The Hunza winter festival most visitors mean is the Karakoram Winterlude, an annual ice hockey and winter sports gathering held in January in the Gojal area of upper Hunza. It runs for around ten days, with matches played on rinks of natural ice, alongside ice climbing, cycling and glacier-walking events and an opening ceremony of music and dance. It has become one of the few reasons to visit Gilgit-Baltistan deliberately in the depths of winter.
This guide covers what the festival actually involves, where and when it happens, and why its future now depends on the weather in a way it didn't a decade ago.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What | Ice hockey tournament and winter sports festival |
| Where | Gojal, upper Hunza, with venues including Altit and Sost |
| When | January, for about ten days |
| Organiser | SCARF, a local winter sports and cultural organisation |
| First held | Around 2018, now in its eighth season |
| Ice | Natural, frozen ground and river ice; not artificial |
| Getting there | Karakoram Highway to Hunza; expect winter road conditions |
What happens at the festival
Ice hockey is the centrepiece: men's and women's teams, often sponsored by banks and other companies, play on rinks made simply by flooding and freezing flat ground, since there is no artificial ice anywhere in the valley. Recent seasons have run a dozen or so teams, split between men's and women's competitions, with an opening ceremony that includes traditional dancing, fireworks and live music. Ice climbing, mountain cycling on snow and ice, and glacier walking have all featured as side events in recent years, alongside food stalls and evening concerts.
It is as much a community and cultural event as a sporting one. Local youth sports organisations from villages across Gojal take part, and elderly residents have performed traditional dances at the opening even in harsh weather, a detail that says something about how central the festival has become to Hunza's winter calendar.
When and where it runs
The festival is organised by SCARF, a local body promoting winter sports and cultural heritage in Gilgit-Baltistan, and has run for close to a decade, growing each year. Recent seasons have opened in mid-January and continued for about ten days, with matches and events spread across villages in Gojal, including Altit and Sost. Exact dates and venues shift from year to year depending on ice conditions, so confirm the current season's schedule locally or through Gilgit-Baltistan tourism channels before planning a trip specifically to attend.
Why warmer winters are a problem
Because the festival depends on natural ice rather than refrigerated rinks, it needs a run of consistently cold weather to freeze and hold. Recent reporting on the 2026 festival has highlighted growing concern among organisers that milder winters are shortening the window in which the ice is reliable, forcing last-minute changes to venues or schedules in some years. There is no guarantee the festival will keep the same format, dates or locations as winters continue to shift, which is one more reason to check current details before committing to a trip built around it.
Should you plan a trip around it?
If you are already comfortable with winter travel in Gilgit-Baltistan, the festival is a good reason to go north outside the usual summer season, and a chance to see Hunza and Gojal with far fewer visitors than in July or August. If you are not used to winter mountain driving, treat it as a bonus rather than the reason for the trip: the Karakoram Highway in January can be affected by snow and cold, hotel options in Gojal are more limited than in summer, and the festival's own schedule is not fixed far in advance. Our Hunza in winter guide covers what to expect from the season generally, and our seasons guide sets it against the rest of the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hunza winter festival held?
The Karakoram Winterlude typically runs in January for about ten days, though exact dates move each year depending on ice conditions. Confirm the current season's schedule before travelling specifically for it.
Where does the festival take place?
In Gojal, upper Hunza, with events and ice hockey matches held across several villages including Altit and Sost in recent seasons.
Is the ice rink artificial or natural?
Natural. Rinks are made by flooding and freezing open ground, which is why the festival depends on cold, stable winter weather to go ahead as planned.
Can tourists attend the winter festival?
Yes, it is open to visitors and has become a draw for winter travel to Gilgit-Baltistan, though accommodation and road conditions need more planning than a summer visit.
Is Hunza cold enough to visit in January?
Yes, and often very cold, particularly overnight. Roads are generally passable within the valley but conditions can change quickly; check current road status before setting out.
