Sparklers on champagne: how a "festive" fireworks display turned a Swiss bar into hell (2 photos + 3 videos)
New Year's Eve in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana was unforgettable for many, but for reasons that will leave your blood running cold. 
A fire broke out at Le Constellation, a bar packed with young tourists and locals, around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026. Around 40 people died, and more than 119 suffered severe burns. Many are still fighting for their lives in burn centers across Europe. And the cause of this disaster was... sparklers on champagne bottles. 
The investigation determined that a waitress or customer, perched on a colleague's shoulders, was holding bottles with sparklers attached. In a burst of celebratory enthusiasm, she waved her arms high. Sparks landed on the foam-insulated ceiling. The flames ignited instantly and spread within seconds, turning the basement into a fire trap.
Mobile phone video captured the moment: first sparks, then flames on the ceiling, panic, and attempts to extinguish the flames with improvised means. Customers grabbed fire extinguishers and water, but the fire was faster. Approximately 40 people died (according to official figures as of January 2-3; identification is ongoing due to severe burns).
Valais Canton Police Chief Frédéric Giesler reported that 119 people were injured, 113 of whom have been identified. Among the victims were 71 Swiss citizens, 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbs, and one person each from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal.
Eyewitnesses describe chaos: crowds, smoke, screams, and exits blocked by fire. Rescuers arrived quickly, but the bar was already ablaze. 150 firefighters, helicopters, and dozens of ambulances were present. And yet, the tragedy remains one of the worst in modern Swiss history.
Now Crans-Montana is in mourning: memorials with flowers and candles, silent crowds at the ruins of the bar. The victims were mostly young people, tourists from Italy, France, Belgium, and other countries. The authorities declared a state of emergency, and the Swiss president called it "one of the worst tragedies." So, in a country with strict safety regulations, one "celebratory" gesture ruined dozens of lives.
