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Most St. Moritz trip planning treats the frozen lake as scenery: a nice view on the walk into town. For three days every January, it is also a polo field. The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz has been played on the ice since 1985, and the 2027 edition runs January 22 to 24, with the final on Sunday. It sits right next to our St. Moritz resort guide, because it is the same trip, not a separate one.
What is the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz?
It is a top level polo tournament played directly on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz, in the middle of town rather than on grass somewhere outside it. Teams play on snow and ice instead of turf, with the Engadin peaks framing the field on every side. It has run every winter since 1985, which makes it one of the oldest fixtures on the St. Moritz winter calendar, well before most ski trips here even start thinking about the lake as anything more than a backdrop.
When does the tournament run in 2027?
The 2027 tournament runs three days, January 22 to 24, with the final played on Sunday. That window sits mid season, after the early snow has settled and before the spring crowds arrive, which is also a good stretch for skiing at Corviglia and Corvatsch on the days the field is quiet.
What does a day at the tournament actually look like?
A day at the tournament starts on the ice itself, with the field marked out where most visitors are used to seeing walkers and sledges instead. Play runs across the afternoon, with the town and the mountains both visible from the lakeside at once, something few winter sporting events can offer. Spectators move between the field and the town on foot, since the lake sits at the center of St. Moritz rather than off to one side.
How does the tournament fit into a January ski trip?
It fits in the same way the lake already fits into a full day in St. Moritz, lake to fireside: as the start of the day rather than a separate outing. A family already in St. Moritz for the skiing can watch a match in the morning and still ski Corviglia or Corvatsch that same afternoon, the same layering described in how the lake, the town and the peaks fit together. For a longer trip, it also sits well inside a season planned across Aspen, St. Moritz and Courchevel, with the tournament dates simply built into the St. Moritz stop.
How do we get VIP access to the Snow Polo World Cup?
Getting VIP access through Patagonia Living works the same way the rest of the trip does. We arrange it the same way we arrange the hotel, the instructor and the transfers: as one part of a trip we already plan from start to finish. Tell us the dates you are considering around January 22 to 24, 2027, and we build the tournament into the rest of the week. Talk to us about your next ski trip.
Common questions
When is the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz in 2027?
The tournament runs January 22 to 24, 2027, with the final on Sunday, on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz.
How long has polo been played on the frozen lake?
Top level polo has been played on Lake St. Moritz since 1985, one of the longest running winter sporting events in Europe.
Is the lake safe to walk on during the tournament?
Yes. St. Moritz freezes solid enough most winters to carry horses, riders and spectators, which is also why a full day in St. Moritz, lake to fireside often starts right there.
Can we watch the tournament as part of a ski trip?
Yes. We build it into the same January trip we already plan, alongside the hotel, the instructor and how the lake, the town and the peaks fit together. See how we arrange VIP access.
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