Meet our ice artists

Ice as a canvas and chainsaws as a paintbrush: this is the world of ice artists. They travel to Biddinghuizen from all over the world, so you can admire their work from 12 December 2026 to 7 March 2027. With surgical precision and a healthy dose of creativity, they transform blocks of ice and snow into lifelike figures. Their work eventually melts away after the festival, but the art stays with you.

Who are the artist behind the Ice Sculpture Festival?

The 45 ice-carving artists come from all over the world: Hungary, Russia, the United States, Poland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Wales, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Indonesia. Each carver has their own style, background and story.

Some are also masters of the permanent, while others work exclusively with materials that are made to disappear. Below, we introduce you to some of them.

Take Marieke van der Meer, for example, who works not only with ice, but also with bronze, concrete and clay. Or Bouke Atema, who has made a name for himself with temporary sculptures made from ice, snow and sand.

American Thomas Brown began his career working with clay, metal and stone and is now a master of ice. From Latvia comes Karlis Ile, an award-winning artist who literally masters all the elements – from ice to fire.

We also welcome established names such as James Tottle, founder of Coldrush Ice Art, and Tomas Dolstal, who showcases his art all over the world. Alongside them are seasoned carvers such as Oka Sutama, Ferenc Moostori, Andreas Schlichting, Sanita Ravina, Vadim Gryadov, Irina Taflevskaya and Stanislav Novodworski. Each and every one is an inspiring artist who transforms ice and snow into a spectacular experience.

These are the true
masters

At the Ice Sculpture Festival, it’s all about art at its coolest. Our international carvers, also known as ice artists, come from all over the world to showcase their incredible talent. With tools ranging from chainsaws to chisels, they give cold blocks of ice a warm soul.

These artists are true masters of their craft, working on each piece for hours with precision and passion. And you know what’s best? You can watch these masterpieces come to life right before your eyes. It’s truly an experience you won’t want to miss!

Vadim Gryadov

Russia

Thomas Brown

United States

Ferenc Monostori

Hungary

Karlis Ile

Latvia

Tomas Dostal

Czech Republic

Sanita Ravina

Latvia

Marieke van der Meer

the Netherlands

James Tottle

Wales

Irina Taflevskaya

Bulgaria

Bouke Atema

the Netherlands

Oka Sutama

Indonesië

Stanislav Nowodworski

Poland

Andreas Schlichting

Canada

From block of ice to work of art

The creative process starts with the theme of the year. This year’s theme is Let’s Go to the Movies. Your favourite scenes are brought to life using blocks of ice and snow – the raw, cold materials from which the most beautiful sculptures are created.

First, the carvers use chainsaws to cut out the basic shapes, almost as if they were working with stone. Then comes the finer work: they use chisels to bring the most delicate details to life. Sometimes it takes days to give a face exactly the right expression. Each artist works on their own sculpture, but together, the sculptures form one frozen world where every detail is just right.

Relive last year's festival

This year's theme: Let’s Go To The Movies

This year, our ice artists are rolling out the red carpet for the stars of the silver screen. Under the theme Let’s Go to the Movies, they bring legendary film heroes, iconic characters and unforgettable scenes from blockbuster hits to life. It’s just like being at the cinema – only the popcorn is missing.

From Disney to Hollywood, each ice artist chooses their own source of inspiration and transforms it into a frozen work of art. As you walk through the hall, it feels as though you’re wandering through a Hollywood film set. Just a little colder, at -10°C. Whether you’re a fan of animation, adventure or nostalgia, this edition is a celebration of the magic of film. So put on your coat and gloves, pull on your hat and get ready to enjoy!

Did you know?

The 45 international ice artists travel all the way to the Netherlands to create their masterpieces here.
We use rainwater for the sculptures at the Ice Sculpture Festival. Yes, simply the water that falls from the sky – and something we have plenty of here in the Netherlands. Once the festival is over, we return the water to nature.
Wherever possible, we use locally generated energy and solar panels to keep our ecological footprint as small as possible.

Even more to see at the Ice Sculpture Festival

You won’t run out of things to do at the Ice Sculpture Festival. Besides the sparkling sculptures, there’s plenty more to discover, for young and old.

Try your hand at curling on our artificial curling rink and discover just how addictive it can be.

Discover even more art: street art inspired by this year’s theme.

Let the kids have fun in the playground with a slide and bouncy castle.
Discover what you would look like as an ice sculpture in the AI photo booth.
Go behind the scenes in the Making of Movie and see how the artists bring their sculptures to life.
Take a look around the merchandise shop for a cool souvenir.
Enjoy something delicious in our restaurant or at the poffertjes stand.

Experience it for yourself

Come and see for yourself how these ice artists have transformed the magic of film into impressive ice sculptures. Walk among the sculptures, feel the cold on your cheeks and marvel at what these artists can create from snow and ice.