National day of mourning in memory of the victims of Crans-Montana
Berne, 07.01.2026 — This coming Friday, 9 January, will be dedicated nationwide to remembering the victims of the tragic fire in Crans-Montana, showing solidarity with the injured and expressing sympathy for all those affected. On this day of mourning, President Guy Parmelin, together with Switzerland’s official religious communities, invites people across the country to observe a minute's silence and a moment of reflection. Church bells will ring throughout the country. A memorial service will take place in Martigny in the canton of Valais.
The fact that the whole of Switzerland is asked to observe a moment of silence at 2pm on Friday is testament to the shared grief felt by the entire nation with all the families and friends directly affected. At the same time, bells will ring out at churches of the three official religious communities. The memorial service organised by the canton of Valais will begin in Martigny at 1.45pm. In Bern, the flags on the Federal Palace and other federal buildings will be flown at half-mast on Friday.
President Parmelin sees this national day of mourning as an opportunity to thank all those who helped in the aftermath of the disaster, caring for the injured and supporting the bereaved. He also pays tribute to the cooperation with the canton of Valais and the commune of Crans-Montana, emphasising the tremendous national and international solidarity that has been evident since the tragedy and which is demonstrated every day in the form of practical assistance.
At the memorial service in Martigny, the Swiss government will be represented by President Parmelin, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, vice president of the Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Beat Jans, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, and Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi. Representatives from the other countries whose citizens lost their lives or were injured are also expected to attend, as well as from countries that have offered their assistance. Thirty-seven countries and the European Union have been invited.
Note:
Information about the memorial event in Martigny will be published by the Canton of Valais: Walliser Kantonsverwaltung - Kanton Wallis - vs.ch
Contact of the religious communities
Swiss Bishops' Conference
Communications Service
026 510 15 15
kommunikation@bischoefe.ch
Protestant Church in Switzerland
Communications
031 370 25 24
stephan.juette@evref.ch
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
Communications
+41 79 301 60 18
michael.lauber@christkatholisch.ch