Winter in St. Moritz has always been glamorous, but every year one event takes things to another level. This season, the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz once again transformed into the coolest car show on the planet, bringing together some of the rarest and most beautiful automobiles ever built.
The frozen surface, set against the Engadin mountains at altitude, provides a setting that no purpose-built circuit or exhibition hall could replicate. Since Marco Makaus conceived the concept in 2019, The I.C.E. has been inseparable from this location, and every edition has been managed with careful regard for the region’s environmental and natural heritage.
The 2026 edition extended beyond the lake, with activities woven throughout the St. Moritz town centre, drawing the wider community into an event that blends automotive history, contemporary art and considered design.
Cars Take Centre Stage
This year, around 50 exceptional classic and sports cars rolled onto the ice, spanning nearly nine decades of automotive history. Pre-war legends sat alongside racing icons, rare coachbuilt masterpieces and early hypercars, all carefully selected to show just how wide and creative car design has been over the years.
Cars competed across five categories, celebrating legendary racing liveries, open-wheel competition cars, iconic barchettas and machines that helped define modern performance. Judging isn’t only about condition, the jurors look at each car’s full story, from competition history and rarity to craftsmanship and cultural importance.
Friday’s judging produced five class winners, while Saturday delivered one of the weekend’s favourite moments: the free laps. Owners carefully guided their cars across the frozen lake, engines echoing across the valley as sunlight danced under the tyres on the ice. Seeing priceless machines glide across a frozen lake is surreal and strangely emotional, even if you’re not a hardcore car fan.
The weekend closed with the biggest moment, when legendary architect Norman Foster personally presented the Best in Show trophy, joined by Peter Harrison of title sponsor Richard Mille.
Other prizes celebrated cars that truly captured the mood of the weekend, including the Spirit of St. Moritz award, signed by artist Rolf Sachs and presented by Marijana Jakic. Meanwhile, the public voted for their own favourite, proving crowds love their heroes just as much as expert judges do.
As if the cars weren’t enough, the skies above the lake came alive thanks to a flyover by Patrouille Suisse, the official aerobatic squadron of the Swiss Air Force. Jets roaring above the Engadin mountains added pure drama and reminded everyone this weekend is about spectacle as much as elegance.
The Brands Behind the Magic
Alongside title sponsor Richard Mille, main partners included St. Moritz Tourismus AG, the legendary Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, luxury house Loro Piana, banking giant UBS, audio specialist Bang & Olufsen, and private aviation partner VistaJet, alongside event designer Vincenzo Dascanio and aviation heritage brand Junkers Aircraft.
On the automotive side, the lake also welcomed showcases from some of the world’s most exciting manufacturers and specialists, including Maserati, Pagani Automobili, Bugatti, Rimac Automobili, Koenigsegg, Meyers Manx and Aston Martin, with collector car heavyweight RM Sotheby’s reinforcing the event’s importance on the global classic car calendar.
Supporting partners added even more flavour, including Campari Group, Pininfarina, Pirelli, Touring Superleggera, MV Agusta, Eccentrica, Goodwool, Badilatti, Blasto, Blunotte Eventi, HRX, La Marzocco, Les Crêtes and Profumoir.
Fresh mountain air, engines echoing across the lake, friends meeting by chance, and cars being enjoyed rather than hidden away. Judging by this year’s atmosphere, one thing is clear. Anticipation for the next edition is already building.