ICEHOTEL 37 — international open call for artists and designers of ice art rooms (fee ≈ €4,600)
Sometimes art exists for only one season. It’s born in winter, welcomes thousands of visitors, and then disappears in spring, returning to nature. That’s how one of the most unusual art projects in the world works — the annual creation of an ice hotel in northern Sweden.
Every year, artists, designers, architects and creators from various disciplines gather in the small village of Jukkasjärvi above the Arctic Circle to build a new seasonal ICEHOTEL — a temporary exhibition made of ice, snow and light, where each room becomes a complete art installation.
Applications for ICEHOTEL 37 are now open, and artists from around the world can submit their own concepts for an ice room.
What is the project
This project is not just a hotel. It is an annual international art symposium where selected participants spend two weeks working together to create a large ice exhibition.
Each room is designed as a unique spatial work that must be both an art installation and a functional space for guests. The only requirement is that the room must have a bed, and all elements must be made exclusively from ice and snow.
The material used is natural ice from the Torne River, one of the last untouched rivers in Europe. Artists use these ice blocks to form walls, sculptures, arches and interior details.
In spring, when the temperature rises, the entire architecture gradually melts and returns to the river, which is why the hotel is recreated every year.
Who is this open call for
This open call is primarily for artists and creators working with space — installations, architecture, objects or scenography.
Applications are accepted from authors of various disciplines: artists, designers, architects, scenographers, engineers, and other specialists whose practice is related to form, space, and three-dimensional projects. Experience working with ice is not a prerequisite.
Applications can be submitted individually or in teams of two. The main thing is to have an original idea and the ability to come to the project site in person.
Work on the project takes place on site: selected participants come to Sweden and spend approximately 14 days creating their piece together with a technical team and lighting specialists.
What selected participants receive
The organisers provide not only the venue, but also basic support during the work.
Participants will receive:
Artist’s fee: SEK 38,400 (≈ €3,380) per room (one author), SEK 52,400 (≈ €4,610) per room (two authors);
Additional author’s fee: SEK 2,000 (≈ €175) per participant; Travel
allowance: up to SEK 8,000 (≈ €700) for participants from Europe, up to SEK 18,000 (≈ €1,585) for authors from other regions.
In addition, the organisers cover accommodation and meals during the construction of the project in Ykkäsjärvi.
It is important to note that artists work as freelance authors, so in order to receive payment, they must be able to issue an invoice and provide a VAT number or similar registration.
How to submit your application
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file (up to 5 MB) and must include two main sections:
1. Project concept (2 A3 pages): a brief description of the idea, visualisation or image, room drawings with dimensions, explanation of the design, materials and lighting.
2. Information about the author (up to 4 A4 pages): participant details, brief CV, examples of previous projects.
It is important to note that previous projects do not have to be related to ice or snow. These can be installations, architectural concepts, sculptures, scenography, objects or other spatial works.
This helps the jury understand the author’s artistic language and their experience with space, form or objects.
The project must be original and previously unpublished. If the author has several ideas, a separate application must be submitted for each one.
Is experience working with ice necessary
Experience working with ice sculptures is not a prerequisite for participation.
Selection is based primarily on the project concept, visualisation, and feasibility of the idea.
The organisers evaluate the originality, artistic thinking and how feasible it is to build the proposed piece out of snow and ice within the framework of the project.
After selection, participants work on site with the ICEHOTEL technical and lighting team, who help adapt the project to the materials, tools and construction conditions.
This means that the idea and spatial thinking are more important for the submission than previous experience working with ice materials.
Why this is an interesting opportunity
For artists working with space, installation, architecture or objects, participating in this project is a rare experience. What matters here is not only the idea, but also the process of collectively creating a large artistic environment.
The works exist for only one winter season, but they become part of one of the most famous art and architecture initiatives in the world, visited by thousands of people every year.
The deadline for submitting applications is 11 April 2026.
Winners will be announced on 11 May 2026.
Construction of the project will take place from 24 November to 9 December 2026, and the official opening of the hotel’s new season will take place on 11 December 2026.
