Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships

The International Snow Sculpture Championships returns to Breckenridge, Colorado from January 24 through February 3, 2026, transforming the Riverwalk Center into an open-air gallery where teams from around the world carve 25-ton blocks of compacted snow into ephemeral masterpieces using nothing but hand tools. Free to attend and set against the stunning backdrop of the Ten Mile Range, this annual celebration of frozen artistry unfolds in two distinct phases: Sculpting Week from January 24 through 28, when visitors can watch artists chisel their visions into existence, and Viewing Week from January 28 through February 3, when the completed sculptures stand in illuminated splendor against the winter night sky.

The International Snow Sculptures transformed under the lights at night create an atmosphere unlike any other mountain event, with evening illuminations casting dramatic shadows across intricate forms that seem impossibly delicate for their frozen medium. Saturday, January 31 requires timed entry reservations to ensure comfortable viewing, but the surrounding days offer unhurried opportunities to circle each sculpture, marveling at the detail that emerges from pure white snow. Live music drifts through the crisp air while artisan markets and food trucks line the periphery, adding warmth and sustenance to the outdoor gallery experience.

Bordering the big-blue Lake Dillon and nestled along the Ten Mile and Gore Mountain ranges, the region surrounding Breckenridge delivers boundless winter adventure for those who extend their stay beyond the sculptures. Lake Dillon freezes thick enough for ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, with groomed trails on the Dillon side offering accessible routes across the frozen reservoir that supplies Denver’s water and provides Summit County’s most dramatic alpine views. This gorgeous mountain lake contains several varieties of trout, kokanee salmon, arctic char, and smallmouth bass, and local outfitters can arrange warming huts stocked with gear for those seeking a uniquely Colorado angling experience.

The historic mining town of Breckenridge itself offers over 100 things to do in winter, from dogsledding through powder-laden forests to touring an authentic gold mine that operated during the 1800s rush that first brought settlers to these peaks. Free sledding hills at Carter Park delight families, while the Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers indoor skating. The Frisco Adventure Park features a 5-lane, 6,000-square-foot tubing hill and endless trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, all just minutes from downtown Breckenridge via the free Summit Stage bus that connects the valley’s mountain communities.

Rootstalk at 207 N. Main Street anchors Breckenridge’s culinary scene, where chef Matt Vawter won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain, serving a seasonal menu with emphasis on locally sourced ingredients from Colorado farmers and ranchers. The historic Gold Pan Saloon, located in a building from 1879, serves hearty burgers in an atmosphere that connects diners to the town’s rip-roaring past. Broken Compass Brewing offers everything from easy-drinking kolsch to tropical coconut porter, with locations at both the northern end of town and along Main Street. Hearthstone Restaurant serves naturally-raised beef and game, sustainably-caught seafood, and Colorado produce in a Victorian house with views of the ski resort, while Quandary Grille at the base of Peak 9 features a sunny deck overlooking Maggie Pond and the Tenmile Range alongside a menu of elevated comfort food and a bar with over 200 tequilas.

The combination of world-class artistry, pristine mountain scenery, and the easy warmth of a genuine Colorado ski town makes the International Snow Sculpture Championships an ideal anchor for a longer Rocky Mountain retreat. Vacation rentals throughout Summit County offer the space and fireside comfort that January in the high country demands, whether you’re seeking a ski-in cabin on the slopes, a lakeside lodge overlooking frozen Dillon, or a historic Victorian within walking distance of the sculptures. Book your stay on Lake.com and settle into the rhythm of mountain life, where the cold air sharpens every view and the sculptures stand as temporary monuments to human creativity and nature’s frozen canvas.