning about their personal situation.
Ceremony broadcast in Crans-Montana: two giant screens installed at Place du Scandia (free access, no registration). Le Régent remains reserved for registered attendees.
Confirmed participants for 9 January: Presidents Macron and Mattarella, Grand Duke Henri (Luxembourg), PM de Wever (Belgium), President Metsola (European Parliament), Commissioner Lahbib (EU). 37 foreign delegations expected.
Restrictions for the 9 January ceremony: roads closed 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Rue du Levant, Rue d'Octodure), Martigny-Bourg train suspended 11 a.m.-5 p.m., drones prohibited 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Italy: national minute of silence in all schools at 10:30 a.m. Milan declares a day of municipal mourning, flags at half-mast on public buildings.
HOTLINE CLOSED: The number 0848 112 117 is deactivated (low call volume). Total: 1,300 calls and 280 emails handled. The police set out the channels taking over; see the press release.
Visit by Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to the Sion hospital. She praises the "professionalism" of the medical teams.
Book of condolences: about 3000 messages published, 11000 awaiting moderation. Each page contains ~100 messages from Swiss and foreign nationals.
Repatriation: 5 of the 6 bodies of the Italian victims have arrived in Italy aboard a C-130 military aircraft.
The president of the municipality Nicolas Féraud refuses to resign: "You don't abandon ship in the middle of a storm."
CHANGE OF VENUE: The 9 January ceremony will be held in Martigny (CERM), not in Crans-Montana, due to the risk of avalanche. Start: 1:45 p.m.
Italian President Mattarella probably present on 9 January, according to diplomatic sources (ANSA). A ceremony in Italy is also planned, requested by PM Meloni.
Municipal press conference: probably no fire alarm and only one extinguisher in the bar. Pyrotechnic devices now prohibited in enclosed venues.
Revision of the Swiss fire-protection law suspended indefinitely. Jean-François Steiert (AIET) questions self-monitoring vs official inspections.
Mirror investigation opened in Paris to support the French families. A complaint filed by parents through attorney Jean-Luc Addor.
The municipality acknowledges a "failure in the periodic inspections from 2020 to 2025". The bar had not been inspected since 2019.
Withdrawal of the operating licence for La Petite Maison confirmed with immediate effect. The decision is subject to appeal.
Massive school support system activated. Canton of Vaud: 70 psychologists deployed, 20 establishments have requested help. Gymnase de Chamblandes (Pully): 15 psychologists on site.
Damning 2019 video resurfaces. A waiter warns 'Watch out for the foam!'. The danger of the ceiling materials had been known for years.
La Petite Maison closed. The municipal council withdraws the operating licence of the second establishment of the Constellation's manager. Immediate closure.
Emmanuel Macron will travel to Switzerland on 9 January for the tribute ceremony, accompanied by Minister Benjamin Haddad. Announcement by Maud Bregeon, government spokesperson.
Correction of the injured toll: 116 (not 119). Three people admitted to the emergency room were not related to the fire. 83 injured remain hospitalised.
116/116 injured identified. Nationalities: 68 Swiss, 21 French, 10 Italian, 4 Serbian, 2 Polish, 7 other nationalities, 4 dual nationals.
All 40 victims have been identified. All families have been notified. Toll: 22 Swiss + 18 foreign nationals, including 20 minors (14-39 years old).
France: 9 deaths confirmed (update from the Quai d'Orsay). The 'missing person' has died. Victims: 39, 33, 26, 24, 23, 20, 17, 15, 14 years old.
'Fountains' (pyrotechnic devices) identified as the probable cause of the fire. No pre-trial detention for the managers.
16 new victims identified. Youngest victim: a 14-year-old Swiss adolescent girl. A national day of mourning announced for 9 January.
Criminal proceedings opened against the bar's French managers: accused of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson. Visit by Federal Councillor Beat Jans to Crans-Montana.
First 4 victims identified and returned to their families: 2 Swiss women (21 and 16 years old), 2 Swiss men (18 and 16 years old).
France update (Quai d'Orsay): 16 French injured, 9 not located. 10 patients transferred to French hospitals.
The Confederation opens an online book of condolences to express sympathy to the victims: admin.ch/condoleances (FR/DE/IT/EN).
Tributes this weekend: ceremony in Lutry (6 p.m. Saturday), mass in Montana Station (10 a.m. Sunday, Mgr Lovey), joint prayer in the Vaud parishes.
European Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) activated. France offers 19 specialised beds (15 adult + 4 paediatric).
Identification of victims under way. The first identifications were confirmed on 2 January. 40 DVI specialists mobilised.
Call for blood donations. Stocks are under strain following the influx of seriously injured. Website: blutspende.ch
Press conference: leading hypothesis (incandescent candles → flashover). Toll: 40 deaths, 119 injured of whom 113 identified. Nationalities: 71 CH, 14 FR, 11 IT, 4 RS, 5 others. Public ceremony on 9 January in Crans-Montana.
CHUV Lausanne: the 22 severely burned patients hospitalised have been identified. Each of them is in a life-threatening condition.
Italian Minister Antonio Tajani travels to Crans-Montana. He meets the families, lays a wreath and praises the cooperation with Switzerland.
International solidarity: Poland offers 14 hospital places, Belgium takes in 4 severely burned patients, an Israeli Red Cross team arrives for the identification.
Update: 14 French injured hospitalised (source: 3:20 p.m. conference).
Press conference with President Guy Parmelin. Confirmed toll: 40 deaths, 115 injured of whom 80 in critical condition. Identification of the victims could take several days, even weeks. Flags at half-mast for 5 days.
The Le Régent Congress Center (Route des Mélèzes 28, 3963 Crans-Montana) is activated as a reception centre for families. Psychological support and collection of DNA/dental data for identification.
The Valais Council of State declares the "special situation". This legal status makes it possible to mobilise extra-cantonal and federal resources.
First official press conference. Prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud confirms that it is a fire. It is NOT a terrorist attack.
The President of the Confederation Guy Parmelin has cancelled his New Year's address. Quote: "What was to be a moment of joy has turned into a mourning that affects the whole country."
The Canton of Valais declares a state of emergency. 13 helicopters, 42 ambulances and more than 150 medical responders are mobilised.
Security perimeter established around the bar Le Constellation. Rue Centrale closed to traffic. No-fly zone activated.
A fire breaks out at the bar "Le Constellation" in Crans-Montana during the New Year's celebrations. Emergency services are immediately alerted.
This timeline is automatically updated from official communications.
This page only contains information from official sources that have been identified, dated, and verified before publication.
If information does not appear here, it has not been officially confirmed.