Mount Etna has erupted forcefully at the start of 2026, sending fresh lava flows and ash emissions into the sky and continuing the intense volcanic activity that made 2025 one of its most dramatic years in recent history. Scientists say the renewed eruption could be the beginning of another unstable phase for Europe’s most active volcano.
According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), effusive lava began flowing on January 1, 2026, from a newly formed fracture inside the Valle del Bove on Etna’s eastern flank. At the same time, explosive activity from summit craters such as Bocca Nuova has been producing intermittent ash plumes. While volcanic tremor levels remain high, officials say they are currently stable.
Authorities are closely monitoring the direction of lava flows and the movement of ash clouds. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to nearby communities. However, airspace over eastern Sicily remains under observation due to the risk of flight disruptions, a recurring issue during Etna’s frequent eruptions in 2025.
The latest activity follows a particularly violent eruption cycle last year. In June 2025, a powerful blast sent ash and gas several kilometres into the atmosphere and triggered pyroclastic flows near the summit. Towards the end of December, Etna produced dramatic lava fountains and thick ash clouds, even as skiers were seen descending its snow-covered slopes, images that quickly spread across social media worldwide.
Scientists from INGV say warning signs had been building for weeks before the late-December eruptions and the New Year lava outpouring. Rising seismic tremors, ground deformation and infrasonic signals pointed to a continuous supply of magma accumulating at shallow levels beneath the volcano.
Volcanologists believe the early 2026 eruption reflects a reorganisation of Etna’s internal magma system, with new cracks allowing molten rock to escape from storage zones below the summit. Lava flows within Valle del Bove generally pose less immediate danger to populated areas, but they indicate that pressure inside the volcano remains high.
INGV has cautioned that Etna’s activity can shift rapidly from steady lava emissions to sudden explosive events. Monitoring teams are on high alert, watching closely for changes in seismic activity, ground movement and gas release.
For residents living along Sicily’s eastern coast, Etna’s fiery start to the new year is a reminder that life near one of the world’s most active volcanoes comes with both breathtaking beauty and constant uncertainty.