ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of their ice volume, marking the country’s second-largest annual percentage decline ever recorded. The retreat followed a winter marked by low snowfall and a summer characterized by multiple heatwaves. Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, known as GLAMOS, tracked the ice losses across the Swiss Alps during this monitoring season. The Swiss Academy of Sciences indicated that nearly 20% of Switzerland’s glacier volume has vanished over the past five years.
The winter spanning 2025 to 2026 was among the ten least snowy winters since systematic measurements began. From May through September, persistent hot and dry conditions added further strain to exposed glacier surfaces. The freezing level surpassed 4,000 metres on 76 days, more than double the typical figure for the warm season. By September, researchers found no snow remaining at elevations around 3,500 metres in the monitored regions.
During this period, average glacier thickness decreased by approximately 2.5 to 4 metres. Some glacier tongues experienced ice losses of up to 10 metres. Major glaciers such as Allalin, Clariden, Great Aletsch, and Rhône recorded their largest melt since measurements started. Only 2022 saw a greater percentage loss in Switzerland’s long-term glacier record. The extent of the retreat impacted both high-altitude ice and lower glacier sections across the Alps.
Retreat of smaller glaciers as Alpine ice diminishes
During 2026, several smaller glaciers completely disappeared, including Bella Tola in Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus. Their vanishing contributed to the ongoing trend of significant ice loss across Switzerland’s mountain regions. National data indicates glacier volume has decreased by nearly 20% since 2021. These recent reductions followed consecutive years of limited snowfall and intense summer melting. Researchers observed widespread thinning across both large glaciers and smaller ice bodies.
The melting process released approximately 2.2 trillion litres of water from July to September. This volume exceeded four times the annual drinking-water needs of Swiss households. The meltwater flowed into Alpine rivers and water systems during a period of widespread summer drought. The figures highlight the immense quantity of ice that transitioned into Switzerland’s water cycle within just three months. Elevated summer temperatures further accelerated the seasonal ice loss at many monitored sites.
Differences in Snow Cover in 2026 Compared to the Record Year
The losses seen in 2026 were still below the record melt observed in 2022, when conditions were even more severe. One key difference between these years was the initial snow cover at the start of summer. Many glaciers entered the 2026 melt season with marginally more snow than in 2022. Additionally, during 2026, less Saharan dust settled on the snow. Cleaner snow reflects more sunlight, while darker, dust-covered surfaces absorb more solar energy.
Despite these variations, Switzerland experienced extraordinary glacier losses across both high elevations and lower glacier tongues in 2026. Field surveys, snow measurements, and mass-balance observations documented changes through late September. The data revealed extensive ice loss, the disappearance of smaller glaciers, and significant reductions in glacier thickness nationwide. These findings place 2026 among the most extreme years in Switzerland’s glacier measurement history. The latest figures add to a recent trend of sharp glacier contraction over recent years.