ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi celebrates its 35th anniversary, and today the doors open to this year’s winter hotel, ICEHOTEL 35. Here, guests can sleep surrounded by world-class ice and snow art created by 26 artists from 13 countries, under the guidance of Creative Director Luca Roncoroni.
ICEHOTEL is not just a hotel, but an art gallery filled with sparkling, ephemeral art – which melts back into the Torne River when spring arrives.
Creation and Construction
Building ICEHOTEL 35 took six weeks, using 500 tons of ice from the Torne River and 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools of “snis” – a mixture of snow and ice. The creation process started in the spring when ice blocks were harvested and have since been stored at ICEHOTEL’s ice production hall. In recent weeks, a dedicated team of builders, artists, lighting designers, ice production, and artist support team has worked intensely to complete the hotel. Tonight, the first guests will sleep at ICEHOTEL 35.
– A warm November delayed the start of the construction season, making this winter particularly challenging, but once again, an amazing team succeeded in finishing ICEHOTEL 35 just in time for the opening. The artists’ commitment resulted in 14 unique art projects, which will perfectly celebrate our 35th anniversary!” says Luca Roncoroni, Creative Director at ICEHOTEL.
New Art Suites and Experiences
This year, visitors can look forward to falling asleep in a suite featuring a huge rhinoceros in “WHOOPS WRONG ROOM!!”, taking refuge in the immersive art suite “Hideaway,” or being fascinated by Sami craftsmanship in the suite “Áhku Fáhcat,” which means grandmother’s mittens in Sami.
In addition to the 12 art suites, there are also 20 ice rooms, a Ceremony Hall filled with icy floral splendor for weddings and events, and the iconic Main Hall, almost 30 meters long, with crystal chandeliers created from 220 handcrafted ice crystals. In the year-round open part of the hotel, ICEHOTEL 365, there are an additional 18 art and deluxe suites, an ice gallery, and the newly created ICEBAR In Orbit, which takes guests on a space journey. Here the guests can warm up in the crystal-clear cold with a drink while embarking on a unique journey through space. Guests can sip on a drink beside a life-sized ice and snow astronaut, or make a quick exit via a slide carved from ice and snow.
Wilderness Activities and Local Delicacies Served on Ice
Each year, ICEHOTEL is welcoming thousands of guests from all over the world, and besides marveling at the ephemeral art, they can look forward to local delicacies and dining experiences inspired by the Arctic surroundings, such as a four-course ice menu, with some courses served on ice, and a 12-course Chef’s Table menu at the Veranda.
During their stay, guests can also experience ice sculpting and nature-focused activities such as a snowmobile Northern Lights tour, dog sledding, the Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual, and wilderness dining. Since 2024, ICEHOTEL has partnered with Vidde Mobility, which offers the world’s first electric, circular snowmobiles, and this winter season, guests can experience a snowmobile tour in silence, in harmony with nature.
More Than One Million Visitors and 35 Years of Magic
35 years ago, the journey that became the world’s first and largest hotel built from ice and snow began. The idea was born from founder Yngve Bergqvist’s desire to create an experience on nature’s terms, using the materials naturally available around Jukkasjärvi – snow, ice, and cold temperatures. Today, ICEHOTEL has welcomed more than a million visitors from all over the world and continues to be a place of art, creativity, and unforgettable experiences year after year.
– This year, the artists have truly surpassed themselves – our art suites are playful, stunning, surprising, and deeply moving. I can’t wait to open the doors and welcome guests from all over the world to experience this magic with us, says Marie Herrey, CEO at ICEHOTEL.
Photo cred: WHOOPS WRONG ROOM!!, AnnaSofia Mååg, ICEHOTEL 35, ICE KILN, Jaeyual Lee & Daeho Lee, ICEHOTEL 35, Ceremony Hall: Gaia’s Bloom, Lisa Lindqvist & Kate Munro, Storbritannien, photo Asaf Kliger, ICEHOTEL
ABOUT ICEHOTEL
Icehotel opened in 1989 and is besides a hotel also an art exhibition with ever-changing art made out of ice and snow. ICEHOTEL is created in a new guise every winter, made completely from natural ice from the Torne River – one of Sweden’s national rivers and last untouched waters. When the winter season’s hotel has melted back to the river in the spring, a part of the hotel remains so that visitors can experience the ice and snow year-round.
www.icehotel.com
