Every year in San Vigilio di Marebbe, artists conjure up “cold art”, fascinating sculptures from giant blocks of snow
Image gallery: Snow Sculpture Festival
Every year, artists come together in San Vigilio di Marebbe for the Snow Sculpture Festival (Schneeskulpturen-Festival) and create magnificent works of art from snow and ice. If temperatures permit - ideally freezing - they can be admired until the end of winter.
Using various tools, unique creations are formed from huge 3x3x3-metre snow blocks over three to four days. Several teams start their work on the meadow in front of the church, and the artists are happy for people to watch them as they create. The icy works of art are then judged by a jury and the public. Well worth seeing!
Until 2025, the festival was an international event, taking place first in San Vigilio and then, a few weeks later, as a second stage in San Candido in the Upper Val Pusteria. Since the end of 2025, the snow sculptures in San Vigilio have been created in December by local artists, conjuring up a special Christmas atmosphere in the ski resort. The International Snow Sculpture Festival in San Candido continues to be held two months later, in February.
