World Snow Festival Grindelwald

• The festival began in 1983 with a large snow figure of Heidi.
• Japanese artists created the first figure.
• International teams make sculptures from snow.
• Works are displayed at sites in Grindelwald and the Männlichen area.
• Artists and the public assess the works in different ways.
• The sculptures are temporary outdoor artworks.

The World Snow Festival in Grindelwald began in 1983 as an unusual promotional idea: Japanese artists shaped an oversized figure of Heidi from snow. That first work led to a recurring event bringing artists from different countries together. The festival functions as a temporary exhibition, with visitors able to see the sculptures while they are being made as well as after they are finished.

Artists work with blocks of snow, shaping them into figures, scenes or abstract forms. The density of the material affects how readily it can hold fine details. Sculptors first establish volume and proportion, then work on surfaces and smaller features. Weather and temperature also influence the process. The work therefore depends on material judgement and technical decisions as much as on the idea behind each design.

The festival places sculptures in central Grindelwald and in the Männlichen area. Teams work on their pieces over several days, allowing visitors to follow the making process. Artist teams assess works for qualities that include topicality, originality and craftsmanship; spectators can also choose their favourites. Visitors can therefore see both completed sculptures and the artists’ process, with tools and scale visible as the forms take shape.

Annual themes connect local landscape and culture with international subjects. A snow sculpture at the foot of the Eiger is experienced differently from one in a ski area: surroundings, viewing angle and access all become part of the encounter. The festival can also offer a reason to see the area on foot or by mountain railway, where routes and services are open. Dates and locations can vary between editions, so the specific event programme determines where the works can be viewed.

Snow sculptures are not built to last. Sun, precipitation and temperature change their surfaces, and the works eventually disappear as the snow melts. This short lifespan is part of the art form: visitors see a particular state that cannot be reproduced exactly. Respect barriers and do not touch or climb on the sculptures. That helps preserve their shapes and the setting while winter conditions allow the exhibition to remain in place.