{
  "id": 14167492,
  "title": "ICEHOTEL: The Swedish Hotel That Melts and Is Rebuilt Every Year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/icehotel-the-swedish-hotel-that-melts-and-is-rebuilt-every-year",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T09:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/13/icehotel-sweden-melts-rebuilt-every-year/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ICEHOTEL, located in the far north of Sweden, is the world’s first ice hotel and a unique accommodation that melts every year. Constructed from ice and snow on the banks of the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, around 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, the hotel features rooms, hallways, and sculptures made from ice taken from the river. Each season brings new works created by artists from around the globe, connected to natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun. The idea for ICEHOTEL began in 1989 when Yngve Bergqvist, a resident of Jukkasjärvi, created an ice and snow art gallery known as Arctic Hall. The concept evolved when guests staying overnight in the structure sparked the idea of creating a hotel. Each winter, new artists arrive to design rooms and art pieces that change annually, allowing for a unique experience. The hotel's original structure is designed to melt in spring, returning water to the river, embodying a natural cycle. ICEHOTEL 365, established in 2016, offers a permanent ice and snow hotel experience with refrigeration systems to maintain frozen spaces, including art suites and the Icebar. Staying at ICEHOTEL requires preparation for extreme cold, with temperatures between -5 and -8 degrees Celsius. Guests are provided with thermal bedding and special sleeping bags, with warm rooms available nearby. The complex offers various experiences like dog-sledding, snowmobile excursions, and Northern Lights safaris, along with a restaurant featuring local ingredients.",
  "summary": "In the far north of Sweden, there is an accommodation that challenges the traditional idea of what a hotel can be. ICEHOTEL, considered the world’s first ice hotel, is built from ice and snow on the banks of the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, about 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The site has become […]",
  "key_points": [
    "ICEHOTEL melts annually and is rebuilt each winter",
    "Located in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, near Arctic Circle",
    "ICEHOTEL 365 offers permanent ice and snow experience"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}