Sculpture by the Sea, the iconic outdoor art exhibition at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, will return in March 2026 after a one-year hiatus. The 18-day event, running from March 6-23, will feature over 70 sculptures by local and international artists and is expected to draw over 200,000 visitors. The 2025 edition was cancelled due to a $700,000 funding shortfall after multiple federal arts packages ended. In response, the Federal Government committed $1.5 million for the next two years, and the State Government added $570,000 through Tourism WA and Lotterywest, which also supports an Access and Inclusion Program for visitors with disabilities. An indoor exhibition of 120 smaller works will be held at Sea View Golf Club.
The return matters because Sculpture by the Sea is the world’s largest annual sculpture exhibition, drawing half a million visitors annually across its Bondi and Cottesloe editions. The 2024 Cottesloe event attracted over 235,000 visitors and generated $4.5 million for the local economy. The funding rescue highlights the precarious state of arts funding in Australia and the critical role of government support in sustaining major cultural events that drive tourism, local jobs, and economic diversification. The secured funding also ensures the event will continue through March 2027.