The Season
Where the season gathers on the ice.
Each winter, St. Moritz stages some of the most unusual sporting and social events in Europe on a frozen alpine lake.
Between late January and mid-February 2027, polo ponies, concours cars, thoroughbreds and cricket bats all take to the ice within a few weeks of each other. The town sits at 1,856 metres, and for private travellers the question is how to arrive well. This calendar suits those who value time, privacy and flexibility.
The calendar at a glance
- 22–24 January: Snow Polo World Cup
- 29–30 January: The I.C.E. St. Moritz
- 7, 14 and 21 February: White Turf
- 10–13 February: Cricket on Ice
Snow Polo
The only high-goal tournament played on snow.
The Snow Polo World Cup opens the season from 22 to 24 January, with six teams competing for the trophy.
Polo reached St. Moritz in 1899, when the first field was laid out for English soldiers stationed in the area. The idea of playing on snow came in 1985, and the Snow Polo World Cup has run since then. It is billed as the only high-goal tournament played on snow.
The game is played on a smaller field than its grass cousin, roughly 80 by 200 metres. Teams of four play four chukkas of seven and a half minutes, and a pony may play in a maximum of two non-consecutive chukkas. The event draws more than 25,000 spectators to the lake, with a social programme running through the town's hotels. The success of the format has inspired snow polo tournaments in Aspen, Cortina and Kitzbühel.
By private aircraft: Polo teams, owners and their guests tend to travel on tight schedules. Arriving by private jet or helicopter lets you reach the lake in time for the first match and leave once the final chukka ends.
The I.C.E.
A concours of elegance on a frozen lake.
On 29 and 30 January, the International Concours of Elegance turns the frozen lake into an open-air gallery for exceptional motor cars.
The organisers describe the mood as "Icestyle": glamorous but relaxed, with collectors, designers, jet-setters and families sharing the ice. The programme is built around two days:
- Friday 29 January: The I.C.E. Village and Art Show open at 9am, and the concours begins from 9:30am as a static display with no parc fermé, so the cars can be admired up close all day. There are car unveilings at the ice rink, and awards for Best in Class and other special prizes.
- Saturday 30 January: The concours cars take free laps on the lake. The day closes with the Hero Below Zero, Spirit of St. Moritz and Best in Show awards.
Both days include sky displays, a curling exhibition, a hot-air balloon and an ice-skating show. Activities on the lake finish at 4:30pm, with the Art Show closing at 8pm.
By private aircraft: A single day on the lake works well with a morning arrival and an evening departure, particularly for guests flying in from elsewhere in Europe. Those with a collector's eye can pair the Friday static display with a later Saturday departure.
White Turf
Racing on the lake reaches its 120th edition.
White Turf has staged racing on the frozen lake since 1907, and 2027 marks its 120th edition, across three Sundays: 7, 14 and 21 February.
Flat racing, trotting and skikjöring, in which horses pull skiers across the snow, all take place on the ice, with more than 35,000 visitors attending across the series. Family Days run on the Saturdays before: 6, 13 and 20 February. VIP packages are available for those who want a more private experience.
By private aircraft: With three racing Sundays, you can choose your date and plan a short stay, flying in on the Saturday and returning on Sunday evening. Bring the family for a Family Day and stay for the racing.
Cricket on Ice
The season's most surprising fixture.
The final event returns to the frozen lake from Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 February, with invited teams from around the world.
Matches begin at 10am and 1pm each day, finishing with the finals on Saturday. The tournament gala dinner follows that evening, beginning with an aperitif at 6:30pm. The competing teams and match schedule are still to be confirmed.
By private aircraft: Wednesday to Saturday suits a longer stay, so an aircraft can be repositioned for you or kept on standby. If your schedule is flexible, you can arrive for the opening day and decide on the spot whether to stay for the finals.
How to Arrive
Your choice of route shapes the whole trip.
St. Moritz is far enough from the major hubs that the route matters. There are three main options.
Zurich. Fly into Zurich and continue by helicopter. The transfer takes around 50 minutes, making it the fastest and most exclusive way to reach St. Moritz. It also keeps you off the mountain roads, which matters in winter conditions.
Milan. Fly into Milan and complete the journey by car. The drive takes about three hours along a direct and scenic route, and a chauffeured transfer lets you rest or work along the way.
Engadin. Engadin Airport at Samedan is the closest option, just a short distance from St. Moritz, and it is among the highest airfields in Europe. It also comes with limits. Prior permission is normally required, apron space is tight in peak weeks, and mountain weather can change quickly. For events this busy, slots and parking should be arranged well in advance, with Zurich or Milan kept as a back-up.
Stay and Dine
Classic hotels, long lunches and late evenings.
The town's classic hotels remain favourites for stays in the season, and its tables fill quickly.
Badrutt's Palace, Kulm Hotel, Suvretta House, Grace La Margna and Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski are the favoured addresses. For lunch, consider Chesa Al Parc, Kulm Country Club, La Scarpetta, Langosteria and Paradiso. Dinner options include Beef Bar, Chesa Veglia, Balthazar and Talvo, with Dracula, Billionaire and King's Social House for the late evening.
Christmas and New Year are also big dates in the St. Moritz calendar, which makes advance planning more important still.
The Oryx Perspective
Plan early, travel flexibly.
Winter in St. Moritz rewards those who plan early and travel flexibly.
With four events across a few weeks, a charter approach lets you match the aircraft, the airfield and the day to each occasion, rather than being tied to a fixed asset or schedule. Oryx Global Aviation can arrange the flight, coordinate permissions and slots, and organise helicopter and ground transfers, so that your time is spent on the lake rather than in transit. Get in touch early, because the best options in peak weeks go first.
Event programmes may change. The I.C.E. organisers note that their programme is subject to change, and the Cricket on Ice teams and match schedule are still to be confirmed.