The melting of large ice caps in relatively short times produces significant mass redistributions on the surface of the Earth, affects sea level and land uplift, and alters lithospheric stresses in formerly glaciated areas and adjacent regions, resulting eventually in powerful earthquakes. The effects from the last deglaciation, some 10ka ago, are still felt today through rapid uplift rates and enhanced seismicity in North America and Fennoscandia. The scientific progress made in recent years, in particular by monitoring gravity changes and land uplift from the space, provides us today with a better understanding of the interplay between cryosphere and lithosphere. The purpose of this special issue is to sum up present-day knowledge pertaining to data, techniques and models relating to lithospheric–cryospheric interactions. We invite contributions addressing all aspects of the topic from the viewpoint of, for example, climate sciences, geodesy, geomorphology, seismology, structural and earthquake geology and numerical modelling.