Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Statement of cash flows [abstract]
Net income	$ 980,000,000	$ 1,018,000,000	$ 974,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization, impairments and fair value adjustments	1,191,000,000	1,226,000,000	1,226,000,000
Equity-based compensation expense	162,000,000	150,000,000	144,000,000
Non-cash change in current and non-current provisions and other non-current liabilities	84,000,000	52,000,000	21,000,000
Losses on disposal and other adjustments on property, plant & equipment and other non-current assets, net	16,000,000	16,000,000	27,000,000
Net gain on divestment of product rights	0	(57,000,000)	0
Interest expense	204,000,000	192,000,000	189,000,000
Other financial income & expense	(22,000,000)	(43,000,000)	18,000,000
Share of loss from associated companies	18,000,000	8,000,000	0
Taxes	180,000,000	238,000,000	(142,000,000)
Interest received	63,000,000	69,000,000	33,000,000
Interest paid	(190,000,000)	(182,000,000)	(176,000,000)
Other financial payments	(8,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Taxes paid	(107,000,000)	(326,000,000)	(255,000,000)
Net cash flows before working capital changes and net payments out of provisions and other non-current liabilities	2,571,000,000	2,353,000,000	2,052,000,000
Net payments out of provisions and other cash movements in non-current liabilities	(60,000,000)	(87,000,000)	(260,000,000)
Change in net current assets and other operating cash flow items	(240,000,000)	(189,000,000)	(404,000,000)
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,271,000,000	2,077,000,000	1,388,000,000
Purchase of property, plant & equipment	(543,000,000)	(473,000,000)	(658,000,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment	5,000,000	0	0
Purchase of intangible assets	(120,000,000)	(197,000,000)	(193,000,000)
Purchase of investments in associated companies	(8,000,000)	(159,000,000)	(10,000,000)
Payments for financial assets	(56,000,000)	(128,000,000)	(233,000,000)
Purchase of time deposits	(80,000,000)	(150,000,000)	0
Proceeds from time deposits	150,000,000	0	0
Proceeds from financial assets	8,000,000	9,000,000	2,000,000
Acquisitions of assets, net of cash acquired	0	0	(2,000,000)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(692,000,000)	(61,000,000)	0
Other investing cash flows	(8,000,000)	(8,000,000)	0
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(1,344,000,000)	(1,167,000,000)	(1,094,000,000)
Dividends paid to shareholders of Alcon Inc.	(166,000,000)	(130,000,000)	(116,000,000)
Repayment of financial debts	(112,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(34,000,000)
Proceeds from financial debts, net of issuance costs	59,000,000	59,000,000	69,000,000
Other net changes in financial debts	38,000,000	(66,000,000)	37,000,000
Payments for acquisition of treasury shares	(676,000,000)	0	0
Lease payments	(81,000,000)	(83,000,000)	(79,000,000)
Payment of withholding taxes related to equity-based compensation	(47,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(49,000,000)
Transactions with non-controlling interests	(26,000,000)	0	0
Other financing cash flows	(108,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(1,119,000,000)	(322,000,000)	(211,000,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	43,000,000	(6,000,000)	31,000,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(149,000,000)	582,000,000	114,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1	1,676,000,000	1,094,000,000	980,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31	$ 1,527,000,000	$ 1,676,000,000	$ 1,094,000,000

Consolidated Balance Sheet SFr in Millions, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2025 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Non-current assets
Property, plant & equipment	$ 4,774	$ 4,389
Right-of-use assets	447	449
Goodwill	9,256	8,946
Intangible assets other than goodwill	9,006	8,587
Deferred tax assets	458	421
Financial assets	768	652
Other non-current assets	397	594
Total non-current assets	25,106	24,038
Current assets
Inventories	2,391	2,268
Trade receivables	1,942	1,736
Income tax receivables	20	23
Cash and cash equivalents	1,527	1,676
Time deposits	80	153
Other current assets	489	453
Total current assets	6,449	6,309
Total assets	31,555	30,347
Equity
Share capital	20	20
Reserves	22,014	21,533
Equity attributable to shareholders of Alcon Inc.	22,034	21,553
Non-controlling interests	1	0
Total equity	22,035	21,553
Non-current liabilities
Financial debts	4,162	4,538
Lease liabilities	429	429
Deferred tax liabilities	941	724
Provisions & other non-current liabilities	939	825
Total non-current liabilities	6,471	6,516
Current liabilities
Trade payables	926	773
Financial debts	575	105
Lease liabilities	80	68
Current income tax liabilities	182	104
Provisions & other current liabilities	1,286	1,228
Total current liabilities	3,049	2,278
Total liabilities	9,520	8,794
Total equity and liabilities	$ 31,555	$ 30,347