This video has no sound. POZnań Ice Festival 2025

The 20th edition of the Poznań Ice Festival will start in:

Participants

TEAM CANADA

Kanbayashi

Suguru Kanbayashi

might hold the unique title of being the world's only software developer turned world-champion ice carver. A Carleton University alumnus who codes as a Senior Software Developer by day, Suguru has spent nearly his entire life immersed in the art of ice sculpting. His passion was sparked as a toddler watching his father, Ikuo Kanbayashi-one of the original ice sculptors at Ottawa's famed Winterlude festival. Suguru went on to forge a highly decorated competitive career of his own. Most notably, he captured a 1st Place World Championship title in the Single Block Category at the 2009 World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska, alongside master sculptor Junichi Nakamura. For over two decades, Suguru has been a pillar of the Canadian ice art community, dedicating his time to leadership roles-including President, Vice-President, and Treasurer-for the Canadian Ice Carvers' Society (CICS). Recently, he stepped back from executive duties to focus on family and pass his craft down to the next generation. He launched Anyone Can Sculpt Ice, an Ottawa-based interactive workshop program designed to safely introduce adults and children alike to the magic of sculpting with ice.

Ashe

Kevin Ashe

is an accomplished Canadian ice sculptor and international competitor with decades ofexperience in the art of ice carving. A longtime Winterlude participant and frequent carvingpartner of Suguru Kanbayashi, Kevin is known for imaginative concepts, unconventional designs,and a distinctive creative approach to the medium. His international competition career includes multiple podium finishes at the International IceSculpture Festival in Poznań, Poland, including 2nd place in 2013 and 3rd place in 2011 and 2015. He has also represented Ontario at Canada's Winterlude National Ice CarvingChampionship and participated in numerous exhibitions and showcases, including representingCanada with Suguru at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Kevin was also runner up torepresent Canada at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
Kevin continues to push the boundaries of ice sculpture, combining technical skill, creativity, andstorytelling to transform blocks of ice into temporary works of art.

TEAM CZECHIA

Kučera

Igor Kučera

I have been creative since I was a young boy. I spent a lot of time drawing imaginary cars, animals, monsters and other creatures. Later, I wanted to transform these drawings into three-dimensional objects. I started experimenting with clay and pine bark and eventually discovered woodcarving. I began carving animals and human figures, and this has remained the main focus of my sculptural work to this day. Although I took a break of almost twenty years from carving while studying graphic design and later running a graphic design studio abroad, I eventually returned to sculpture and rediscovered my passion for carving. For me, creating sculptures is a never-ending learning process. Every material, every piece and every project brings a new challenge and an opportunity to learn something new. This constant process of discovery and improvement is what attracts me most to sculpture. Over the years, I have participated in numerous international wood and ice carving competitions, achieving the following results:

1st place - APF Exhibition, Alcester, England, 2018

2nd place - English Open, classic competition, 2018

2nd place - Ice Master, as part of the Slovak team with Miro Trnovský, 2018

2nd place - Carve Carrbridge, Scotland, Carver's Choice, 2016

3rd place - International Wood Carving Championship, Łojewo, Poland, 2019

1st place - ICEMsters, High Tatras, realistic carving, 2026, together with Čestmír Slíva

Slíva

Čestmír Slíva

My first encounter with artistic creation was influenced by my elementary school teacher, who introduced me to assemblage art and inspired my interest in artistic expression. Working with wood has been close to me since childhood. I received my first carving chisels at the age of ten, and my very first creation was a wooden totem. During my teenage years, I was temporarily drawn to modelling, but while studying at university I rediscovered wood - this time as a medium for artistic expression. Over the years, I began receiving invitations to participate in woodcarving symposiums, exhibitions and competitions, which encouraged me to continue developing my skills and artistic approach. I have also gained valuable experience through specialized woodcarving courses and workshops. For more than twenty years, I have regularly participated in woodcarving symposiums and speed-carving competitions. In addition to wood, I work with stone, sand, ice and snow. I am fascinated by the different qualities of these materials, as each requires a specific approach, technique and ability to respond to its unique character. In 2026, together with Igor Kučera, we won 1st place at the ICEMsters competition in the High Tatras in the realistic carving category. I see participation in the ICE Festival in Poznań as an opportunity to further develop my artistic work, share experience with sculptors and carvers from different countries, and create a piece that combines my more than twenty years of experience in speed carving with the unique character and possibilities of ice

