Nepal concludes successful 2026 spring mountaineering season with record climbs and strong revenue

Kathmandu-The 2026 spring mountaineering season in Nepal has officially concluded, with climbers successfully ascending Mount Everest and several other peaks across the country.

A total of 1,195 domestic and international climbers obtained permits this year to scale various mountains. Nepal’s Department of Tourism issues climbing permits for peaks higher than 6,500 meters, while the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) oversees permits for lower peaks.Among those receiving climbing permits, the highest numbers came from China (159 climbers), followed by the United States (152), India (101), Germany (75), the United Kingdom (74), Russia (70), Nepal (44), Canada (41), Poland (32), and France (27).

According to Himal Gautam, Information Officer at the Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese climbers also led Everest summits this season, with 109 reaching the world’s highest peak. They were followed by climbers from the United States (77), India (61), the United Kingdom (32), Russia (18), Australia (15), Japan (14), Canada (12), Nepal (12), and Ireland (11).

This year, renowned mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa set a new world record by reaching the summit of Mount Everest for the 32nd time. In the women’s category, Lhakpa Sherpa of Sankhuwasabha’s Makalu region established a world record with her 11th successful Everest ascent. Both climbers surpassed their own previous records.

The government collected NPR 1.08 billion in royalty revenue from Everest climbing permits alone. Additional revenue included NPR 66.87 million from Lhotse, NPR 31.79 million from Makalu I, NPR 16.61 million from Ama Dablam, NPR 16.54 million from Kanchenjunga, and NPR 12.05 million from Annapurna I.

Overall, Nepal earned NPR 1.26 billion in revenue during the 2026 spring season through permits issued for climbing various mountains across the country, highlighting the continued global appeal of Nepal’s mountaineering industry.