ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Switzerland’s glaciers saw a decrease of 5.5% in their ice mass, marking the second-largest decline on record. This shrinkage followed a winter characterized by scarce snowfall and a summer dominated by extreme heat. Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, known as GLAMOS, recorded these changes across the Swiss Alps. The Swiss Academy of Sciences also issued reports on the national findings. Over the past five years, nearly 20% of Switzerland’s glacier volume has vanished.
The winter of 2025 to 2026 ranks among the ten least snowy in Switzerland since measurements began. The following months from May through September remained hot and dry. During the warm season, the freezing level rose above 4,000 metres on 76 days, more than twice the average, setting a Swiss record. By September, researchers observed no remaining snow at elevations around 3,500 metres, exposing glacier ice across high Alpine regions.
Average glacier thickness diminished by between 2.5 and 4 metres during the 2026 measurement period. Some glaciers, such as their tongues, lost as much as 10 metres of ice. Several prominent glaciers—including the Allalin, Clariden, Great Aletsch, and Rhône—experienced their most significant melt since records began. These losses made 2026 the second most severe melt year after 2022, which remains the record-holder for glacier retreat in Switzerland’s history.
Smaller Swiss glaciers vanish as ice loss accelerates
During this latest monitoring period, several smaller glaciers completely disappeared. Notable examples include Bella Tola in Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus. Their disappearance is part of an ongoing decline across Switzerland’s Alpine ice fields. Data show that glacier volume has decreased by nearly 20% since 2021. This significant loss has occurred alongside repeated years of low snowfall and intense summer melting across much of the Swiss Alps.
The melting of Swiss glaciers also released enormous volumes of water during the dry summer months. From July to September, glaciers contributed approximately 2.2 trillion litres of water—exceeding four times the annual drinking water needs of all Swiss households. This meltwater fed into Alpine rivers and other water systems during a period marked by widespread summer dryness. The data illustrate how much glacier ice was transferred into Switzerland’s water cycle within just three months of 2026.
Summer heat and low snowfall drive 2026 glacier melt
Although the 2026 melt was less extreme than the record set in 2022, the conditions still played a key role. Many glaciers entered the summer with marginally more snow than in 2022. Additionally, less Saharan dust settled on the snow this year, resulting in cleaner snow that reflects more sunlight. Conversely, dust-darkened snow absorbs greater solar energy, potentially increasing melting under similar conditions.
Despite these differences, the 2026 data reveal significant ice loss across both high-altitude areas and lower glacier tongues. The season adds another chapter to Switzerland’s long-standing glacier decline record. Field observations, snow surveys, and glacier mass-balance measurements documented widespread ice loss, shrinking of smaller glaciers, and major reductions in thickness through September. The findings confirm 2026 as one of the most impactful years for glacier melt in Switzerland’s recorded history.