Car racing on a sheet of ice? Polo on horseback in Aspen? Some people will do anything to keep themselves entertained, and these events around the world just deliver.
Snow Polo in Aspen
The Event: St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship
Location: Aspen, Colorado
When: Mid‑December
Aspen’s snow polo weekend is the only event of its kind in North America – and it draws a crowd worthy of a film premiere. In 2025, Prince Harry stunned spectators with a surprise appearance, stepping in for a friend on the Aspen Valley team while longtime friend and polo star Nacho Figueras captained the rival St. Regis team. The tournament regularly attracts celebrities including Anna Kendrick, Nicky Hilton, Billie Lourd, and Riley Keough. With the Rockies as a backdrop and a tented après‑scene, it’s Aspen at its most glamorous.
The I.C.E. St. Moritz
The Event: The International Concours of Elegance (The I.C.E.)
Location: Frozen Lake St. Moritz, Switzerland
When: January 30–31, 2026
The I.C.E. is a concours d’élégance staged on a frozen lake – a fleeting winter phenomenon that transforms St. Moritz into a white racetrack for classic Ferraris, Porsches, and Bugattis. Organizers describe it as a “Concours d’Elégance immersed in nature,” a venue that only exists thanks to the natural freeze of the Engadin valley. The event draws collectors, designers, and automotive royalty who come for the spectacle as much as the setting. It’s equal parts engineering marvel and alpine fantasy.
Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz
The Event: Snow Polo World Cup
Location: Lake St. Moritz, Switzerland
When: January 23–25, 2026
St. Moritz is the birthplace of snow polo – the world’s first tournament was played here in 1985, and it remains the only high‑goal polo event on snow. Six elite teams compete on the frozen lake, drawing around 25,000 spectators from across the globe. The atmosphere blends Swiss precision with champagne‑soaked glamour, complete with a tent city of luxury hospitality. It’s widely considered the most prestigious snow polo tournament in the world.
Winter Olympics – Milano Cortina 2026
The Event: XXV Olympic Winter Games
Location: Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
When: February 6–22, 2026
The Winter Olympics return to Italy with 116 medal events across 16 disciplines. The opening ceremony will take place at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, where Mariah Carey has been announced as the first major music icon to perform. Athletes, celebrities, and global leaders will gather in the Dolomites for two weeks of alpine spectacle. With events spread across Milan, Cortina, and the surrounding mountain venues, it’s set to be one of the most scenic Games in recent memory.
Harbin International Ice & Snow Festival
The Event: Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
Location: Harbin, China
When: Early January to late February
Harbin builds an entire frozen city each winter – towering ice palaces, neon‑lit sculptures, and full‑scale architectural replicas carved from blocks of river ice. It’s the largest ice and snow festival in the world, drawing millions of visitors who come for the artistry, the scale, and the surreal glow of illuminated ice at night. The 2025/26 edition spans a record 1.2 million square meters, featuring massive slides, landmark sculptures, and a full ice‑and‑snow theme. If a frozen metropolis built for pure winter escapism speaks to you, the Harbin Ice & Snow Festival may be the most winterful trip you take this year.
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FAQs
Q: Where can I find the biggest winter festivals?
A: They unfold in cold‑weather capitals like Aspen, St. Moritz, Cortina, and Harbin — places that turn winter into a spectacle.
Q: When is the best time to visit these events?
A: January and February are prime, when frozen lakes, snow polo fields, and ice cities are at their most dramatic.
Q: How much should you expect to spend?
A: The price ranges from casual entry fees to luxury‑tier pricing for VIP tents, tasting lounges, and Olympic sessions.
