New No. 1 Ski Resorts Crowned In SKI Magazine’s 2026 Resort Guide

SKI Magazine has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Resort Guide, the definitive ranking of the best ski resorts in North America. Based on input from thousands of readers, this year’s guide crowns new No. 1 resorts in both the East and West—reflecting evolving skier priorities, major resort investments, and unforgettable mountain experiences.

The rankings bring a major shakeup at the top, with longtime favorites unseated and new contenders rising to claim the No. 1 spots in both the East and West—a shift that reflects how skiers’ priorities are evolving, favoring crowd-free slopes, character-rich towns, and meaningful on-mountain investments over sheer size or name recognition.

Every spring, SKI invites its readers to rate up to six resorts they’ve recently visited across 18 categories—from snow quality and grooming to dining, lodging, and après. This year’s survey generated over tens of thousands of insights into what makes (or breaks) a great day on the mountain.

“For more than 50 years, SKI’s Resort Guide has offered readers crucial intel into the resort experience at destinations large and small across the continent,” said SKI Executive Editor Samantha Berman. “What makes it so compelling is that it’s based entirely on feedback from our readers—the passionate skiers who know these places best. Their voices help us define what makes a resort truly exceptional.”

SKI’s 2026 Resort Guide appears exclusively online at Skimag.com, offering readers an in-depth look at what makes each destination stand out, plus their respective strengths and weaknesses and season pass affiliations. The full rankings are available now at skimag.com/ski-resort-life/resort-guide-2026.