Art on Ice 1996
Art on Ice has enthralled millions since 1996. What started with the vision of Oliver Höner and Reto Caviezel has become a beacon in the Swiss cultural scene. For three decades, Art on Ice has combined global stars from the world of music, international ice-skating greats, artistry, dance and visual art into an unforgettable live experience. It is an all-encompassing work of art that stirs emotions, brings generations together and sets new standards every year. Authentic, live and unforgettable – totally in keeping with the concept that “nothing beats live”.
It all started at the Hallenstadion Zurich in 1996. Founder and ice skater Oliver Höner, world champion Denise Biellmann and musician Simon Estes thrilled an audience of 6,500. Just one year later the show ran for two evenings and featured musical greats such as Gotthard and operatic diva Montserrat Caballé.
Things went international in 1998, when the line-up included Sarah Brightman, Jelena Leonova and Andrej Khvalko, plus Udo Jürgens, and also caused a furore in Germany. In 1999 pop music took over and Art on Ice hit a new high with Chris de Burgh. A year later, Oliver Höner hung up his skates, following four sold-out shows and audiences totalling 36,000. Since this show Oliver has been working behind the scenes as producer.
Art on Ice 2000
2001 saw a musical highlight when the Scorpions played with a 60-piece orchestra. They were accompanied by Olympic champion Oksana Baiul on the ice. In 2002 Evgeni Plushenko and Sarah Meier made their debuts, skating to Gloria Gaynor and her iconic hit “I will survive”, and we performed in French-speaking Switzerland for the first time, with the first show in Lausanne being a smash hit.
2003 was a year of emotional farewells and new beginnings. Denise Biellmann performed for the final time, whilst Stéphane Lambiel, who was then still a teenager, appeared on the ice for the first time to a standing ovation.
In 2004 Art on Ice bade farewell to the old Hallenstadion, with Roger Hodgson and John Helliwell from Supertramp. Evgeni Plushenko and the Chinese pair Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo shone. This was followed by shows in Prague and Budapest. In 2005 all the then ice-skating world champions appeared on the ice together, accompanied by Seal and the Lovebugs. In 2006 the premiere was almost cancelled due to a winter storm, yet despite a delayed start, Lisa Stansfield and Noëmi Nadelmann sent shivers down the spine. The fact that Switzerland was snowed in was soon forgotten.
2007 was a year of expansion, with six shows in Zurich, two in Lausanne and a debut in St. Moritz. This year marked the first countrywide tour, with audiences totalling more than 65,000. Meanwhile Gölä created a stir and brought a new approach to the audience. Whilst Gölä performed his songs in English beautifully, the audience wanted him to sing “Schwan” (Swan). His response: “If you want “Swan”, sing it yourselves!”. The audience didn’t need telling twice, and so the whole Hallenstadion sang ”En Schwan so wiiss wie Schnee (A swan as white as snow)”.
In 2008 our founder Oliver Höner secured an international show business expert and one of the most successful choreographers – Marvin A. Smith – for Art on Ice. The Californian had worked with Michael Jackson and Madonna, amongst others. He injected more power into the show with his dance troupe, providing support for the ice skaters from the new dance crew on the stage. This made the show livelier and gradually transformed it into a variety show. The following year saw the addition of an impressive stage with a dress circle and moveable stage.
The new decade got off to a spectacular start; with Anastacia and sell-out shows, 2010 was the “year of the barstool”. Another 160 seats were installed, including 80 barstools, to meet demand. The spellbinding violinist David Garrett enchanted the audience from the very first note. Four-times world champion Kurt Browning, Stéphane Lambiel, Sarah Meier and pairs skaters Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy topped the list of star skaters.
2011 was an emotional year. Just one week before the show, Sarah Meier was the surprise winner of the European Championship after announcing her retirement from international competition. She now manages Art on Ice’s junior ice skaters. Whilst Europe revelled in her victory, Art on Ice celebrated its premiere in Shanghai, one of the first international shows, before an audience of 18,000 in a brand-new stadium. In 2012 a true child prodigy created a stir when 10-year-old Emily Bear enchanted the audience with her music. The Grammy award winner now composes music for Disney.
