White Turf St Moritz 2027: Dates, Tickets & 120 Years

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White Turf St Moritz 2027 – 120 Years of Racing on the Frozen Lake

White Turf St Moritz 2027: 7th, 14th & 21st February

If there is one winter event that perfectly captures the glamour, excitement and pioneering spirit of St Moritz, it has to be White Turf.  And White Turf St Moritz 2027 promises to be particularly special, as the legendary international horse races celebrate 120 years on the frozen Lake St Moritz. Since 1907, thoroughbred horses, jockeys and the extraordinarily brave participants in Skikjöring have been racing across the frozen lake against the spectacular backdrop of the snow-covered Engadin mountains.

In February 2027, White Turf marks this important anniversary with three Racing Sundays on 7th, 14th and 21st February, together with special exhibitions, an anniversary parade, live art and a programme looking back over twelve decades of White Turf history. The anniversary theme is: “120 Years of Fascination – Snow | Dynamism | Courage | Elegance.” It is a fitting description of an event that has become one of the most distinctive winter spectacles in Switzerland.

120 Years of White Turf St Moritz

White Turf is about far more than horse racing. For 120 years, the event has reflected the sporting pioneering spirit, winter tourism and glamorous social life for which St Moritz has become famous around the world. The first official winter horse races took place on the frozen lake in 1907, when Skikjöring and trotting races were staged. Flat racing followed in 1911. The unusual idea of racing horses across a frozen Alpine lake quickly attracted international attention and has continued to fascinate visitors for generations.

Today, White Turf combines top-class international horse racing with food, music, art and entertainment – all within the extraordinary setting of the frozen St Moritzersee. For the 2027 anniversary, the organisers are looking both backwards and forwards, celebrating the personalities, sporting milestones and memorable moments that have shaped White Turf while also highlighting the continuing relationship between tradition and innovation in St Moritz.

Thomas Walther, President of the Rennverein St. Moritz, describes the anniversary as an opportunity to bring the people, stories and special moments of White Turf to life while also looking towards its future.

 

A Historical Exhibition – 120 Years in 12 Chapters

One of the special features of White Turf 2027 will be a historical exhibition celebrating the event’s extraordinary history. Located in a festival tent on the White Turf event site, the exhibition will take visitors on a chronological journey from 1907 to 2027, divided into twelve chapters. Historical photographs, documents and stories will illustrate not only the development of White Turf itself but also the evolution of Skikjöring, St Moritz, winter tourism and social life in the Engadin.

Digital content will complement the historical material, giving visitors an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the characters and stories behind the event. A special anniversary magazine featuring stories and milestones from the past 120 years is also planned.

A Parade Through 120 Years of White Turf

Another highlight of the anniversary celebrations will be a special White Turf Jubilee Parade on the frozen lake. The parade will take spectators on a journey through different eras of White Turf, revisiting some of the personalities, innovations and greatest moments from the past twelve decades.

Starting with the pioneering early years and moving through the evolution of Skikjöring to the modern-day White Turf, historical elements will be combined with contemporary and sometimes unexpected interpretations. It should make for a particularly colourful and photogenic addition to the 2027 programme.

Live Art on the Frozen Lake

Art has long played a role alongside the sporting action at White Turf, and there will be a special live art project for the 120th anniversary. Samedan artist and wood sculptor Nora Engels, together with other artists, will create works live on the frozen lake. The wooden sculptures will explore themes associated with White Turf and the Engadin, including horses, nature, movement, winter and tradition. Once completed, the artworks will be auctioned in aid of a good cause.

Horse Racing on Snow

Of course, at the heart of White Turf is the racing itself. The 2027 programme once again features a combination of flat racing, trotting and Skikjöring, with races taking place throughout each of the three Sundays. The current programme has the first race beginning at 11.30am, with racing continuing during the afternoon. Gates open at 10.30am and the event is scheduled to finish at approximately 4.30pm. The third Racing Sunday on 21st February includes the 86th Grand Prix of St Moritz, currently scheduled over 2,000 metres with prize money of CHF 100,000. However, for many visitors it is Skikjöring that produces the most unforgettable images.

What Is Skikjöring?

If you have never seen Skikjöring, it really is quite a spectacle. Instead of sitting on the horse, the rider – or driver – is on skis behind it, holding the reins while being pulled at high speed across the frozen lake. At White Turf, the competitors race over a 2,700-metre course, with horse and skier racing together against their rivals. It takes enormous skill, strength and courage, and the sight of thoroughbred horses racing across the snow with skiers flying behind them is one of the images most closely associated with White Turf around the world. Skikjöring was also instrumental in the creation of the original St Moritz winter races in 1907, making it particularly appropriate that it remains such an important part of the event 120 years later.

White Turf Family Days 2027

There are also special Saturday events for families. The programme begins with the White Turf Opening on Saturday 6th February 2027, including behind-the-scenes tours, talks, live music, pony rides and food. Admission and the guided tours are FREE.

The White Turf Family Days take place on Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th February 2027. These days place the emphasis on young equestrian talent, with pony racing and junior competitions as well as family entertainment, pony rides and other activities on the frozen lake. Admission to all the Family Days is free.

More Than Just Horse Racing

Even if you are not a passionate follower of horse racing, White Turf is worth experiencing simply for the atmosphere. A temporary event village is created on the frozen lake, surrounded by the magnificent Upper Engadin mountains.

Alongside the races there are food and drink stands, music, art, exhibitions and places to meet and enjoy the atmosphere between races. There aren’t many sporting events where you can stand in the middle of a frozen Alpine lake, watch thoroughbred horses race past you and then enjoy a glass of champagne surrounded by snowy mountain peaks. It is this combination of sport, scenery, glamour and tradition that makes White Turf so distinctive.

Getting to White Turf St Moritz by Train

One of the nicest ways to travel to St Moritz is by train. From Zurich, the journey takes approximately three hours, usually travelling via Chur and continuing through the spectacular Graubünden mountain landscape with the Rhaetian Railway. Part of the Albula/Bernina railway landscape is UNESCO World Heritage listed.

If you are planning to make a weekend of it, St Moritz and the surrounding Engadin offer plenty more to see and do, from winter walks and skiing to restaurants, spas and some beautiful mountain excursions.

Celebrating 120 Years on the Frozen Lake

There are few winter events quite like White Turf. What began in 1907 as a bold sporting experiment on a frozen Alpine lake has developed into one of Switzerland’s most recognisable winter events. The combination of international horse racing, Skikjöring, snow, art, food and the spectacular Engadin landscape makes it an unforgettable experience – and the 120th anniversary in 2027 gives visitors an extra reason to experience White Turf in St Moritz for themselves.

Whether you go for the horses, the history, the atmosphere or simply to experience one of Switzerland’s most unusual winter traditions, White Turf St Moritz 2027 is definitely one for the diary.

Tim Hughes took this video of some of the highlights a previous year