The Swedish Frozen masterpiece celebrates 35 years of innovation and adventure

For 35 years, during the coldest and darkest moments of winter, artists, architects and engineers from all over the world have traveled to the small village of Jukkasjärvi to redesign the ICEHOTEL, a hotel made entirely of snow and ice.

This year’s edition features world-class art created by 26 artists from 13 countries, led by creative director Luca Roncoroni. The construction of ICEHOTEL 35 was a six-week project involving 500 tons of ice and a snow-and-ice mix equivalent to 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Despite the challenges of an unusually warm November, the team created 14 unique art suites, including “WHOOPS WRONG ROOM!!” with a life-size rhino and the Sami-inspired “Áhku Fáhcat.”

“This year the artists have truly outdone themselves – our art suites are playful, stunning, surprising and deeply moving,” says Marie Herrey, CEO of ICEHOTEL. “I can’t wait to […] welcome guests from all over the world to experience this magic with us.”

Guests can spend a night at the ICEHOTEL from December to April 2025. However, visitors can also explore the year-round ICEHOTEL 365, which features 18 additional suites, an ice gallery and the recently launched ICEBAR In Orbit, offering drinks in a cosmic environment. inspired ice environment.

A completely new experience every year

Named for its location as a ‘meeting place by the water’, Jukkasjärvi is located north of the Arctic Circle, surrounded by almost six thousand lakes and six major rivers. Every November, blocks of ice are harvested from the River Torne to build a brand new ice hotel.

Ideas for suite designs and art installations are open to everyone. Because ICEHOTEL has a dedicated construction team, participants do not have to be a sculptor or architect to participate.

While only a select few will see their concepts come to life, ICEHOTEL says the challenge inspires people to keep working year after year.

“We appreciate each hotel in its own way, but at the same time it is very liberating to know that next year you can try out a new idea – it has an interesting effect on creativity,” says ICEHOTEL’s Creative Director Luca Roncoroni.

The intriguing phenomenon of sleeping on ice

Since its opening, ICEHOTEL has welcomed more than one million guests. While some prefer to stay in a cozy cabin on site, most arrive to experience a night on the ice.

But before spending the night in one of these uniquely designed suites made of snow and ice, each guest must complete a “survival course.”

Guests will learn how to dress appropriately and make their beds with an Arctic sleeping bag. While Arctic sleeping bags are made to withstand temperatures as low as -13° F, the temperature in each suite will never drop below -5° F. After a night on the ice, guests wake up with a warm cup of blueberry juice in bed.

“Many of our guests have not slept in a sub-zero hotel before, nor in a sleeping bag, so some are a little nervous before it’s time to go to bed. But usually they wake up in the morning and are pleasantly surprised by how well they slept in the fresh air,” says Jenny Anderson from Guest Services.

While only the deluxe suites have storage and sanitary facilities, there is a separate building next to the ICEHOTEL with storage, bathrooms, a sauna and a relaxation room with a fireplace. The building is exclusively for ICEHOTEL guests and is staffed 24 hours a day.

Guests can also enjoy the ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL, where they can order their favorite drink in a glass made of ice.

The birth of the world’s first ice hotel

The history of ICEHOTEL dates back to 1989, when founder Yngve Bergqvist visited Jukkasjärvi for skiing. During his visit he noticed that the winters were long and cold and had no appeal to locals, let alone tourists.

“When I started wondering how we could develop Jukkasjärvi for the winter season, I was told that it is too terrible, cold and dark in northern Sweden in winter,” says Bergqvist. “I wanted to turn that around and create something positive out of the cold and show that there is so much light in the dark: the Northern Lights and the shiny white snow.”

Inspired by the traditional Japanese art of ice sculpting and assisted by two expert ice sculptors from Japan, Bergqvis invited artists from around the world to attend a workshop.

Jukkasjärvi saw his first ice sculpture the following winter, an igloo built on the frozen Torne River. The igloo would become known as ARTic Hall, an art gallery and later a meeting place for church services and film screenings.

One evening, guests at the ARTic Hall asked if they could spend the night. They had arrived with reindeer skins and sleeping bags. When guests woke up fascinated by the experience, the concept of ICEHOTEL was born.

Outdoor adventures all year round

The ICEHOTEL offers much more than just a night on the ice. Regardless of the season, there are plenty of unique outdoor adventures to enjoy in and around Jukkasjärvi.

From winter to early spring, from November to April, guests can take part in a snowmobile safari for the Northern Lights, a reindeer sleigh excursion, a dog sled adventure, a cross-country ski tour, a horseback moose safari, an ice fishing excursion, take ice sculpting lessons or even take a course. a three-course dinner in the winter wilderness.

From May to October, late spring through summer, guests can enjoy guided boat trips on the Torne River, fishing trips, mountain hikes, river rafting, reindeer encounters, or enjoy a Northern Lights dinner in the wilderness.

Where creativity and winter wilderness meet

The ICEHOTEL is a testament to human ingenuity and the ever-changing beauty of nature. Each carefully designed room offers a serene yet invigorating experience, where the fresh air sharpens the senses and the tranquility of the ice provides a peaceful escape.

It’s more than a hotel: it’s a unique experience that combines art, nature and the spirit of the Arctic into an adventure that will linger in the memory long after the ice has melted.