2030 Winter Olympics: the French Alps in the spotlight

In 2030, the eyes of the world will turn to the French Alps. On 24 July 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially awarded the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to the French Alps. From 1 to 17 February 2030, several iconic resorts in Savoie and Isère will live to the rhythm of competition. For anyone who loves the mountains, it is a historic moment: the Games return to France for the first time since Albertville in 1992. And while Alpe d’Huez and Oz-en-Oisans host no Olympic events, staying in the Oisans during this period lets you experience the Olympic buzz while skiing in the heart of the same mountain range. Here is what you need to know.

Games awarded to the French Alps

The IOC’s decision, taken by vote on 24 July 2024, marks the return of the Winter Games to France. After Chamonix (1924), Grenoble (1968) and Albertville (1992), the French Alps will host the event for the fourth time, from 1 to 17 February 2030. The organising committee (COJOP), chaired by Olympic champion Edgar Grospiron, publishes official news on alpes2030.org.

The bid is built on a so-called “spread-out” model: rather than a single host site, events will be distributed across several already-equipped hubs, in order to limit new construction and rely on existing infrastructure. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region — which includes Isère, where the Oisans is located — is fully involved in the organisation, alongside the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. In other words, the entire French Alpine range is getting ready to welcome the world.

Which venues host the events?

The competitions will be concentrated on a few clearly identified hubs. In Savoie, the heart of the snow programme lies in the Tarentaise valley: Val d’Isère is set to host technical alpine skiing (slalom and giant slalom), while the speed events (downhill, super-G), ski jumping and Nordic combined are planned around Courchevel and Méribel.

The ice hub, meanwhile, will be based in Lyon, which will bring together several indoor disciplines. Speed skating, for lack of a suitable oval available in time, is expected to be relocated to Thialf in the Netherlands, a world-renowned rink. As for the opening ceremony, Grenoble and Isère have been mentioned as a possible host, which would bring the event symbolically closer to the Oisans. This layout reflects the philosophy of these Games: use what already exists rather than build from scratch.

Alpe d’Huez and Oz-en-Oisans are not Olympic venues

Let’s be clear on this point, because it matters: Alpe d’Huez and Oz-en-Oisans host no Olympic events in 2030. No competition and no official ceremony will take place there. The selected snow venues are in Savoie, mainly in the Tarentaise.

But the Oisans belongs to the same Alpine range as the Olympic resorts, and sits only about an hour from Grenoble, whose name is cited for the opening ceremony. Staying here during the Games therefore means being in the heart of the Alps as they buzz with the event, in a whole region carried by this momentum. You can follow the events on television in the warmth of the chalet, soak up the general atmosphere of the range, and above all enjoy a top-tier ski area far from the crowds concentrated at the competition sites.

Skiing in the Oisans during the Olympic season

While Savoie hosts the events, the Oisans offers everything that makes a mountain stay worthwhile in the middle of the season. Alpe d’Huez, linked to Oz-en-Oisans by ski lifts, opens up a vast ski area famous for its sunshine and the variety of its runs, from the gentlest to the most demanding.

February 2030 will be an ideal time to ski: snow cover generally at its best, lengthening days, and the special energy of an entire region focused on the Olympics. For a group of friends or a large family, it is a chance to combine daytime skiing, convivial evenings and the feeling of taking part, in your own way, in a historic moment for the French Alps. You don’t need a ticket to an event: the atmosphere is felt across the whole mountain.

Book early for February 2030

One piece of advice stands out: plan your booking ahead. An edition of the Olympic Games draws considerable attention to all of the French Alps, and demand for accommodation rises well beyond the Olympic resorts alone. Over a period as sought-after as February 2030, availability shrinks quickly, especially for large-capacity accommodation.

Experience the Olympic Alps from your chalet

The 2030 Winter Olympics (1–17 February) will make the French Alps the centre of the winter-sports world. Alpe d’Huez and the Oisans are not competition venues, but their location at the heart of the range, close to Grenoble, makes them an ideal base to experience the buzz while enjoying a large ski area. To discover what the destination has to offer, explore the area, then send us your booking request without delay: for a period as exceptional as this, the best dates will go first.

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