A total of 274 climbers broke the record for ascents in a single day by summiting Mount Everest via the south face in Nepal on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Climbers from multiple independent expeditions seized a narrow weather window to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet). All the activity was concentrated in Nepal because China canceled permits for the north face in Tibet.
The official tally surpassed the previous record of 223 ascents set by climbers on the south face on May 22, 2019. Rishi Ram Bhandari, secretary of the Nepal Expedition Operators Association, confirmed that the number could increase in the coming days. The final tally may still rise as climbers descend to base camp and officials process their certification documents.
The record for the most people to reach the summit of Everest from both sides in a single day was set the following day, May 23, 2019, when 354 climbers achieved the feat.
Windows of good weather and logistical delays
The main route to the summit opened late, compressing the climbing schedule. Guides installed safety ropes on May 13 after removing several ice blocks. This delay raised concerns among operators about a potential collapse of the route.
Forecasts of strong winds forced climbers to begin their ascent simultaneously. Wednesday’s favorable weather allowed dozens of people to cross the death zone before the storms hit. This area, located at over 8,000 meters, has extremely low oxygen levels that cause hypoxia and expose climbers to rapid physical deterioration without artificial assistance.
Climbing and travel permits to Nepal
The Chinese government did not issue climbing permits for the north face of Mount Everest during the 2026 spring climbing season, forcing international agencies to relocate their operations to Nepal. Athletes of various nationalities arrived in unprecedented numbers at the South Base Camp. Nepalese authorities issued 494 climbing permits for the current spring season.
Nepal charges foreign climbers US$15,000 per permit and mandates that every expedition include Sherpa guides for the high-altitude section of the climb.
Personal records in the Himalayan mountain range
Several veteran Himalayan guides set new world records for ascents. Nepalese guide Kami Rita Sherpa completed his 32nd ascent, extending his own all-time record. His closest competitor, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, reached the summit for the 30th time in the same week.
Meanwhile, Nepalese mountaineer Lakpa Sherpa completed her eleventh successful ascent to the summit. This achievement solidified her position as the woman who has summited Everest the most times in history. Preliminary reports also identified three climbers from India among those who reached the top.
Debate on security and overcrowding
Lukas Furtenbach, director of Furtenbach Adventures and an Everest expedition operator, pointed out that European mountains like the Zugspitze receive up to 4,000 visitors daily. Mount Everest is ten times larger and can handle the influx if groups have sufficient oxygen supplies. However, several experts questioned the authorities’ decision to allow a high number of people on the upper section.
The long queues on the final ridges expose climbers to the extreme cold for longer periods and cause them to consume more oxygen. This overcrowding of hundreds of people in a single day reopens the international debate about the number of climbers the world’s highest mountain can safely accommodate.