Updated March 25, 2026
Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 Announces Two New Venues and Program Outlines
Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art A special collection exhibition revolving around snow, a unique theme of the northern region
Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Expanding the existing competition into an international open call
The Sapporo International Art Festival サイアフ is pleased to announce further developments for its upcoming edition, サイアフ2027, scheduled to take place from January 16 to February 21, 2027.
Under the theme of PLANET SNOWウパシミンタラ ウパシノチウ, サイアフ2027 will reimagine the entire city of Sapporo as a single planetPlanet Snowoffering experiences to journey from the snow into the cosmos with imagination. Aiming to further expand the multiplication of artwhere art, history, and regional identity intersectwe are pleased to announce the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art and the Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery as official venues. In addition to the eight venues announced in December, サイアフ2027 will now unfold across a total of 10 locations.
The Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art will host a curated exhibition of its collection revolving around the theme of snow. Meanwhile, the 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery will host an exhibition by the winners of a special competition for contemporary artworks and exhibition plans. The international open call for this competition is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 20.
- Venues
- Sapporo Citizens Gallery / Sapporo Science Center / Hokkaido Museum / Moerenuma Park / Shiryokan Former Sapporo Court of Appeals / Chuo Ward Office Complex / Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center SCARTS / Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site [New Venues] Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art / Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery
- Dates
- January 16 Sat February 21 Sun, 2027 - Sapporo Science Center January 5 Tue February 21 Sun - Sapporo Snow Festival Odori Site In accordance with the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival - Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery January 16 Sat March 24 Wed Some venues will be closed on certain days.
Details of New Venues
Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
Opened in 1977 as a cultural hub for Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art was founded on a vision of a comprehensive art museum with regional and international perspectives. They collect artwork with the thematic focus on Art of Hokkaido, Modern Japanese Art, École de Paris, Glass Craft, and Contemporary Art. During the previous festival サイアフ2024, the museum hosted an exhibition in which its permanent collection resonated and harmonized with contemporary art.
For サイアフ2027, the museum returns as an official venue with its own curated exhibition. By selecting works related to snow from its diverse collection across various genres, the museum plans to present an exhibition that embodies its uniqueness as a northern art institution.
Kita 1-jo Nishi 17-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Official Website
Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery
The Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery is an exhibition space that utilizes the city’s characteristic underground infrastructure. Its mission is to create opportunities for citizens to encounter diverse artworks, hosting multiple exhibitions each year with a focus on local artists. サイアフ2027 marks the gallery’s return as an official festival venue for the first time in ten years, since サイアフ2017.
During サイアフ2027, the gallery will utilize both its Glass Case Zone and Wall Zone. The 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award, an annual competition for contemporary artworks and exhibition plans, will be held as a collaborative international open call with サイアフ, with the award winners’ works exhibited across the eight glass cases see below for details. For the Wall Zone, a prominent artist will present their works using the space to its full potential. Please stay tuned for future announcements.
Odori Nishi 1-chome to Higashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo Within the underground concourse between Sapporo City Subway Odori Station and Bus Center mae Station
Official Website
サイアフ2027 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Special Competition
サイアフ2027 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award
The 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award is an annual competition for contemporary artwork and exhibition proposals hosted by the Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery. For the 2026 fiscal year, this competition will be held as a special collaboration between サイアフ and the gallery, titled the サイアフ2027 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Award. Two selected winners individuals or groups will exhibit their work at the 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery as サイアフ2027 participating artists. We invite innovative proposals from both Japan and abroad that take full advantage of the unique glass-case gallery located in the bustling underground concourse.
- Application Period Tentative
- Monday, April 20 Monday, July 20, 2026 Until 23時59分 JST
- Exhibition Period
- Saturday, January 16 Wednesday, March 24, 2027 Please note that while サイアフ2027 officially runs from January 16 to February 21, 2027, this specific exhibition will remain on view until March 24.
- Exhibition Venue
- Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery Venue Odori Nishi 1-chome to Higashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo [Within the underground concourse between Odori Subway Station and Bus Center mae Subway Station]
- Application Details
- Full details will be available on the official website of the Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery on Monday, April 20.
We kindly ask for your cooperation in covering these initiatives and sharing this announcement with your audience. Further updates regarding サイアフ2027 will be announced in due course. We are also available for interviews and media coverage regarding サイアフ2027 at any time.
Contact for Inquiries
Sapporo International Art Festival Executive Committee
Sapporo Tokeidai Bldg. 10F, Kita 1-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0001 Japan
TEL 81-11-211-2314 FAX 81-11-218-5157 いーめーる presssiaf.jp