Gallery

Events

11th December 2026

04:00 pm - 06:30 pm

1 block competition

12th December 2026

11:00 am - 07:00 pm 

Speed Ice Carving

13th December 2026

09:00 am - 05:00 pm

Main Competition

12:00 am - 03:00 pm

Workshops for children

News

Latest news

artykuł

POZnań Ice Festival 2026 reveals its plans...

The 20th edition of the POZnań Ice Festival promises to be spectacular. Such a milestone deserves a special setting - one that will feature a host of...
VictorDagatan&DonLowing

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artykuł

A return to beautiful memories... and the announcement of something special...

While spring is just getting started, we're already excitedly preparing for the next edition of the POZnań Ice Festival - and not just any edition,...
zapowiedź kolejnej edycji

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It's time to meet the winners of this year's edition

Many beautiful pieces were created this weekend. Let's meet the winners of all the competitions.
sculptors and organizers pose for a photo

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Sport and art in one - the main competition of the 19th edition of the POZnań Ice Festival.

The most spectacular event of the Festival is upon us! In the main competition, our ice sculptors have just eight hours to create breathtaking works...
main_competition

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What today? Today we are recreating...

Lots of emotions and great fun - Speed ​​Ice Carving.
speed_ice_carving

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Ice Festival in 3, 2, 1...

and we're kicking off the most anticipated event in Poznań.
one block competition

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CHANGE! CHANGE!

We regret to inform you that Chavayut Nimnoun - Duck Artist (Thailand) will not be able to attend the festival. We hope to be able to attend in the...
Icefestival

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The Christmas spirit is heating up in Poznań!

We have fairs full of attractions and delicious food. Soon, the city will be lited up by Christmas illuminations and a Christmas tree in the Old...
scalptures

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Anyone can be a judge!

As every year, the sculptures will also be judged by you.  Both in the Friday and Sunday competition you will have the opportunity to evaluate...
evaluation

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PARADISE, what does it mean?

How to interpret such a theme? We'll find out during the first competition of the POZnań Ice Festival.
individual competition

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We're starting in a month!

The 19th edition of the POZnań Ice Festival will once again create a unique atmosphere in Poznań's Old Market Square.
participants

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The POZnań Ice Festival and the Old Market Square are a perfect combination.

Poznań's Old Market Square is a charming and climatic place, and on the second weekend of December, it becomes a magical place. This is thanks to the...
Old Town

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Platform numbers have been assigned!

The artists are probably already working on the concept of their sculptures, and we can't wait to see what they'll create for us from ice this year!
Platforms

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List of participants of POZnań Ice Festival 2025.

The 19th edition of POZnań Ice Festival promises to be great. - Here is a list of 24 talented artists from 11 countries who will compete in Poznań in...
LIST OF QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS

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The application for the 19th POZnań Ice Festival is OPEN!

An open call has been announced for the POZnań Ice Festival, which will gather world-class sculptors in Poznań from 12th to 14th December, 2025.
The photo shows an athlete with a ball. The sculpture took 3rd place.

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artykuł

December 12, 13 and 14 - mark them in blue on your calendars.

The event we're all waiting for - POZnań Ice Festival 2025.
The photo shows a Samurai - the sculpture took 1st place in the competition.

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Best of the best...

Here are the winners of the POZnań Ice Festival 2024.
Participants on stage during the awards ceremony.

Partners