IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT ICE HOT 2026 AND BEYOND
ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform postponed until autumn 2028
Over the past months, the Ice Hot partners have taken time to reflect on the platform’s role within the Nordic contemporary dance landscape.
We share a strong conviction: Nordic collaboration in the performing arts is not only important — it is unique. In a challenging geopolitical moment, sustained cultural cooperation across our region matters more than ever. To safeguard artistic quality, sustainability, and long-term impact, we have decided to postpone and relaunch Ice Hot in a renewed format in autumn 2028.
This is not a step back, but a step toward strengthening the platform’s foundation. In the coming years, we will reshape and further develop Ice Hot to ensure it remains a vital framework for artistic exchange — rooted in the field and responsive to future needs.
At a time when cultural institutions and the performing arts are facing increasing pressure in many parts of the world, and when space for artistic expression is in some contexts becoming more limited, Nordic collaboration carries particular significance. Independent, cross-border platforms such as Ice Hot help sustain dialogue, mobility, and long-term artistic development.
This is not a political statement, but a reflection of the realities shaping our shared cultural landscape. In this broader context, the Ice Hot collaboration makes strong and lasting sense.
Ice Hot will return — rethought, resilient, and firmly grounded in the exceptional artistic strength of the Nordic contemporary dance scene.
We look forward to continuing the dialogue.
Please stay tuned for a new open call, along with information about the location, in connection with the 2028 edition.
Ice Hot will be back!
About
Ice Hot Nordic Dance creates, developes and coordinates concepts for presenting Nordic dance internationally.
Ice Hot Nordic Dance aims at increasing mobility and international networking, developing artistic and productional quality and knowhow, and expanding working and earning opportunities through common branding and shared invest
Ice Hot partners arrange the biennial Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform, promote Nordic dance in international events around the world, and continuously work for creating grounds for established international collaboration. The Ice Hot partners are Dansens Hus Stockholm (SE), Dansens Hus Oslo (NO), Performing Arts Iceland (IS), Circus and Dance Info Finland (FI), and Dansehallerne (DK).. The project is led by a board formed by the directors of the partner organizations.
Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform is a biennial platform that was created to present high quality and diverse Nordic contemporary dance for international dance professionals and local audiences. The platform consists of contemporary dance performances and artistic presentations by artists and companies from all five Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. In addition, the event acts as a broad discussion and networking forum for dance professionals from all around the world.
The first Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform was arranged in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 1–4, 2010, as a pilot project. The aim was to create grounds for future collaboration for joint international promotion and export of Nordic dance. Encouraged by the positive feedback, the second platform was arranged in Helsinki, Finland, on December 12-15, 2012. The platform was then decided to be organized every other year, moving between the Nordic countries.
The joint Nordic platform has proved to be a successful concept, which convinced the partners to develop and expand the collaboration concept further. The unique cooperation model of the five organizations from five different countries with different missions, financial models and structures has raised wide international interest and become an inspiration to other countries in other parts of the world to try and create something similar.
Read more here: https://www.icehotnordicdance.com