Gaylord Opryland Resort has officially begun preparations for its 2026 holiday season as more than 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived in Nashville to begin work on this year’s ICE! attraction. Click for More Events
The 43rd annual “A Country Christmas” will run from Nov. 6, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027, with ICE! featuring scenes inspired by the holiday movie “Home Alone.”
The artisans, who traveled more than 6,400 miles to Nashville, will spend the next 40 days transforming more than two million pounds of ice into a 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction. The team is expected to spend more than 12,000 hours carving the displays with chainsaws, chisels, grinders and other specialized tools.
To welcome the artists, Gaylord Opryland held its annual Artisan Arrival event, which included a festive clap line, photo opportunities and, new this year, a traditional lion dance performance.
ICE! featuring “Home Alone” will include 11 walk-through scenes inspired by moments from the film, including Kevin McCallister’s mannequin party and his battle plan to stop the Wet Bandits.
The attraction will also feature five ice slides, crawl-through tunnels, live ice-carving demonstrations, and a crystal-clear Nativity scene.
ICE! is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and guests are provided with Gaylord Opryland’s signature blue parkas while walking through the attraction.
Gaylord Opryland is also offering overnight packages that include accommodations and ICE! tickets, with an option to add SoundWaves. Overnight guests with ICE! tickets will also receive a complimentary Chill Pass for front-of-line access.
More information and ticket details are available at ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com.
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