International Snow Sculpture Festival / Dolomites Snow Festival — San Vigilio Stage

An open-air snow museum in Val Badia

The International Snow Sculpture Festival, also known as the Dolomites Snow Festival, is one of the most enchanting winter events in South Tyrol. The San Vigilio di Marebbe stage, the main village of the Marebbe (Enneberg) municipality in Val Badia, has hosted this event for years, turning the town center into an open-air art gallery where snow takes center stage.

How the sculptures are born

On the lawn in front of the church, various teams of sculptors are each provided with a cube of compressed, frozen snow measuring approximately three meters on each side (3x3x3 m). Over the course of three to four days, the artists transform these massive blocks into surprising works of art, using only manual tools: ice axes, saws, shovels, wire, ladders, and simple buckets of water, without any electrical devices.

• Teams composed of multiple sculptors, often from international backgrounds
• Blocks of compacted snow measuring 3x3x3 meters
• Created over three to four days using only manual tools
• The works remain on display until the spring warmth melts them

An event for the whole family

The public can watch the creation of the sculptures live and observe the artists at work. At the end, the works are evaluated by both a jury and a public vote. Evening walks among the illuminated sculptures are particularly evocative, making them ideal for families and photography enthusiasts: the night lighting gives the entire village a fairytale atmosphere.

San Vigilio and the Dolomites

San Vigilio di Marebbe is one of the gateways to the Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) ski area and is situated at the foot of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. The village, which is Ladin-speaking, combines the Alpine tradition of Val Badia with a natural setting of great beauty, providing the perfect backdrop for an event dedicated to the ephemeral art of snow. Until 2025, the event was held as an international competition, with a first stage in San Vigilio and a second one, a few weeks later, in San Candido in the Upper Puster Valley.

An evolving format

Since the end of 2025, the format in San Vigilio has changed: the sculptures are now created by primarily local teams, with the goal of creating a special Christmas atmosphere in the ski resort. The international event continues separately in other locations in South Tyrol. The dates for the 2026 edition in San Vigilio have not yet been officially announced.