International Snow Sculpture Championships

Watch teams sculpt around the clock for 5 days during the carving week from January 22 – 26!  Artists will transform 12-foot-tall, 25-ton blocks of snow into intricate works of art, creating a temporary outdoor art gallery in historic downtown. Sculpting runs on/off throughout the 5 days and is free and open to the public.

Sculpting Begins: Monday, January 22 @ 11:00am with a canon start

Sculpting Ends: Friday, January 26 @ 9:00am

Location: Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

People’s Choice Voting

Whether you’re here in Breckenridge or simply wishing you were, you’re invited to vote for your favorite International Snow Sculpting Championships sculpture.

Voting Starts:  January 24 @ noon
Voting Closes:  January 27 @ 2:00pm

After 94 hours of sculpting, teams will complete their sculptures by 9:00am on January 26th transforming downtown Breckenridge into a temporary outdoor art gallery.  Stroll through the Riverwalk Center to enjoy the sculpture’s intricate works of art.  Sculptures will be on display 24/7 until the event concludes – January 31 at 7:00pm.

DAILY SCULPTURE VIEWING

View the International Snow Sculpture Championships sculptures created by teams from around the world.  Sculptures will be on display 24/7 until the event concludes – January 31 at 7:00pm. We encourage spectators to view the sculptures Sunday, Jan. 28 – Wednesday, Jan. 31 when reservations are not required.

Dates: January 26-31, 2023
Time: 24/7
Location: Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

SATURDAY RESERVATIONS:
Visiting the snow sculptures on Saturday, January 27? Free timed entry reservations will be required ONLY on Saturday, January 27 between 10:00am and 4:00pm.  There is no cost for a timed entry, but availability is limited. Spectators can sign up for a Saturday sculpture viewing at 10:00am, 12:00pm or 2:00pm.

Make Reservations

Evening Grand Illumination

There’s no better time to view the snow sculptures than at night. Don’t miss the finished sculptures lit to perfection with an ever-changing and unique lighting display. There will be 10 minutes of white light on the hour and ½ hour.

Dates: January 26-31
Time:  4:30pm – 10:00pm
* **On January 31st, Sculpture Illumination will end at 7:00pm when the event concludes.***
Location: Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

AWARDS CEREMONY

Join us for the 33rd International Snow Sculpture Championships Award Ceremony celebrating the completion of sculpting week and announcing which teams will win Gold, Silver, Bronze and Artists’ Choice. This is a free event and tickets are not needed.

Date:  Friday, January 26
Doors Open:  5:30pm  |  Start Time: 6:00pm
Location: Riverwalk Center, 150 W. Adams Avenue

People’s Choice Voting

Whether you’re here in Breckenridge or simply wishing you were, you’re invited to vote for your favorite International Snow Sculpting Championships sculpture.

Voting Starts:  January 24 @ noon
Voting Closes:  January 27 @ 2:00pm

The sculpture viewing area will be closed at 7:00pm.

DAILY SCULPTURE VIEWING

View the International Snow Sculpture Championships sculptures created by  teams from around the world.

Time: The sculpture viewing area will be closed at 7:00pm.

Location: Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

Grand Illumination

There’s no better time to view the International Snow Sculpture Championships sculptures than at night. Don’t miss the finished sculptures lit to perfection with an ever-changing and unique lighting display. There will be 10 minutes of white light on the hour and ½ hour.

Dates: January 26-31, 2023

Time:  4:30pm – 7:00pm
The sculpture viewing area will be closed at 7:00pm.

Location: Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

Download your program guide for the 2024 International Snow Sculpture Championships to discover the meaning of each sculpture, a detailed schedule and a historic look at 33 years of snow sculpting history.

2024 Program Coming Soon!

Cast Your Vote For People’s Choice

Whether you’re here in Breckenridge or simply wishing you were, you’re invited to vote for your favorite International Snow Sculpting Championships sculpture.

Voting Starts:  January 24 @ noon
Voting Closes:  January 27 @ 2:00pm

While we recommend going carless in Breckenridge, if you do need to rent or drive your car, make sure you visit GoI70.com to learn the best times to travel to avoid congestion.   We expect this to be a very busy weekend and encourage viewers to carpool, rideshare and use the Bustang if they are visiting from Denver.