2013 presented the team with more challenges than ever before. From the last show in Davos we travelled straight to Helsinki, where the show was broadcast on television. Despite delayed flights, chaotic check-in and transfer to a shuttle bus, the show began on time and with all the usual verve.
Loreen sang her greatest hits, whilst Stéphane Lambiel, Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowsky shone on the ice. The 2014 show thrilled audiences in Zurich, Lausanne, St. Moritz, and Shanghai once again. A new generation took to the ice in 2015, with ice dancing pair Papadakis and Cizeron and up-and-coming Swiss star Alexia Paganini. The year made a powerful statement for change, boldly switching between classical, pop and artistic innovation, with musical support from Nelly Furtado.
2016 marked a new creative direction with The Jacksons, Jessie J and a state-of-the-art show concept, including Cyr Wheels on ice once again showcasing Art on Ice’s innovative spirit. Bridging the gap between pop history and contemporary show design brought the format worldwide recognition.
In the meantime the show was crowned world’s best ice skating show for the second time. Art on Ice 2017 set new show business standards with artists such as James Morrison, Chaka Khan and a mix of music, acrobatics and lighting design. Daniel Hope started the show all alone on the stage. Just him and his violin, nothing else. From the first note there was instant silence in the hall and he was the sole focus of attention. In 2018 the show made the leap into the graphic arts when Wolfgang Beltracchi, a formerly very divisive artist, took part in the show. His works were projected onto massive LED screens -a balancing act between provocation and brilliance. Emeli Sandé, Pegasus, Stéphane Lambiel and Evgeni Plushenko also contributed to making this one of the most powerful editions ever.
With its opulent steam-punk style stage production, 2019’s show went one better visually, featuring a boat flying over the ice, developed with the Karl’s kühne Gassenschau circus and other funky features. Despite technical problems at the premiere, caused by thousands of Bluetooth signals from the audience, the boat took off impressively at subsequent shows, embodying our motto “Nothing beats live”. The season was one of the most emotional ever thanks to James Blunt, Stefanie Heinzmann and gold-medal-winning couple Savchenko and Massot.
As the years roll by, the show continues to develop. A new musical chapter has opened with the founding of the Art on Ice band. Aloe Blacc and Bligg appeared with our live band, while their own musicians stayed at home. Although the 2020 show was able to go ahead as planned, the pandemic forced a rethink. Instead of cancelling, 2021 produced a show that met the prevailing health regulations. This gave rise to the current exclusive Golden Circle VIP package with dinner, show and after-party, including ice skating in the Hallenstadion. A new, premium experience sprang out of necessity, backed by team spirit and loyalty, both of which were felt very strongly at this time. It made the Art on Ice family even stronger.
Rag’n’Bone Man’s cancellation at short notice turned everything upside down a week before the show. Yet over 20 years’ experience showed that even this shock news could not stop Art on Ice. The show became a moving, touching high point, with Marc Sway, Marius Bear and Judy Jackson learning Rag’n’Bone Man’s songs in just a few days. The audience was also astounded by quad god Ilia Malinin, who appeared for the first time. The ISU Skating Awards also celebrated its launch.
In 2024 Swiss ice skating hopefuls Kimmy Repond and Lukas Britschgi performed their own programme on the ice for the first time. Shortly before the show, Lukas Britschgi won the 2025 European Championship, which was celebrated enthusiastically. Another heartwarming innovation is our Art on Ice young talents. The Turbo Twins and their daredevil ski jumps also put hearts in mouths. In 2025, Stress had the audience in tears even before the break and then caused the stadium to erupt. The audience went crazy!
Art on Ice young talents 2024
Experience our stars on and off the ice in a breathtaking live show. In our anniversary show, entitled “Against all Odds”, we will show what it means to keep going and achieve great things. Click here to learn more about the programme.
Margrith Scherrer is Marketing Manager and makes sure the world knows when it’s time for Art on Ice! She is an outdoor sports enthusiast in the summer and thanks to Art on Ice she has the perfect excuse not to go skiing in the winter.
