The 76th Sapporo Snow Festival kicks off on February 4, 2026, and the Odori Park venue at night, which shows a completely different face from the daytime, is drawing major attention. The magical scenery, including the illumination of large snow sculptures, powerful projection mapping, and performances combining music and light, is a unique nighttime pleasure. In this article, we'll report on the nighttime highlights of the Odori Park venue, complete with photos from our visit on the opening day.

▼For a full report on all the highlights of the Sapporo Snow Festival's Odori Park venue, check out this article!

Large snow sculpture "The Thoroughbred Shining with Glory"

If you're visiting the Sapporo Snow Festival's Odori Park venue at night, you'll definitely want to see the large snow sculptures lit up and the projection mapping. At the 5-chome venue, which is relatively close to the Odori Station gates for the Namboku and Tozai subway lines, you'll find the large snow sculpture "The Thoroughbred Shining with Glory."

Thanks to its easy access from the station and the underground walkway, it always seems to be crowded. The area around the pedestrian signal for crossing from the 4-chome to the 5-chome venue gets particularly congested, and you might have to wait for a few light cycles to cross. Take your time and watch your step.

Projection mapping on the large snow sculpture "The Thoroughbred Shining with Glory"

The pure white thoroughbred of the daytime is transformed into a dynamic, full-color spectacle by the nighttime projection mapping. You can enjoy scenes of a high-speed race and the horse galloping across the vast lands of Hokkaido. The projection mapping show runs every 15 minutes from 5:30 PM to 9:45 PM.

Kazuhiko Hiwaki 《HIWADROME: type_ark_spec3》2026

With the Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) 2027 just a year away, a winter pre-event is being held at the 6-chome venue. A much-talked-about piece that was displayed near the Grand Roof Ring at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, is now being exhibited as a Snow Festival version titled "Kazuhiko Hiwaki 《HIWADROME: type_ark_spec3》2026."

This large-scale art piece, composed of 77 wheelchairs, is truly impressive. The illuminations change through various colors, constantly altering its appearance. There is also an art festival tent nearby with panel and video exhibits. It's a great place to enjoy some art while taking a temporary break from the cold and snow.

Large snow sculpture "Furukawa Hall, Hokkaido University - 'Light from the North' Hokkaido University's 150th Anniversary"

The large snow sculpture at 7-chome is modeled after Hokkaido University's Furukawa Hall. While there's no large-scale projection mapping, it features a light show with various colors.

Medium snow sculpture with a slide at the 7-chome venue

Also, don't miss the medium-sized snow sculpture with a slide. The two adjacent sculptures, "Ohta's Isan Official PR Ambassador Ohta Inyan" (ⒸOhta's Isan) and "Yukijirushi Megmilk: 100 Years of Gratitude - Yukijirushi Hokkaido Butter Sculpture" (ⒸYukijirushi Megmilk), become very photogenic at night with images projected onto them. Taking a picture of both together is highly recommended.

Medium snow sculpture with a projection of Ohta Inyan

The moving projection of "Ohta Inyan" is especially popular! The area was bustling with people taking videos on their smartphones.

Large snow sculpture "Tsurugajo Castle, Aizu"

The large snow sculpture at the 8-chome venue is modeled after Tsurugajo Castle in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Its majestic yet elegant appearance is captivating. The three-dimensional structure has been a huge draw since the daytime, but the nighttime illumination gives it a mystical atmosphere. On the evening of the opening day, February 4th, it was one of the most crowded spots in the Odori Park venue.

Projection mapping on "Tsurugajo Castle, Aizu"

The projection mapping, held every 15 minutes from 5:30 PM to 9:45 PM, is a must-see. Beautiful images are projected along with music. Additionally, visitors could enjoy Aizu-produced sake at the "Aizu's Treasure Booth" next to the large snow sculpture.

Large snow sculpture "The Return of the Silvery Star Wars Snow Sculpture"

Since the first film in 1977, Star Wars has been loved by people all over the world. To celebrate the upcoming release of the latest film in the series, "The Mandalorian & Grogu," on May 22, 2026 (Friday), a large snow sculpture has been created.

At night, there's a light show synchronized with music, showing The Mandalorian and Grogu with various expressions.

"LOGISTEED's Truck and Logistics Center" medium snow sculpture

The light-up of the medium-sized snow sculpture at the 10-chome venue is also worth checking out. It depicts a truck from the comprehensive logistics company LOGISTEED departing from a distribution center, and the truck looks as if it's about to start moving.

"Snow Miku: Sweet Snow Ver."

Finally, the 11-chome venue is an international area featuring snow sculptures from 10 teams from various countries and regions. However, many people were gathered around the medium-sized snow sculpture of "Snow Miku," the character who supports Hokkaido, titled "Snow Miku: Sweet Snow Ver."

The theme for this 17th year is "Happy Patisserie." At night, a special light show set to the music of "SHIAWASE FOR YOU!" (Iyowa feat. Hatsune Miku) is held periodically. It runs alternately with the light-up of the adjacent 【OSHI NO KO】 snow sculpture, so be sure to enjoy both.

"Delivering Smiles with the Snow!" medium snow sculpture

There's also a Sanrio medium-sized snow sculpture at the venue, which has a single-color light-up. It features Hello Kitty and Pompompurin, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary, holding a "Nakayoshi" (Good Friends) ribbon. The illumination creates stronger shadows, emphasizing the cute, rounded silhouettes and full volume of Kitty and Purin, giving them a different kind of charm than in the daytime.

Don't miss the zone with rows of small snowmen at the 5-chome venue!

The Snow Festival at night has a magical atmosphere and many highlights. However, it's harder to see your footing in the dark, and the drop in temperature often makes the ground icy and more slippery than during the day, so you need to be extra careful. In areas that are relatively dark, like around the citizen's snow sculptures or the zone with small snowmen at the 5-chome venue, I witnessed several near-collisions between people walking and those crouching down to take photos.

The citizen's snow sculptures at the 2-chome venue are popular to photograph with the Sapporo TV Tower

Also, be aware that it gets significantly colder after sunset. You'll feel the chill especially when you're standing still, such as while waiting for a projection mapping show. Make sure to prepare warm gear like a heavy coat, gloves, and earmuffs. Buying hot food and drinks sold at the venue is also a great way to warm up.

Furthermore, using an umbrella in the crowded venue is dangerous. Even if it's snowing, it's better to have a hat or a hooded jacket instead of an umbrella. Please be careful with your footing and dress warmly to enjoy the Snow Festival at night.