Highlights – Icehotel History

portrait of Yngve Bergqvist

1989

Yngve Bergqvist initiates an ice and snow symposium in Jukkasjärvi. Japanese ice artists hold ice sculpting classes and participate in an art exhibition.

1994

Icehotel has an international breakthrough and the first ice glasses are made. Absolut Icebar Jukkasjärvi opens.

ice glass with lingonberry juice
Photo Paulina Holmgren
magazine cover with Kate Moss head surrounded by ice
Photo Herb Ritts

1997

Commercial photo shoot for Absolut Vodka in collaboration with Versace is carried out by photographer Herb Ritts with supermodels Marcus Schenkenberg, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell participating.

2000

ArtCenter opens with an ice exhibition and an ice storage at Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi. It’s now possible to work with ice all year round. The export takes off. Ice bars, glasses and sculptures are sent to Israel and Singapore to name a few locations.

2001

Ice event in the Sahara, -5 C meets + 35 C, and the camels get a taste of the ice from Torne River.

Torne river ice in the desert of Sahara
ice globe theater lit up under dark sky

2002

The Sheakspeare Globe Theater is built in Jukkasjärvi.

Absolut Icebar Stockholm opens in the foyer at the Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm.

2004

Discovery Channel makes a documentary about Icehotel which is broadcasted in 140 countries.

2009

Photo shoot for Hermés in an ice environment in Jukkasjärvi.

A temporary bar, absolutely Icebar Mojave, is built in the Mojave desert in collaboration with Virgin Galactic's first commercial test flight. Among others, Arnold Schwarzenegger is present.

2010

Icehotel creates a 40-meter-long iceberg on the catwalk of the Chanel runway show in Paris to shed some light on global warming.

 

Huge iceberg on the runway of Chanel in Paris
Photo Jan Jordan
live ice sculpting outdoors in summer

2013

Icehotel sculpts live in seven European big cities during the months of September and October to celebrate the creativity and innovation of Norrland. The event marks the start of Umeå's year as European Capital of Culture.

 

2016

Icehotel Creative Experience creates an ice throne for the Game Of Thrones season premiere.

 

 

ice replica of game of thrones
Photo Asaf Kliger
entrance of Icehotel 365 in summer
Photo Asaf Kliger

2016

The world's first permanent Icehotel, Icehotel 365, has its grand opening!