SIAF2027

Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027) runs in Sapporo, Japan, from 16 January to 21 February 2027. Its 11 venues include Moerenuma Park, museums, an aquarium, and an underground gallery. The festival’s March 2026 announcement (opens in a new tab) confirms the dates; the current overview (opens in a new tab) and venue list (opens in a new tab) describe the program and site schedules.

Geometric translucent forms glow above snow among bare trees at dusk. · 1 / 3

What does PLANET SNOW mean?

SIAF2027 frames Sapporo’s winter as “Planet Snow.” The official theme connects two Ainu expressions: upas mintar, or “snow garden,” is the image offered to people who live in Sapporo, while upas nociw, or “snow star,” speaks to visitors arriving from elsewhere. The festival explains that upas means snow, mintar garden, and nociw star. Ainu is the language of an Indigenous people of Japan; SIAF uses the words to distinguish residents’ and visitors’ perspectives on Sapporo’s winter.

The organizers describe the artworks as a way to move between very different scales, from microscopic spores to the cosmos. The 2027 program also includes open-call and participatory projects developed with venues, partners, citizens, and local organizations. Check the official explanation of the theme (opens in a new tab) for its latest program details as the festival approaches.

Which Sapporo venues are involved?

The SIAF2027 venue list includes eleven locations:

• Sapporo Citizens Gallery
• Sapporo Science Center
• Hokkaido Museum
• Moerenuma Park
• Shiryokan (Former Sapporo Court of Appeals)
• Chuo Ward Office Complex
• Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center (SCARTS)
• Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
• Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery
• AOAO SAPPORO

The venues call for different kinds of visits. The festival’s venue pages (opens in a new tab) describe each site and its access information; use them to group stops by area and leave time to travel across the city.

When do the venue dates differ?

The main festival runs from 16 January through 21 February 2027. The official overview gives separate exhibition dates for four venues:

• Sapporo Science Center: 5 January–21 February 2027.
• Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art: 9 January–11 April 2027, marked tentative.
• Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery: 16 January–24 March 2027.
• Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site: 4–21 February 2027 for the SIAF2027 section.

Some venues also close on particular days. The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art schedule is explicitly tentative, so confirm it before building a trip around that stop. For the current list of opening dates and closures, check the official SIAF2027 overview (opens in a new tab) shortly before you travel. Treat the dates above as venue-specific periods; the festival’s overall dates remain 16 January–21 February.

How do I get to the festival?

From New Chitose Airport, JR Hokkaido’s Airport Train reaches Sapporo in as little as 33 minutes. Most seats are unreserved and need no advance reservation; reserved seats require a separate reserved-seat ticket. See JR Hokkaido’s airport information (opens in a new tab) for current timetables, ticket options, and service notices.

In Sapporo, plan around the venues you want to visit. The eleven sites are spread across the city, and some sit outside the central Odori area. Check each venue page before setting out, especially if you want to fit several stops into one day.

What should I pack for Sapporo in winter?

Sapporo’s official winter advice recommends warm layers because buildings and public transport are heated while outdoor temperatures remain cold. For walking between venues, wear snow boots or shoes with deep treads: daytime snow and slush can freeze overnight and leave smooth, slippery surfaces. The city’s winter travel guide (opens in a new tab) has more month-by-month clothing advice. Allow extra time for outdoor walks and station transfers when sidewalks are snowy.

Can I combine SIAF2027 with the Sapporo Snow Festival?

Yes. SIAF2027 includes a dedicated section at the Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site from 4 to 21 February. The full Sapporo Snow Festival (opens in a new tab) runs from 4 to 11 February 2027 across its Odori, Tsudome, and Susukino sites, so the two events overlap during that week. They remain separate festivals with different programs and schedules; see our Sapporo Snow Festival guide for a separate visit plan.

If you are choosing dates for both, compare the SIAF venue schedule with the Snow Festival’s site dates before booking. A stay during 4–11 February gives you the overlap, while SIAF’s other venues remain scheduled through 21 February. Check both official sites again nearer the trip for day-specific closures and updates.