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The 26th International Ice Sculpture Festival was opened in Jelgava on Friday. In a vibrant and musical atmosphere, visitors were introduced to world-class artistic creativity – more than 60 ice objects in total, where 35 sculptors from 13 countries brought their unique vision of the theme “The Story of the Universe” to life. The award ceremony also announced the winners of the Ice Sculpture Festival competition – the jury’s favorites.

At the festival, visitors can enjoy 15 impressive team sculptures created on Pasta (Post) Island, 30 individual artworks by sculptors along Jānis Čakstes Boulevard, as well as more than 10 ice objects throughout the festival area. In addition to the ice art, for the first time, the festival features an ice games zone at the public ice rink on Pasta (Post) Island, inviting visitors to join in checkers, table hockey, and domino tournaments. On the opening evening, the event’s guests were entertained by “Dzelzs vilks,” “Citi zēni,” and “3Live Project.” As night fell, light objects and lasers gave the event area a special ambiance.

It is important to note that this year, the ice art was created by 35 sculptors – five of them made photo sculptures, while 30 sculptors participated in the festival’s competition, representing 13 countries worldwide – Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, the Czech Republic, Mongolia, Italy, Poland, Indonesia, Argentina, and for the first time in the history of the competition – Iran and Japan.

The jury evaluated the sculptors’ works and announced the winners of the 26th International Ice Sculpture Festival. This year, the jury consisted of six experienced experts, one of whom was Juhani Lillberg, president of the International Snow and Ice Sculpture Association from Finland.

Winners in the Team Sculpture Category

Jury’s Favorite: Dorjnamjil Baatar and Solongo Khashbaatar (Mongolia) “Historiology”

3rd place: Mindaugas Tendziagolskis and Liutauras Grieže (Lithuania) “Juggler”

2nd place: Zīle Ozoliņa-Šneidere (Latvia) and Ludo Roders (Netherlands) “The Universe Between Us”

1st place: I Made Sutama (Indonesia) and Santiago Gonzalez (Argentina) “Quantum Singularity”

Winners in the Individual Sculpture Category

Jury’s Favorite: Santiago Gonzalez (Argentina) “Invalid Matter”

3rd place: Liutauras Grieže (Lithuania) “Idea”

2nd place: Agnese Rudzīte-Kirillova (Latvia) “The Beginning”

1st place: Kristaps Andersons (Latvia) “Walking Through the Gardens of the Galaxy”

Visitors will be able to view the ice sculptures and enjoy the extensive festival entertainment program and concerts all weekend – on February 8 and 9 – from 11 AM to 10 PM. Pasta (Post) Island’s open-air concert hall “Mītava” is the main venue for children’s thematic performances, and in the evening, visitors can enjoy the music concert program. On Jānis Čakstes Boulevard, guests will be entertained by live ice sculpture demonstrations, dance performances, and a fire show. As the evening darkens, the festive atmosphere will be enhanced by a laser show – repeated throughout the evening and visible from anywhere in the festival area.

Event visitors are encouraged to dress according to the weather and check the traffic organization map before heading to Jelgava, which will also be available in the “Waze” mobile app.

During the event, photography and filming may occur. The obtained materials will be used to reflect and promote the event on the organizer’s website and social networks, as well as to create publicity materials, ensuring public information about the events organized in the public interest and the reflection of budget expenditure, as well as the preservation of cultural and historical heritage.