Step into a world of frozen artistry as Snowkings’ Winter Festival proudly presents the 10th Annual International Snow Carving Symposium!
We are very excited to again welcome international, national, and local teams to our International Snow Carving Symposium!!!
Sculptors will transform a large cube of the world’s best snow into beautiful pieces of art on the ice of Yellowknife Bay.
Witness the magic at the Snowcastle. The countdown to carving begins! ❄️✨
Details and Rules
The Snow Carving Symposium, organized by Snowking’s Winter Festival Society, will be held between March 5–8, 2026. A more detailed schedule and other information will be available at www.snowking.ca.
The symposium is open to up to nine teams of three adults.
To encourage creativity and artistic freedom for the 10th Anniversary Symposium, the Festival will not declare a theme. Artists are encouraged to propose their most impressive, challenging, and astonishing ideas for their sculptures.
- The sculptures must be made entirely of snow.
- Each team will be assigned a block of snow measuring 10x10x10 ft (3m x 3m x 3m)
- No snow may be added beyond the original blocks.
- Completed sculptures may extend up to a total of 2 meters laterally, and a total of 1 meter in height, beyond the dimensions of the original cube of snow.
- Teams will be provided with a snow scoop to move snow, one section of scaffolding with two platforms (1.5 m high), and various larger tools (such as ladders) to share.
- Power tools are not permitted. Colouring the snow is not permitted.
- The blocks of snow will be assigned to the competitors by lottery draw prior to the start of sculpting.
- Teams will have total of 33 hours to complete their sculptures.
Non-compliance with the above rules will result in ineligibility for the Peoples’ Choice Award.
Two prizes will be awarded:
- Artists’ Choice – voted by snow carving competitors and the Castle’s carving team. This will be announced and awarded at the end of the symposium.
- Peoples’ Choice – voted by visitors to the Snow Castle during the entire Snowking Winter Festival, announced at the castle’s closing ceremony;
Most meals and hospitality will be provided. Expense money will be provided to all carvers to cover additional expenses. Local transportation to and from the carving site will be provided by the Festival.
For artists from outside Yellowknife, a stipend to support travel costs, and accommodations will be provided by the Festival. If participants choose to arrive earlier or stay later than the approved dates, or must adjust travel due to flight availability, they must apply to the coordinator for additional compensation, prior to booking. If participants choose to stay longer to take in the many attractions of Yellowknife in March, that is at your own expense. Extras such as telephone and bar are not refunded. Local teams will receive an honorarium for their time in the creation of their sculpture.
For further information and details, please email snowcarving@snowking.ca
