Heartwood Omaha

2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-15 | Heartwood Park, 301 S 145th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154, United States
Heartwood Preserve and Nebraska Snow Sculpting are proud to present the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships, held at Heartwood Park in Omaha. Teams from across Nebraska will compete for the title of Nebraska State Champion and the opportunity to represent the state at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition.

If you are interested in competing, please review the information below carefully and complete the Team Application.
Application

Waiver

General Information for Sculptors

Participants

Teams may consist of up to three members (two-member teams are acceptable).
All participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Residency requirements:

Three-member teams: The team captain and at least one additional sculptor must be Nebraska residents.
Two-member teams: The team captain must be a Nebraska resident.

Amateur and professional sculptors are welcome.
Sculptors may participate on only one team.
There is no entry fee.
Proof of residency is required (copy of a driver’s license, recent utility bill, or property tax bill).

Snow Sculpting Rules

Only snow, ice, and water sourced on-site may be used.
No colorants, armatures, or mixed media are permitted.
No direct advertising may be incorporated into sculptures.
Hand tools only; power tools are not allowed.
Sculptors must provide their own tools and assume all associated risk.
A ladder and water bucket will be provided at each site.
Professional sculptor demonstrations will take place before and during the event to support both amateur and professional participants.

Snow Blocks

Each team will be assigned (by lottery) one snow block measuring 4’ x 4’ x 8’.
Finished sculptures may not exceed 10 feet in diameter; height is unlimited.
Sculptures must be fully finished on all sides.
Snow quality cannot be guaranteed; additional snow may be available on-site.

Postponement or Cancellation
In the event that weather conditions are not conducive to snow block preparation or sculpting, the event may be postponed or canceled. As an alternative, organizers may elect to provide ice blocks in place of snow.

Judging Criteria
Sculptures will be evaluated by the sculptors themselves using the following criteria:

Creativity (50 points): Originality of concept and artistic expression
Technique (30 points): Skillful use of materials and quality of execution
Message (20 points): Visual impact and clarity of theme

Awards

1st Place: Nebraska State Champion Trophy
2nd Place: Second Place Trophy
3rd Place: Third Place Trophy

A People’s Choice Award will also be selected by public vote.
The first-place team will be invited to represent Nebraska at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. If the first-place team is unable to compete, the opportunity may be extended to the second- or third-place team.

Application & Jury Process
The Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships is a sanctioned event that provides Nebraska sculptors the opportunity to advance from state-level competition to the national stage. To ensure a high standard of artistic quality, teams are selected through an application and jury process.
Applicants are encouraged to submit thorough and detailed materials. Final judging will be conducted by the sculptors at the conclusion of the competition.

Sculpture Subject Matter

Sculptures must be family-friendly and non-political.
Original artwork is strongly encouraged.
Interpretations of well-known works are allowed; however, reproduction of copyrighted material is prohibited.
Advertising may not be incorporated into designs.
Sculptors are encouraged to use the vertical form to create impactful, emotionally engaging work.
As a reminder, Valentine’s Day/Love themes are in keeping with the dates of the event.

Event Location
Heartwood Preserve Park
301 South 145th Street
Omaha, NE 68154

Entry Process

Required Materials

Completed team application
Signed Release/Waiver Form for each team member
One conceptual illustration of the proposed sculpture

Illustrations must:

Accurately represent the sculpture concept in two dimensions
Be at least 5” x 5” in size
Be rendered in ink only (no pencil, shading, or color)

Illustrations will not be returned.
If submitting electronically, scan illustrations at 150 dpi or higher and submit as JPG, PNG, or PDF files.

Optional Materials

Additional drawings showing side or rear views
Photographs of clay models (recommended but not a substitute for required illustrations)
Photos of previous sculptural work (snow, sand, or other media)
Brief narrative describing the sculpture’s message or concept

Submission Deadline
All application materials must be received by midnight on January 30, 2026.
Please email applications and supporting materials to: NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com
Team captains will be notified of acceptance status by February 2, 2026.

Questions
Matt Seeley, Competition Director
402-850-1117
NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com

Snow Sculpting Public Viewing
2026-02-13 10:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-14 10:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Come see the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships in action with public viewing of the sculptors and their creations from 10am-8pm.

Snow Sculpting Judging and Awards
2026-02-15 10:00 - 18:00
Join us for the final day of the 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships and help decide the People’s Choice winner.

Schedule:
10am        People’s Choice voting begins
11am        Event judging begins
12pm        Event judging ends
1pm         People’s Choice voting ends
2pm         Awards Ceremony
3pm – 6pm    Public viewing of finished sculptures
