Swiss Abroad
Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,

Today Switzerland observed a national day of mourning for the victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire. Church bells rang out across the country for five minutes at 2pm, and an official memorial service was held in Martigny, in canton Valais, attended by around 700 people, including the presidents of France and Italy.

{snip}

This content was published on January 9, 2026 - 16:45
Christian Raaflaub


The president of the Valais cantonal government, Mathias Reynard, at the memorial service in Martigny, canton Valais. Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

Today, Switzerland came together for a national day of mourning following the Crans-Montana bar fire on New Year’s Eve. Representatives from several affected countries travelled to canton Valais to take part.
At precisely 2pm, church bells rang throughout Switzerland for five minutes. A nationwide minute of silence was observed, and train drivers sounded their whistles.

In Martigny, canton Valais, where the official memorial service took place, Swiss President Guy Parmelin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella joined relatives of the victims and numerous emergency responders. Nine of the 40 people killed in the blaze in the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve were from France and six from Italy. Many of the victims were under 18. Of the 116 injured, 83 remain hospitalised in Switzerland and abroad.

“We all have a moral responsibility: the least we can do is apologise on behalf of the entire community,” said Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais cantonal government.

{snip}