One of Sydney’s most loved outdoor events is returning to our coastline this October, and it’s one of those Eastern Suburbs experiences that really does deserve a spot in the family calendar.
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi returns from 16 October to 2 November 2026, transforming the spectacular coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama into a huge open-air art gallery.
And best of all? It’s free.
For 18 days, the approximately 2km coastal walk will become home to 100 sculptures created by artists from Australia and around the world.
For families, it’s a wonderful excuse to get outside, walk one of Sydney’s most beautiful stretches of coastline and introduce the kids to art without having to worry about keeping quiet inside a traditional gallery.
A giant outdoor gallery between Bondi and Tamarama
There’s something quite special about seeing sculpture outside.
Instead of white gallery walls, the backdrop is the Pacific Ocean, sandstone cliffs, beaches and that unmistakable Bondi coastline.
As you make your way along the coastal walk, sculptures appear around corners, across grassy areas and against the ocean. Some are enormous and impossible to miss, while others invite you to stop, look a little closer and work out exactly what the artist is trying to say.
For kids, that can be half the fun.
Rather than explaining every sculpture, ask them what they think it is. Which one would they take home? Which is the strangest? Which is the funniest? Which sculpture do they think was the hardest to make?
You may be surprised by the answers.
Sculpture by the Sea celebrates 30 years
This year is particularly special because 2026 marks 30 years since the first Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi.
The very first exhibition was held on 3 May 1997, when the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk was transformed into an outdoor sculpture exhibition for just one day.
That first event featured 64 sculptures and attracted around 25,000 visitors. Three decades later, Sculpture by the Sea has become an internationally recognised Sydney event and one of the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibitions.
It’s quite an achievement for an event that began with a marketing budget of only $400!
100 sculptures to discover in 2026
This year’s exhibition will once again feature 100 sculptures dotted along the coastline, with works from Australian and international artists.
Among the Australian artists to watch this year are Harrie Fasher, from Portland NSW, and James Rogers, from Walcha NSW.
Both have been selected for the 2026 Transfield Australian Invited Artist Program and will create major new works for the Bondi exhibition. James Rogers has a particularly long connection with Sculpture by the Sea, having exhibited at Bondi 20 times, including at the very first exhibition in 1997.
Make a family adventure out of it
Sculpture by the Sea is one of those outings that can be as short or as long as you want.
Families with younger children might simply explore part of the exhibition around Bondi and Marks Park before stopping for something to eat or heading down to the beach.
Older children may enjoy completing the entire coastal exhibition from Bondi to Tamarama.
Either way, don’t feel that you have to rush through it. Stop at the sculptures that catch the kids’ attention, enjoy the views and make the walk part of the experience.
A hat, sunscreen, water and comfortable walking shoes are definitely worth bringing, particularly on warmer days.
And, of course, bring your phone or camera. Sculpture by the Sea has a habit of creating some pretty spectacular photo opportunities.
Don’t miss Sculpture Inside
There is even more art to discover once you reach Marks Park.
Sculpture Inside is a free indoor exhibition located in a temporary marquee along the exhibition trail. It features smaller works created by Sculpture by the Sea exhibiting artists and gives visitors a chance to see how artists translate their ideas into a smaller scale.
The works are also available to purchase, so this is the place to visit if seeing all that sculpture suddenly inspires you to start your own collection.
Sculpture Inside will be open daily from 10am to 6pm throughout the exhibition.
Visiting with children
One of the reasons Sculpture by the Sea works so well as a family outing is that children don’t need any previous knowledge of art to enjoy it.
Let them explore.
Talk about the shapes, colours and materials. Ask them what they would create if they were given a spot overlooking the ocean.
It can turn a coastal walk into a surprisingly creative afternoon.
Just remember that while some artworks may look incredibly tempting to climb or touch, they are artworks rather than playground equipment, so keep an eye on little explorers and follow the signage around individual sculptures.
Accessibility at Sculpture by the Sea
Sculpture by the Sea also runs an Access and Inclusion Program, including free Tactile Tours for people with disability.
The one-hour tours take place in accessible areas of Marks Park and allow participants to interact with a selection of sculptures considered safe to touch. In 2026, Tactile Tours are scheduled on weekdays from 19 to 30 October, with bookings essential.
When should families visit?
If you have some flexibility, a weekday is your best bet.
Sculpture by the Sea is hugely popular, with organisers expecting up to 450,000 visitors across the 18-day exhibition. Weekends can become particularly busy around Bondi, Tamarama and Marks Park.
An early weekday morning can be especially lovely with younger children — cooler weather, fewer crowds and plenty of time afterwards for breakfast, coffee, a playground stop or some time at the beach.
Getting there
With large crowds expected and limited parking around Bondi, organisers strongly recommend using public transport.
You can start the exhibition from either direction:
From Bondi Beach: Start around Notts Avenue and walk south towards Tamarama.
From Tamarama: Start near Pacific Avenue and walk north towards Bondi.
Additional public transport services are expected during the exhibition, while special-event clearways and local traffic changes will operate on various days.
For Eastern Suburbs families who normally drive everywhere, this may be one occasion when leaving the car at home will make the day considerably easier.
Put this one in the family calendar
There aren’t many places in the world where you can wander past major contemporary artworks with the Pacific Ocean crashing against the rocks behind them, then finish the outing with sandy feet, an ice cream or a swim at the beach.
That’s what makes Sculpture by the Sea such a special Sydney event.
For Eastern Suburbs families, it’s right on our doorstep — and whether your children are budding artists or simply enjoy spotting the biggest, brightest and strangest sculptures along the way, it’s a wonderful opportunity to slow down, explore the coastline and see a familiar part of Sydney transformed into something completely different.
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi runs from 16 October to 2 November 2026 and is free to visit.
Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2026 – Event Details
What: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026
When: 16 October – 2 November 2026
Where: Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk
Distance: Approximately 2km
Sculptures: 100 works by Australian and international artists
Cost: FREE
Sculpture Inside: 10am–6pm daily at Marks Park
Website: Sculpture by the Sea
