Bringing pride once again to India and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Team Snow India-Callisto has been selected to compete in the 2026 International Snow Sculpture Championship in Breckenridge (Colorado, USA) and the 2026 World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater (Minnesota, USA) this January. The team, which competed in both of these championships last year as well and brought a podium finish for India in Breckenridge, will once again carve India’s presence on the global stage of winter art.
In January 2025, on the eve of India’s Republic Day, Team Snow India’s sculpture “Mind in Meditation” earned India a bronze medal at the prestigious International Snow Sculpture Championship in Breckenridge, Colorado. The four-member team (Zahoor Kashmiri (Captain), Mridul Upadhyay, Suhail Mohmad Khan, and Matt Seeley) completed their creation in four days amid temperatures dropping from -25°C to -35°C. Competing with world-class teams from Germany, Mexico, the United States, Finland, Canada, Mongolia, South Korea, Argentina, and Turkey, India proudly stood third.
Each participating team sculpts massive 25-ton snow blocks entirely by hand tools, without power tools, internal supports or colourants. Team Snow India remains South Asia’s first team to ever compete and win at this international competition, having represented the region since 2017.
In the 2026 edition, Team Snow India will present two thought-provoking creations: In Stillwater, their nature-inspired sculpture “Nature’s Cradle” depicts a tiny infant resting on a Chinar leaf, gently held by a blooming Lotus (Pamposh) from the floating gardens (Rad) of Kashmir. The piece symbolises Kashmir’s timeless beauty and is lovingly dedicated to a dear teammate who passed away recently. In Breckenridge, their sculpture “Corn: The Ultimate Domesticator” is inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens and explores how crops shape the civilisation itself.
Through these works, the team aims to highlight India’s artistic voice in snow sculpture art while showcasing Kashmir’s immense potential for winter tourism, youth engagement, and rural employment. However, despite their achievements, Team Snow India has so far received no financial or logistical support from government agencies or local sponsors, making it extremely challenging to sustain participation in such global competitions. Support for travel and sculpting tools would help the artists continue representing India with excellence.
Team Snow India expresses deep gratitude to the organisers of both the Breckenridge and Stillwater Championships for recognising the creative energy of Indian artists. We also appeal to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the Government of India to extend institutional and logistical support in nurturing this form of youth-driven cultural expression. With consistent promotion and sustained support, snow sculpting could evolve into a powerful platform for art, tourism, and livelihood generation in the Himalayas, especially among the youth of Kashmir.
“Snow is not just our medium — it’s our message of peace, sustainability, mindfulness and beauty from India to the world.”— Team Snow India Callisto.
