What is known — and what is not
Nothing has been announced for 2027. As of early September 2026, neither the Ice and Snow World site nor the Harbin city government has published an opening date, a ticket price or an operating calendar for the 28th edition. If a booking site is already selling a 2027 ticket, it is selling you a date it has invented.
- Watch the official Harbin Ice and Snow World site and its verified account for the opening notice; that is where it appears first.
- Expect ticket products, entry slots and prices to be announced close to the season, not months ahead.
- If something is offered before the official notice, read the refund and date-change terms, because you are betting on a date nobody has confirmed.
What last season actually cost — your best planning number
Since 2027 has no figures, the useful ones are the ones the organizer did publish. Harbin Ice and Snow World opened its 27th edition at 10:00 on 17 December 2025. Standard adult admission was ¥328, with ¥298 for tickets used on or before 23 December, and a ¥240 concession for students, children and Harbin residents.
- That season also showed the risk in this trip. On 19 February 2026 the park announced a temporary closure for 20 and 21 February because temperatures rose above freezing, then reopened at 17:00 on 22 February — at a reduced ¥228 standard and ¥168 concession.
- So a mild spell does not just spoil the day, it can close the park. Budget around ¥300 for an adult evening as a floor, and keep a day of slack in Harbin rather than a non-refundable onward ticket that night.
- Free entry exists but is rationed. Children 1.2 m and under or 6 and under, visitors 65 and over, serving and retired military, police, firefighters, journalists and licensed guides enter free. Free tickets are rationed through the park's WeChat store at 2,000 a day — but the park's own policy carves out the children who qualify for free admission, and licensed guides: they do not need the reservation and can enter directly on their original documents. Everyone else in that list should reserve.
Three events, three edition numbers
Harbin runs several winter events at once, which is why edition numbers online contradict each other. They are not in conflict — they are counting different things, and the page you are reading should say which.
- Harbin Ice and Snow World: the ticketed park this page is about. It was in its 27th edition in the 2025–26 season, and the next one will be the 28th.
- China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival: the city-wide festival. Its 42nd edition opened on 5 January 2026, with the opening ceremony held inside the Ice and Snow World park.
- China Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition: a separate event. The 37th edition ran from 2 to 4 January 2026 — so a '37th' attached to a Harbin ice event in January is this competition, not the park.
Build the trip around cold-weather reality
The attraction is not a quick indoor museum. Wind, darkness, queues and slippery ground determine how long a visit feels. Reserve time for warming up and avoid an itinerary that depends on a precise minute-by-minute transfer.
- Use layered clothing, insulated shoes, gloves that work with your phone and a power bank kept warm.
- Plan a daylight city activity and an evening ice-world visit only if the weather and energy allow.
- Keep a flexible indoor backup — last season showed that a thaw closes the park outright.
How to buy once tickets open
When the official notice is live, compare the ticket product against the date and entry slot in your itinerary. Save the confirmation and passport details if identity checks are used. Check whether transport or bundled products are separate from admission.
- Confirm the exact venue: Harbin has several ice-and-snow attractions and winter parks.
- Check opening hours, last admission, cancellation terms and the weather policy before paying.
- Do not book a non-refundable long-distance connection immediately after an evening visit.
A practical Harbin base plan
Stay close enough to make a warm return easy, use the city's transport or an official ride-hailing route, and keep one full day for the central sights. The ice festival is a reason to visit Harbin, not a reason to ignore the rest of the city.
- Put the ice-world evening after a lighter daytime schedule.
- Carry the hotel address in Chinese and keep a cash or payment backup.
- Check transport notices on the day; winter conditions can change journey times quickly.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Harbin Ice Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. As of September 2026 the organizer has published no opening date for the 2027 season, which will be the 28th edition of Harbin Ice and Snow World. For a rough planning sense: the 27th edition opened on 17 December 2025. That is a pattern, not a promise — any site quoting a December 2026 date is extrapolating.
How much are Harbin Ice Festival 2027 tickets?
Not announced either. The last published figures were for the 27th edition: ¥328 standard adult, ¥298 for tickets used on or before 23 December, ¥240 concession — later cut to ¥228 and ¥168 when the park reopened after a February thaw. Budget around ¥300 for an adult evening and wait for the official notice before booking.
Which edition number is right — 27th, 37th or 42nd?
They are three different events. Harbin Ice and Snow World, the ticketed park, was in its 27th edition in 2025–26. The city-wide China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival was in its 42nd. The 37th China Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition was a separate event held 2–4 January 2026.
Can the park close during my visit?
Yes, and it did. On 19 February 2026 the park closed for two days because temperatures rose above freezing, then reopened at a lower price. Keep a spare day in Harbin and do not put a non-refundable onward ticket on the same night.
How many days should I spend in Harbin?
Two full days is a useful starting point for a first winter visit: one flexible evening for the ice attraction and one day for the city, with extra time if weather or side trips matter to you. Given that a thaw can close the park, three is safer.