FREE PARKING ON AIRPORT ROAD

1. Airport Road Skier Parking Lot
   The Red Route operated by Breckenridge Ski Resort will run between Airport Rd. Skier Parking Lot and Breckenridge Station from 8:00am to 6:00pm (run times :20 minutes)The Breck Free Ride Gray Route North will run between CMC, Airport Rd. Parking Lot (Airport Auto (Stop 56) and Breckenridge Station from 6:15am – 11:15pm (run times :15 minutes).Both routes drop of at the Breckenridge Station.  It is a .4 mile walk to the Riverwalk Center to view the sculptures.
2. Colorado Mountain College (Jan. 27-28 ONLY)
   ISSC Special Events Bus will run between Colorado Mountain College (CMC) and F–Lot on Jan. 28-29, 2023 from 9:00am – 6:00pm (run times :20 minutes).  You’ll be able to see the sculptures from your drop-off location.

TIP: Download the Breck Free Ride App to find the bus closest to you and track in real time.

Breck Free Ride and Summit Stage buses are dog friendly.

*All bus times may vary due to traffic

Once you are here, we reccomend exploring by foot or taking the Breckenridge FreeRide free bus transportation throughout the day.

Free Ride Transit System Map and Schedule

Breckenridge Virtual Map

Yes. Designated disability parking is available on the south side of the Riverwalk Center. These parking spaces are accessible via West Adams Avenue. Please be aware that there are event barriers up to prevent thru traffic. Only vehicles with identifying license plates and placards for persons with disabilities may drive around the barriers to park in the reserved parking spaces.

Tour buses need to unload/load at F –Lot

Tour buses will need to park in #1 or #2 spot, which may require the driver to loop around the island on the south end of F-lot.

Tour buses should  NOT under any circumstances park where the normal bus stops are located. It will be extremely crowded with town bus traffic and lodging shuttle buses.

Tour buses must ensure they are not blocking the entrance for transit buses or shuttle bus pick-up.

To load, the best practice is to have a set time or have the passengers gather and then call the bus to come get passengers.

Saturday, January 27

Transit will be difficult arriving/departing Breckenridge on the 27th. Tour buses are strongly encouraged to visit Jan 28-31. If arriving on the 28th, anticipate increased traffic, congestion and limited parking. Thank you for practicing kindness and patience while navigating the roads.

Where do tour buses go after they unload?

Tour buses are not able to park or linger at the F-Lot. Once they unload they will need to go find a spot, at Airport Rd. Parking Lot.

Parking Map

A world renowned snow sculpting competition where 12 teams from around the world descend on Breckenridge, Colorado to hand-carve 25-ton blocks of snow into enormous, intricate works of art. Artists are only allowed to use hand tools, creativity and inspiration to bring their ideas to life. No power tools allowed! Teams sculpt countless hours across five days (totaling around 96 hours), resulting in a temporary outdoor art gallery in historic downtown Breckenridge!

We encourage spectators to view the sculptures Sunday, Jan. 28 – 31 when reservations are not required.

Nothing!  The International Snow Sculpture Championships is a free event open to the general public.  However, free timed entry reservations are required on Saturday, Jan. 27th between 10:00am – 4:00pm.  Sign up for one of the free timed entries.

Historically Saturday of viewing weekend has been the busiest day for the event. We are anticipating increased traffic and parking congestion in downtown Breckenridge. To help ensure the best environment for spectators, we encourage viewing Sunday, Jan. 28-31. Timed entry reservations will be required only on Saturday, Jan. 27 to help manage traffic flow.

The snow sculptures are located in the area around the Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge, CO.

2024 Teams:

China, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany – Bavaria, Germany – Theil, India – Callisto, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia – Tserendash, USA – Breckenridge and USA – Wisconsin/Tomczak

• GOLD: Team Germany (Bavaria) – Sub-Zero Gravity
• SILVER: Team USA (Breckenridge) – Ullr
• BRONZE: Team Lithuania – Warn(m)ing Clouds Intersect
• ARTISTS’ CHOICE AWARD: Team Lithuania – Warn(m)ing Clouds Intersect
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: USA (Wisconsin – Snowblind) – Forest Ja

Support your favorite sculpture with the People’s Choice Vote. Voters can vote for multiple snow sculptors once per day throughout People’s Choice.

The International Snow Sculpture Championships is a pet-friendly event, however, please be aware that there will be cannons, light shows, crowds and can get very cold. Please keep pets on a leash and away from the snow sculptures.

Dogs are allowed on Breckenridge’s Breck FreeRide transit system and we encourage you and your furry friend to go car-free during your trip.

Teams from around the world may apply to compete in the International Snow Sculpture Championships.

Apply to compete in the International Snow Sculpture Championships

Volunteer to create the enormous blocks of snow the artists will use for the competition! Technical week allows the initial building of the blocks and offers time for the blocks to compress under their own weight prior to being carved. This allows for a more consistent medium, giving the sculptors the ability to execute their gravity-defying designs. There are limited volunteer opportunities available.

2024 Volunteer Positions Coming Soon!