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Nestled in the heart of Switzerland’s Upper Engadin Valley, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is one of winter’s most refined sporting spectacles. Since its inception in 1985, this extraordinary event has drawn an international, high-net-worth audience to the iconic frozen Lake St. Moritz for a celebration of sport, style, and alpine grandeur. In 2026, the tournament returns for its 41st edition, continuing a legacy that has shaped St. Moritz into the world’s most iconic snow polo destination.
Recognised as the home of snow polo, St. Moritz transformed a traditional summer sport into an elite winter showcase unlike any other. Today, it remains the world’s only high-goal polo tournament played on snow, reinforcing the town’s long-standing reputation for innovation, glamour, and elevated winter culture.
The Birth of Snow Polo
The visionary behind snow polo was Reto Gaudenzi, a Swiss hotelier and accomplished polo player. Inspired by St. Moritz’s pioneering role in winter tourism — and its Olympic legacy, having hosted the Winter Games in 1928 and 1948 — Gaudenzi set out to create a polo event that would unite elite sport with the destination’s distinctive luxury character.
In January 1985, the first-ever snow polo match was played on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz. Against a backdrop of sunlit peaks and pristine snow, teams competed in conditions never before seen in polo. The event immediately captured international attention, establishing a new chapter in equestrian sport and positioning St. Moritz at the very centre of it.
A Unique Sporting Challenge
Unlike traditional grass polo, snow polo introduces a markedly different technical and physical dynamic. The lake is carefully prepared each year, with the playing surface compacted and monitored to create a stable field that responds to changing alpine conditions.
The game is played with a larger, highly visible orange ball designed specifically for snow, and on a slightly smaller field than standard grass polo. Matches follow high-goal rules, demanding extraordinary precision from both players and ponies as they accelerate, turn, and strike across an icy, high-altitude arena. The result is a spectacle that feels both intensely competitive and visually mesmerising.
The Glamour and Prestige of St. Moritz
Over four decades on, the Snow Polo World Cup has evolved into far more than a sporting tournament. It is one of St. Moritz’s defining social fixtures, where polo meets haute winter lifestyle in a setting shaped as much by Champagne receptions as by chukkas.
Spectators gather around the lake to enjoy an atmosphere that blends cosmopolitan glamour with alpine charm, moving between grandstands, hospitality lounges, and the surrounding luxury hotels that frame the frozen stage.
Highlights of the Event:
- VIP Tents and Lounges: Elegant hospitality areas host gourmet winter dining, refined wine selections, Champagne service, and social lounges that extend the experience well beyond the matches.
- Fashion Statements: Fur-trimmed capes, couture ski ensembles, and statement winter tailoring turn the lake into one of the season’s most stylish outdoor gatherings.
- A Jet-Set Audience: The tournament consistently attracts an international luxury crowd, with high-profile guests, patrons of the sport, and global tastemakers forming part of the annual scene.
A Modern-Day Icon
Today, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz stands as the benchmark for snow polo worldwide. The 2026 edition, marking the tournament’s 41st year, returns to the frozen lake in late January with six international teams competing across three days of high-intensity play.
For 2026, expectations centre not only on the calibre of polo, but on the continued evolution of the event’s hospitality and presentation. The lake is once again set to transform into a temporary alpine arena framed by grandstands, luxury lounges, and refined winter dining concepts, reinforcing the tournament’s position as one of St. Moritz’s most important social and sporting dates.
At the heart of the competition is the Cartier Trophy, awarded to the winning team in a closing ceremony that reflects the event’s blend of sporting excellence and polished ceremony — a moment that remains one of the most anticipated highlights of the St. Moritz winter season.
Beyond competition, the 2026 tournament continues to underline the delicate relationship between sport and setting. With the frozen lake serving as both arena and symbol, the event remains closely tied to the preservation, monitoring, and respectful use of the alpine environment that makes snow polo possible.
Why St. Moritz?
The destination itself is inseparable from the experience. Often branded the “Top of the World”, St. Moritz offers a setting where elite sport, discreet luxury, and dramatic nature converge.
Away from the lake, guests can explore some of the Alps’ most prestigious ski terrain, browse international designer boutiques along Via Serlas, and retreat to legendary addresses such as Badrutt’s Palace Hotel or the Kulm Hotel — properties whose histories are woven into the story of modern winter tourism.
Here, the Snow Polo World Cup is not an isolated event, but part of a wider lifestyle: one shaped by tradition, elegance, and the quiet confidence of a resort that continues to define alpine luxury.
