Hammers have been swinging away for Warming Huts v. 2026 Build Week. The “art meets architecture” competition drew more than 200 submissions, and the selected design teams are now on-site, putting the finishing touches on their huts and bringing their concepts from the page to the ice.
This winter’s Warming Huts are being built by artists and designers from China, France, Belgium, Germany, the United States, as well as local grade school and post-secondary students. Over the course of Build Week, visitors can watch these designs become reality, then take residence along the Nestaweya River Trail.
“Build Week captures what makes the Warming Huts special,” says Sara Stasiuk, President and CEO, The Forks. “It’s hands-on, it’s public, and it brings people into the process. Watching these huts take shape reminds us that winter is something we build together.”
In addition to the competition winners, Travel Manitoba will also have a Warming Hut on the river this winter.
The 2026 competition winners being built include:
Moon Rabbit
Yu Liu - Shanghai, China
Drawing from ancient mythology, Moon Rabbit represents wisdom, good fortune, longevity, and reunion. The rabbit-shaped structure is built with a timber frame and translucent polycarbonate walls that glow softly after dark. An elevated deck offers seating, while sheltered space beneath provides protection for small animals.
Wildlife Scramble
Charles Sharpless, Jessica Colangelo - Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Adrian Gonzalez, Ashley Colangelo - Gainesville, Florida, USA
Wildlife Scramble is an interactive hut that highlights Manitoba’s flora and fauna through illustrated wooden blocks that rotate in place. Visitors are invited to create playful combinations of winter-clad creatures, while bench seating and framed openings provide places to pause and take photos along the trail.
Dram: As the Cold Answers
Noël Picaper - Paris, France
Joffrey About - Brussels, Belgium
This metal structure reinterprets the ancient siege ram as a quiet point of encounter on the ice. A horn-shaped weathervane responds to the wind, while a suspended tree trunk functions as a gong, producing a deep, resonant sound. A small alcove encourages visitors to stop, listen, and reflect.
Continuum: When Water Pauses and We Move
Franziska Agrawal - Munich, Germany
Invited Artist v.2026
As this year’s invited artist, Franziska Agrawal brings Continuum to the river. Built entirely from compacted snow, the installation forms a 30-metre passageway of repeating arches. As people move through the corridor, subtle shifts in light, sound, and temperature create a changing spatial experience.
“It is a snow corridor shaped entirely of compacted snow,” says Agrawal. “It invites the audience to move through and have a spatial experience of temperatures, volume, light, and sound.”
Home Grown Talent
Community participation remains a core part of Build Week. Through the school program, a group of Grade 7 students from Bison Run School was selected for their design, Warm Up With a Great Book. Shaped like an open book, the hut focuses on literacy and connection, with a Little Free Library beside it for visitors to share reading recommendations.
The University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture is also building on the river this winter with Bridge-Stairs for John Hejduk. Using scaffolding as its primary structural system, the hut responds to the flow of skaters and pedestrians moving down to the river, framing views of the Historic Rail Bridge, The Forks Market Tower, and the harbour’s red navigation light. “By highlighting the activity on the river trail, the design aims to frame the landmarks that define The Forks Historic Port,” says Elena Everton, student, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba.
For the first time, Travel Manitoba will have a Warming Hut on the Nestaweya River Trail. Designed by Uphouse Inc, the Heartwarming Hut is a heart-shaped structure made of wood and a plasma-cut steel frame. Inside, visitors will see themselves reflected in a kaleidoscope of mirrored surfaces. “It’s the people who make Canada’s heart beat, sharing a warmth that has nothing to do with the weather,” says Colin Ferguson, President and CEO, Travel Manitoba. “It’s a chance to sit, share, and reflect on all the things that make this province a place we love.”
Throughout Build Week, the public is encouraged to see the huts come together, meet designers on site, and experience the behind-the-scenes work that brings this winter tradition to life. Once completed, the Warming Huts will be transported down to the ice and will remain open for the season, offering places to rest, gather, and warm up along the river.
CLICK HERE for all Warming Huts v.2026 concept art.