The American Sand Sculpting Championship will return to Fort Myers Beach from Nov. 19 through 23, 2026, bringing five days of large-scale beach art, competitions and family activities to Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The 36th annual event is planned for the beach behind DiamondHead Beach Resort and the neighboring Estero Island Beach Club. Festival hours are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Organizers expect 29 sculptors representing the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and England. The 2026 theme, “Stars, Stripes & Sand: Sculpting the American Story,” coincides with the nation’s 250th birthday and asks artists to interpret American history, traditions and spirit in sand.
Beyond the finished sculptures, the festival is set to include live entertainment, more than 80 vendors, professional demonstrations and “Quick Sand” speed-sculpting shows. Visitors can take hands-on sand-sculpting lessons, while younger children will have a dedicated sand play area.
An amateur sand-sculpting competition is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21. Spectators will also be able to vote in a People’s Choice competition on Sunday.
Admission is free Thursday, Nov. 19. For the remaining festival days, advance tickets are $8 and gate admission is $10; family and weekend packages will also be available. The event’s website lists ticket, parking and schedule details.
