Experience the Snow and Ice Festival That Brings Winter Sapporo to Life — Sapporo Snow Festival

Held every year in early February in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the region’s most iconic winter events. In 2026, marking its 76th edition, the festival is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 11 (national holiday). During this period, a wide variety of snow and ice sculptures—ranging from small to monumental—along with winter-only attractions, appear throughout the city.

One of the festival’s greatest pleasures is the annual change in themes for the snow sculptures. In past years, historic landmarks, popular characters, and world-famous architecture have been recreated in snow, delighting visitors year after year. For example, in 2023, a snow sculpture featuring characters from the hit manga Chainsaw Man drew major attention on social media.

In 2025, the main large-scale sculpture was themed around the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, also known as the Red Brick Office. Visitors were particularly impressed by the extraordinary level of detail.

Snow sculptures inspired by star baseball player Shohei Ohtani also became a hot topic.

These carefully themed sculptures offer something new to discover every year and remain highly popular as photo spots.

For 2026, one of the large snow sculptures is planned to depict the historic castle Tsuruga Castle. In addition, a special sculpture will commemorate the release of the film Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, scheduled to premiere in May 2026. At the festival’s main Odori Park venue, many other snow sculptures will line the streets. The sight of massive works made entirely of snow and ice is breathtaking, with some pieces reaching an impressive width of 15 to 20 meters.

Beyond Odori Park, the Susukino venue features intricately crafted ice sculptures, beautifully illuminated at night to create a magical atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Tsudome Site, popular with families, offers snow slides and play areas where visitors can enjoy active winter fun.

Located in the heart of Sapporo, Hotel Gracery Sapporo provides excellent access to Odori Park and the Susukino venue, making it a highly convenient base for sightseeing during the festival. With major venues easily reachable on foot or by subway, guests can fully enjoy wintertime Sapporo while taking in the unforgettable scenes of the Snow Festival at a relaxed pace.

This winter, why not experience one of the world’s most beloved snow and ice festivals in Sapporo and discover the unique charm of its ever-changing snow sculpture themes for yourself?

Event period	February 4 (Wed) – February 11 (Wed, National Holiday), 2026
Address	Odori Park Odori Nishi 1-chome to Nishi 11-chome, Sapporo
Access	Hotel Gracery Sapporo: Approximately a 5-min. walk to JR Sapporo Station. Take the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line and get off at Odori Station. The Odori venue is located just a short walk from the station.
URL	https://www.snowfes.com/