Everest's busiest season ever: a record 1,008 summits in spring 2026
Nepal's Department of Tourism has confirmed the most successful Everest season on record — including 274 summits in a single day.
The spring 2026 climbing season has gone down as the busiest in Everest's history. Nepal's Department of Tourism confirmed a record 1,008 successful summits from the Nepali side, comfortably beating the previous high of around 900.
The standout day was 20 May, when an extraordinary 274 climbers topped out in a single 24-hour window — shattering the old single-day record of 223 set in 2019. Stable weather windows and a packed permit list pushed the numbers to new heights.
What this means for trekkers
You do not need to climb Everest to feel its pull — and the same season that crowns the summit fills the trail to Everest Base Camp. Record interest means the classic spring and autumn windows book out early, so if 2027 is on your list, reserve your dates well ahead.
Want a taste of the high country? A peak like Island Peak pairs the EBC trail with a genuine 6,000 m summit — guided, and far quieter than Everest itself.
Cover photo: Jayeverest via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Source: The Kathmandu Post
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