The 36th American Sand Sculpting Championship is Nov. 19-23 at DiamondHead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Schedule and parking.

Yes, the American Sand Sculpting Championship is on this year. The 36th championship runs Thursday, Nov. 19, to Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at DiamondHead Beach Resort, 2000 Estero Blvd., on Fort Myers Beach, about 14 miles southwest of downtown Fort Myers. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce presents it with The Sand Lovers LLC and DiamondHead.

Last checked Oct. 15, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the organizers’ championship site, its tentative 2026 schedule, location, parking and tickets pages, and the chamber’s event page.

At a glance

  • Dates: Thursday, Nov. 19, to Monday, Nov. 23
  • Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; on-site ticket sales end at 4:30 p.m. and the gates close at 4:45 p.m.
  • Where: DiamondHead Beach Resort, 2000 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
  • Theme: “Stars, Stripes and Sand: Sculpting the American Story,” for the nation’s 250th birthday
  • Awards: amateur, 4 p.m. Saturday; main ceremony, 4:30 p.m. Sunday
  • Tickets: online in advance (no refunds) or at the gate
  • Contact: the chamber, events@fmbchamber.com or 239-454-7500

What it is

Master sculptors build large sculptures from sand over four days at DiamondHead, then the finished pieces stay up for viewing. The chamber’s August announcement said 29 sculptors are expected, among them 12 masters and 12 advanced amateurs, from 10 states and five countries. The 2026 theme marks the 250th anniversary of the United States. The organizers say last year’s event drew more than 15,000 people.

Between the competition hours there are sculpting demonstrations, hands-on lessons and the “Quick Sand” speed sculpting shows.

Day by day

The organizers call the 2026 schedule tentative and subject to change. Every day opens at 10 a.m. with the national anthem and closes at 5 p.m.

  • Thursday, Nov. 19: the master competition all day; hands-on lessons 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.; demonstrations at noon and 3:30 p.m.; Quick Sand speed sculpting at 1 and 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 20: the master and semipro competitions all day, with the same lessons, demonstrations and speed shows as Thursday.
  • Saturday, Nov. 21: amateur registration 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the main gate, the amateur competition from 10 a.m., people’s choice voting all day and the amateur awards at 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 22: the master competition ends at 1 p.m. and judging begins; the semipro competition ends at 2 p.m. and judging begins at 2:30 p.m. The Quick Sand championship is at 4 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 23: sculpture viewing and people’s choice voting all day.

If you want to watch the sculptors at work, go Thursday to Sunday morning. If you want to see the finished sculptures with fewer people, the organizers keep Monday for viewing only.

Tickets

  • Advance discount tickets are sold online through the championship’s ticket page and collected at will call. The organizers say there are no refunds on advance tickets.
  • Tickets are also sold at the gate until 4:30 p.m. each day.
  • The ticket prices sit in the organizers’ online booking form and were not published as text on their pages when we checked. We will add them here.
  • Amateur entry: 20 plots, for solo sculptors and teams of up to six. Details are on the amateur competition page.

Parking

The organizers warn that DiamondHead has very limited parking and say a parking map will be posted before the event. Local nonprofits run donated lots along Estero Boulevard:

  • Neptune Inn lot, 2310 Estero Blvd., for the FMB Community Foundation.
  • SanCap Bank, 2670 and 2680 Estero Blvd., for the FMB Lions Foundation.
  • Former Shamrock Irish Pub, 2201 Estero Blvd., for the FMB Community Foundation.

The organizers also point to county and town lots and private lots. Coming from the north, DiamondHead is the first high-rise on the right, the organizers say.

Our getting around Fort Myers page covers parking and LeeTran buses, and current road work is on our road construction and closures page.

What this means for you

  • Go before 4:30 p.m., when the gate stops selling tickets.
  • Pick Sunday afternoon for the speed sculpting final and the awards.
  • Park at one of the nonprofit lots, not at the resort.

Related: things to do this month, the Fort Myers Boat Show, Thanksgiving in Fort Myers and Fort Myers vs. Cape Coral vs. Estero vs. Fort Myers Beach.

Frequently asked questions

When is the American Sand Sculpting Championship in 2026?

Thursday, Nov. 19, to Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at DiamondHead Beach Resort, 2000 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, the organizers say.

How much are tickets for the sand sculpting championship?

The organizers sell advance discount tickets online through fmbsandsculpting.com and at the gate. Their pages did not list prices as text when we checked on Oct. 15. Advance tickets are not refundable, and on-site ticket sales end at 4:30 p.m. each day.

When are the sand sculpting awards?

The amateur awards are at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Master judging begins at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, and the main awards ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. that day, according to the tentative 2026 schedule.

Where do I park for the sand sculpting championship?

The organizers say DiamondHead has very limited parking. Nonprofit lots operate at the Neptune Inn, 2310 Estero Blvd., SanCap Bank, 2670 and 2680 Estero Blvd., and the former Shamrock Irish Pub, 2201 Estero Blvd.