A sign of spring-winter (one of the Sámis’ eight seasons of the year) in Jukkasjärvi is the harvesting of ice in the Torne River by ICEHOTEL. The ice blocks, approximately 2X1X1 meters, are cut and taken out of the river and stored in the large freezer used for ice production. They are stored there until November, when the seasonal hotel will be built. This year, for the 37th time, since it began in 1989.
The ICEHOTEL Jukkasjärvi story
The story of ICEHOTEL began with Yngve Bergqvist, the founder, who was searching for solutions for year-round activities in Jukkasjärvi. After visiting an ice sculpture event in Sapporo, Japan, he hosted the event some years later in the Jukkasjärvi area. There were a great number of attendees, and the organizers only realized too late that they lacked accommodation for them all. Surrounded by creativity, they offered some attendees sleeping bags to sleep in the igloos where the art was shown. The morning after, they were thrilled, and some years later, in 1989, the first ICEHOTEL was built.
ICEHOTEL 2026
For every year, the concept of ICEHOTEL has expanded and changed, and now the resort includes a year-round hotel with both cold and warm accommodation, Riverside lounge, a shop, a reception, adventure desk, lounge, conference facilities, an onsite restaurant, and in the winter time also a restaurant at the Old Homestead (15 min walk).
Cold accommodation
The cold accommodation includes a year-round option (since 2016) to sleep in one of the 18 ice art suites at ICEHOTEL 365. Open every day, all year round, both for day and night guests. As a day guest, you actually visit the hotel rooms where the night guests stay. It’s like a big freezer with 18 art suites made of ice, a gallery, a movie theater, and an ice bar. The SEASONAL HOTEL, this season the 36th, with a new design every year, besides the chandelier that’s remade every year. The seasonal hotel has an additional 12 art suites, 20 ice rooms, art-filled corridors, and a ceremony hall. The design is made by artists from all over the world.
Design a room for the SEASONAL hotel #37!
The application to design a room opens in January and ends on April 11th, so there’s still time to apply! The designers are flown here from all over the world in mid-November, and the support team helps them with tips and tricks to bring their designs to life using ice and snow. Most of them have never used these materials for design.
Warm accommodation
The warm accommodations are available in three types of hotel rooms, Kaamos standard, superior, and Deluxe, and 30 newly renovated cabins. The most common is to stay one night sleeping cold, and then the rest in a warm room. Some chose to spend all nights in the warm accommodation.
Activities and special arrangements
Winter activities with great guides include dog sledding, snowmobiling, wilderness dinner, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing on the river, etc. In the summer, it’s possible to, e.g., go river rafting, fishing in the river, and learn wilderness skills. Special arrangements include, e.g., weddings, company kickoffs, team-building, and conferences, etc.
Ice production and ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL
In addition to storing the ice blocks, the Ice production team produces ice glasses for the ice bars in Jukkasjärvi, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and, soon to open, in London. They also create and make the interior design of the Ice bars and take custom orders upon request.
ICEHOTEL staff
During high season, that is December – March, approximately 160 staff members are employed, and the rest of the year, approximately 60. They post job openings year-round.
Summing it all up
The ICEHOTEL is a very special place to visit and to work within. It never feels like going to work, more like an international meeting place filled with staff and guests enjoying art and nature. It’s a place to be actively relaxed. For relaxation and activities in the pace and integration, being part of nature.
Living in a bubble, being one with nature
It still fascinates and amazes me every day, in one way or another, to spend time at ICEHOTEL and its surroundings in Jukkasjärvi. The kindness of the staff and locals. The stillness and silence that create peace in body and mind. It’s like living in a bubble, being one with nature. It’s a magical, fairytale place.
Another type of light is arriving
Days are quickly getting longer, and in a couple of weeks, the northern lights will no longer be visible, instead we will move into the light of the midnight sun.
Please reach out if you have questions about the ICEHOTEL and/or living in Jukkasjärvi and the municipality of Kiruna.
Love and hugs,
/Cathrin
