What is Harbin Ice and Snow Festival?
Harbin's winters are long and very cold, and the city has a long tradition of ice lanterns. Its international ice and snow festival has been held since 1985 and has grown into one of the largest in the world, alongside the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan and the Winter Carnival of Quebec City in Canada.
The biggest site, Ice and Snow World, is built new every winter on the banks of the Songhua. Workers saw blocks of ice from the frozen river and stack and carve them into buildings large enough to walk through, while teams from many countries compete in ice- and snow-sculpture contests.
When is Harbin Ice and Snow Festival? Dates for 2026 and 2027
2026
- Monday 5 January 2026Opening ceremony of the 2026 festival
2027
- Tuesday 5 January 2027Opening day, as every yearexpected
The festival officially opens on 5 January each year. The ice parks often open in late December and stay open until mid or late February, for as long as the weather stays cold enough; the dates of each season are announced locally.
How people celebrate
- Walking among buildings of ice lit in colour at night.
- Ice slides, sledges and games on the frozen Songhua River.
- Giant snow sculptures on Sun Island, and winter swimmers who plunge into a pool cut into the river ice.
Good to know
- Dress for −20 °C or colder: thermal layers, a hat, a scarf over your face and mittens.
- Phone batteries drain quickly in the cold: keep a spare warm in an inside pocket.
- Visit the ice parks after dark, when the lights come on.