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Beneath a dome of crystalline Alpine sky, where the air is sharp with the scent of pine and frozen purity, Lake St. Moritz undergoes its annual metamorphosis. The vast, mirror-like expanse, framed by snow-draped peaks, sheds its serene silence. In its place arises a temporary city of canvas and champagne, the thunder of hooves, and the collective murmur of high society. This is White Turf, the world’s most exclusive horse racing event on snow, and in February 2026, it once again claims its place as the undisputed pinnacle of the winter social calendar.
White Turf is no mere sporting event; it is a living chronicle of luxury and audacity. Born in 1907 from the local passion for Skijoring. Where skiers are pulled by unridden thoroughbreds across the ice. it has evolved into a tripartite Sunday ritual that draws over 35,000 visitors annually. For 119 years, this spectacle has woven together the threads of tradition and innovation, maintaining its status as a hallmark of high society where equestrian excellence meets cosmopolitan glamour.
The forthcoming edition unfolds on three Sundays: February 8, 15, and 22, 2026. Each race day is a meticulously curated symphony of speed and skill. The programme features the graceful precision of trotting races, the raw power of flat gallops, and the heart-stopping, unique thrill of Skijoring, where riders on skis are propelled at speeds up to 50 km/h. The prize boards speak the language of affluence, with sponsors like Aston Martin and UBS underlining the event’s premium stature. The climax arrives on February 22nd with the prestigious Evangelos Pistiolis Foundation Grand Prix, offering a purse of CHF 100,000.
To attend White Turf is to enter a self-contained world of refined indulgence. A sprawling 130,000 m² tent city rises on the lake, a vibrant microcosm offering gourmet catering, live music, and curated shopping. Here, the ritual is as important as the race: Champagne flutes glint in the winter sun, fur-lined collars brush against tailored tweed, and the viewing stands become a stage for discreet celebrity sightings and the global elite’s convivial networking.
The spectacle extends beyond the race days. Preceding each Sunday are dedicated Family Days (February 7, 14, and 21), transforming the venue into a winter playground for the next generation. The event also serves as a platform for inspiring art exhibitions and lively concerts, ensuring that the cultural appetite is as well catered to as the physical one. It is this holistic approach to experience, blending high-stakes sport, culinary artistry, and cultural richness, that solidifies White Turf’s unique position.
White Turf St. Moritz is more than an event; it is the embodiment of a certain Swiss winter ideal. It represents a harmony of adrenaline and apres-ski, of heritage and hedonism, all set within a landscape of breathtaking beauty. It is where the crisp, serene elegance of the Alps dynamically collides with the warm, pulsating energy of a global gathering.
For the discerning traveller, the collector of experiences, or the aesthete in pursuit of the sublime, White Turf 2026 is an unmissable rendezvous. A celebration of moments where life is not just lived, but curated with elegance, sophistication, and effortless grace. Mark your calendar for February 2026, and prepare to witness winter’s most exhilarating and exclusive performance on the glorious, frozen stage of St. Moritz.
© All imagery courtesy of White Turf, Christian Mettlera, A.Furger, J.Sendel
