Explore PLANET SNOW in Snowy Sapporo: A Complete Guide to the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027

The Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) is an international art festival held in Sapporo every three years. The main festival period for SIAF2027 runs from January 16 to February 21, 2027, under the theme “PLANET SNOWーupas mintar / upas nociw.”
The previous edition, SIAF2024, explored the theme “LAST SNOW,” taking snow crystals as a starting point for reflections on climate change and social divisions. This edition broadens that perspective to encompass humanity, Earth, and the universe. The Ainu words accompanying the theme, “upas mintar / upas nociw,” express this expanded vision: upas means “snow,” mintar means “garden,” and nociw means “star.” The perspectives of a “snow garden” and a “snow star” offer two ways of imagining Sapporo as a planet of snow.
Within this vision, each venue plays a different role. The experience extends beyond any single location: as you walk through the snowy city to the next venue, another facet of the theme comes into view. By connecting all 11 venues, the city of Sapporo itself takes shape as PLANET SNOW.

SIAF2027 offers a wide range of artistic expression, from contemporary art by Japanese and international artists to works that combine art with science and technology, large-scale pieces set against snowy scenery, and programs you can participate in yourself. The settings extend beyond galleries and museums to a science center, an aquarium, and snow-covered outdoor spaces. Here are five highlights to know about before exploring the 11 venues.

Once the sun sets over wintry Sapporo, PLANET SNOW reveals another side. The Sapporo Science Center will offer an outdoor exhibition program, while projections are planned for the historic exterior of the Shiryokan (Former Sapporo Court of Appeals).
At the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site, nighttime illumination gives the snow and artworks a different appearance. AOAO SAPPORO dims its lights in the evening, giving its aquatic displays a different atmosphere. Snow catches the light, buildings become screens, and aquascapes settle into a quieter nighttime setting. With experiences continuing after dark, SIAF2027 gives you a reason to revisit the Sapporo you explored by day.

The main festival period runs from January 16 to February 21, 2027. Some venues have different exhibition dates, so if you want to visit all 11, plan your trip around February 4-21, when exhibitions are running at every venue. Check the dates and closure days below.

Tickets for the Sapporo Citizens Gallery can be purchased online or at the venue on the day of your visit. For the other venues that charge admission, use the designated purchasing method, such as the venue’s ticket counter or official website. Participation arrangements for workshops, live music, and other events vary by program. Some require advance reservations, while others do not. Before visiting, check the official website for your chosen program’s dates, times, capacity, admission fees, and booking requirements.

SIAF2027’s 11 venues are spread across the city, from central Sapporo to Shin-Sapporo and Moerenuma Park. Some central venues are easy to reach on foot or by subway, while others require traveling a little farther. Familiarize yourself with their locations and transportation options, then explore them by area to discover art as you make your way across Sapporo.

The key to visiting all 11 venues is to group nearby locations by area. Start around Odori and central Sapporo, then explore the western side of Odori, Moerenuma, and Shin-Sapporo. Over three days, you can travel across Sapporo, from art in the city center to works in snowy landscapes and encounters between art, science, and history. Each new setting reveals another side of PLANET SNOW.

SIAF2027 imagines snowy Sapporo as a planet of snow, using art to broaden our perspectives on humanity, Earth, and the universe. As you explore its 11 venues, PLANET SNOW reveals its different sides through contemporary art, science, snowy scenery, and light. Follow the artworks through the city, and underground passages, winter landscapes, waterside spaces, and historic buildings you might usually pass by will begin to look different. By the end of your trip, you may have discovered a new appreciation for Sapporo’s scenery. Let SIAF2027 be your starting point for a journey through winter in Sapporo, guided by art.