Chetwynd, June 10 - 14, 2026 - The 20th International Chainsaw Carving Championship proved once again that Chetwynd is the Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World, drawing world-class artists and thousands of visitors for another memorable celebration of creativity, craftsmanship and community spirit.
The championship officially kicked off on June 10 with the traditional Carvers’ Dinner, where competitors, organizers, volunteers and sponsors gathered ahead of the competition. The evening also featured the much anticipated log assignment when each carver drew and picked the log they would carve for the next several days.
The following morning, the real challenge began.
For the next three days, 12 elite chainsaw carvers spent 35 hours turning huge logs into incredible works of art. The artists worked through varying weather conditions, bringing their unique visions to life through years of experience, creativity and precision.
The 12 Carvers 12 Carvers and their Assistants
A Special 20th Anniversary Championship
The 20th anniversary also saw an increased field of competitors.
A typical year for the championship invites 12 competitors — four international carvers, four American carvers and four Canadian carvers.
For the 20th anniversary, organizers expanded the field to include six international carvers and six North American carvers, making for one of the strongest and most diverse competitions in the event’s history.
The result was a superlative performance of art that captivated the audience for the entire championship.
Ryan Anderson - USA Chris Foltz - USA Abby Peterson - USA
Ryan Villiers - Canada Kamron Garbe - Canada Jake Rhodes - Canada
Micha Reichert - Germany Takao Hayashi - Japan Sam Bowsher - Scotland
Brandon Kroon - Australia Robby Bast - Australia Mike Jones - UK
More Than Just a Competition
While the main attraction was the 35-hour championship carving, visitors also enjoyed several exciting Quick Carve events that demonstrated the artists’ speed, creativity and ability to perform under pressure.Saturday June 13th saw the championship judges leave the judging table to pick up their chainsaws for the Judges’ Quick Carve. The judges had just 90 minutes to come up with impressive sculptures in front of a live audience, giving spectators a chance to watch master carvers at work.On the final day of the championship the excitement was continued with two more Quick Carve competitions.
First, the assistant carvers took on the challenge, each having one hour to complete a sculpture. Immediately afterward, the 12 competing carvers returned for their own 90-minute Quick Carve, producing remarkable carvings despite the limited time.
The Quick Carve competitions have become one of the event's most popular traditions, allowing visitors to experience the artists' creativity and technical skill in a fast-paced, entertaining format.
Following the Quick Carves, many of the sculptures were offered during the live auction, one of the championship's most anticipated events. Visitors had the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind chainsaw carvings, with 100 percent of the auction proceeds going directly to the carvers, providing additional support and recognition for their work.
A Lasting Legacy Throughout Chetwynd
The championship impact is much more than competition weekend.
The community is known for its chainsaw carvings, and you’ll find about 200 of them around Chetwynd today, creating an outdoor art gallery that is one of the community’s claim to fame. Chainsaw carving is woven into the fabric of Chetwynd, with residents and visitors alike finding sculptures in parks, public spaces, businesses and throughout the community.This year’s finished sculptures will soon be added to the ever-growing collection, with the 2026 championship carvings to be installed along Carvers Row so residents and visitors can enjoy these latest masterpieces for years to come. The International Chainsaw Carving Championship would not be the success it is without the help of volunteers, organizers, sponsors, local businesses, judges, assistants and many members of the community working behind the scenes all year long.
2026 Championship Winners
After 35 hours of competition, judges selected this year's top carvings:
🥇 First Place
Brandon Kroon — The Loggo
Also awarded the Carvers' Choice Award and the People's Choice Award, making it the standout carving of the championship.
🥈 Second Place
Chris Foltz (USA) — Spider's Lunch Box
🥉 Third Place
Kamron Garbe (Canada) — The Clever and the Cunning
Community Makes It Possible
The International Chainsaw Carving Championship is not possible without the commitment of volunteers, organizers, sponsors, local businesses, judges, assistants and hundreds of community members who work behind the scenes all year long.
For five days, visitors could see world-class artistry in action. That experience came about because an entire community came together to keep a tradition alive that has helped put Chetwynd on the international map.
With another successful championship coming to a close, the latest carvings will be added to the nearly 200 already dotted across the community, continuing a tradition that has helped shape Chetwynd’s identity for more than two decades and ensuring the Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World will continue to inspire visitors for years to come.
For More event Pictures and Videos Please check out our Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122176398668883824&type=3
______________________________________________________________________