Unity takes precedence at Breckenridge’s 35th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships competition 

For just over a week each year, the parking lot behind the Riverwalk Centers trades cars for sculptures carved from 25-ton blocks of snow infused with themes that span the globe.

The 2026 Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships drew teams from Ukraine, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Mongolia, Malta, Argentina, Italy, India, Vermont, Finland, Germany and, of course, Breckenridge.

The event begins with 250 invitations sent out in June to the most prestigious sculpting teams in the world, which is then boiled down to around 12.  

Teams persevered through freezing conditions, snow, a surprise rise in temperatures, late nights and even sculptures falling apart as they carved their creations from Saturday, Jan. 24, until 9 a.m Wednesday, Jan. 28, when tools had to be put down. 

Despite a gold medal and bragging rights on the line, teams said the competition never lacks camaraderie. 

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Team Ukraine captain Bogdan Kutsevych made his return to the competition after a decade, this time with a new crew for Team Ukraine. He said the International Snow Sculpture Championships is a friendly atmosphere where even competitors are willing to lend each other tools and advice. His team’s sculpture, “The Couple,” is meant to evoke both connection and separation as the country endures an ongoing war. 

Breckenridge’s Tim West, a fly fishing outfitter with a snow sculpting side gig, said he considers teams that come back each year to be old friends at this point, and friendships with new teams form seamlessly. As the home team, he said Breckenridge is always willing to dole out the tools because they understand not everyone can travel with cross-cut saws and ice chippers. 

“The competition is super minor in comparison to the community,” he said. “Everybody is rooting for each other. Everybody wants everyone to present their best piece and accomplish what they set out to do.”

Even team Argentina kept their spirits high after their sculpture, “El Conflictuao,” collapsed the morning of Jan. 28. Team captain Igancio Molina said the team doesn’t get to compete in Argentina, and he is in love with the art, even when hiccups occur. 

Teams found themselves in varying positions that morning. As “El Conflictuao,” a sculpture depicting a free man in conflict with emerging capitalism and oligarchy, fell a bit before the 9 a.m. cutoff., team Italy enjoyed cigarettes while placing finishing touches on their sculpture, team Finland cleared up their tools after finishing well before the cutoff and many other teams utilized every minute they could. 

Spectators paced the aisles of the attraction, immersed in the excitement of teams working under an impending deadline. Among the handful there before the 9 a.m. cutoff was resident James Adamson, who said the event is a “beautiful thing” people are lucky to enjoy. 

“It’s great to bring artists from all over the world here to kind of display their creativity in something that’s (a) natural medium,” he said. “Ice is so cool and endemic to Breckenridge at this time of year. … I think it’s kind of an amazing reflection of the world around us.”

Breckenridge Tourism Office Public Relations Manager Kerry O’Connor said the event helps put Breckenridge on the world stage. She said the hospitality industry steps up to provide guests with a world-class experience. 

Team Republic of Korea would emerge as the winner of the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships with their sculpture “Beauty Beyond Difference: Harmony of Coexistence.”

The sculpture featured smaller orbs descending out of a larger orb, which are meant to mimic dividing cells and symbolize the essence of life, according to the team’s description of the piece.

Team Mongolia’s “Lassoing Time” sculpture took second. It depicted a man on a horse lassoing a bull and gave a nod to a tie between Mongolian nomad life and Native American ranging traditions — the ritual of roping, according to the team.

Team India earned bronze with their piece “Corn: The Ultimate Domesticator” that, according to the team, posed the question: Did humans domesticate corn or did corn domesticate humans? 

Team Lithuania scored the Lothar Luboschik Artists’ Choice award with its “Raise Your Flags!” sculpture, which the team described as “a flag of snow,” or a flag made out of snow, and a flag to snow. 

Sculptures will be on display until Tuesday, Feb. 3. This is the 35th International Snow Sculpture Championships. More information can be found at GoBreck.com/event/International-Snow-Sculpture-Championships.

Kit Geary can be reached at kgeary@SummitDaily.com.