Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 takes place from 5 to 22 March along Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

The 22nd annual exhibition transforms one of Australia’s most famous beaches into a temporary outdoor sculpture park.

Large-scale contemporary artworks are installed along the sea wall, across the sand, toward North Cottesloe and throughout the surrounding grassed areas.

The event brings together Australian and international artists working with sculpture, installation and site-specific practice.

Visitors experience artworks against the Indian Ocean rather than inside a conventional gallery, allowing weather, landscape, tides, light and public movement to become part of the exhibition.

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe is also one of Australia’s largest free visual-art events, attracting around 220,000 visitors in a typical year.

For ArtExpoWorld readers, the exhibition offers a rare combination of serious contemporary sculpture, public accessibility and one of the most spectacular exhibition settings in Australia.

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 will run for 18 days from Friday, 5 March to Monday, 22 March.

The exhibition begins around the Cottesloe sea wall and extends across the beach and surrounding public spaces.

More than 70 sculptures are typically presented at the Cottesloe edition, with artists selected from Australia and overseas.

The 2027 artist submission process closed in August 2026, and the final exhibiting artist list will be announced by the organisers closer to the opening.

The exhibition includes monumental outdoor works as well as projects responding directly to the coastal environment.

Materials may include metal, timber, stone, recycled materials, ceramics, industrial products and experimental combinations.

The event also includes education programmes, artist talks, accessibility initiatives and opportunities to purchase sculpture.

A companion indoor exhibition, Sculpture Inside, traditionally presents smaller works by participating artists and provides an additional collecting opportunity.

The complete 2027 public programme and Sculpture Inside details will be confirmed closer to March.

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 Event Overview

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 – Outdoor Sculpture on Perth’s Coast

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe attracts around 220,000 visitors and presents more than 70 sculptures in a typical edition. That makes it one of the largest free public sculpture exhibitions in Australia.

Dates:

5 March 2027 - 22 March 2027

Location:

Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia

Mission:

The mission of Sculpture by the Sea is to make contemporary sculpture accessible to a broad public. Instead of requiring visitors to enter a museum or commercial gallery, the exhibition places major artworks directly into a familiar public environment. The beach becomes the gallery. This allows people who may rarely attend formal art institutions to encounter contemporary sculpture naturally during a walk, family outing or day by the ocean. The organisation also supports artists financially through awards, subsidies and sales. Confirmed support for 2027 already includes the Mostyn Family Foundation Artist Subsidy, the Pommery Champagne Artist Award and the Kids’ Choice Prize. Australian artists participating in both the outdoor exhibition and Sculpture Inside may also receive financial contributions toward the costs of exhibiting. Education and accessibility are another central part of the project. Schools programmes, tactile tours and beach-access initiatives are designed to make sculpture available to visitors of different ages and abilities.

Organizer:

Sculpture by the Sea is organised by Sculpture by the Sea Incorporated, a not-for-profit cultural organisation. The organisation manages the annual Cottesloe and Bondi exhibitions as well as the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. The Cottesloe curatorial process involves a professional artistic panel. Confirmed members for the 2027 selection include Geoffrey Edwards, Sharyn Egan and sculptor Philip Spelman, with an additional panel member to be confirmed. The organisation works with government agencies, sponsors, philanthropic supporters, artists, schools and volunteers. Its funding model allows the main outdoor exhibition to remain free to the public.

Why attend to Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027?

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 is worth visiting because few contemporary art exhibitions allow the landscape to influence the work so directly.

For sculpture enthusiasts, it offers large-scale works that may be impossible to present inside standard galleries.

For photographers, the changing coastal light creates continually different relationships between artwork and environment.

For collectors, the exhibition provides access to Australian and international sculptors alongside opportunities to discover smaller works through the associated indoor programme.

For families, free admission and the outdoor setting make the event unusually accessible.

For cultural travellers, the exhibition provides a strong reason to visit Perth in March while combining art with beaches, architecture, restaurants, and Western Australia’s wider cultural scene.

The exhibition can also be experienced more than once.

A sculpture seen in bright afternoon sun can feel completely different at sunset or under changing weather conditions.

Ticket Information

General admission costs

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 is free to visit.

No general admission ticket is required for the outdoor exhibition.

Some workshops, educational programmes, or specialised tours may require advance registration or payment.

Sculpture Inside is traditionally free to enter, although the organisers will confirm its 2027 details separately.

Visitors should use the official programme when booking guided activities or accessibility services.

Because the exhibition takes place in public spaces, visitors can generally structure their visit around their own schedule.

Getting There:

Cottesloe Beach is located approximately halfway between central Perth and Fremantle.

Cottesloe railway station connects the area with both Perth and Fremantle on the Fremantle Line.

From the station, visitors can walk toward the beach or use local transport options.

During previous exhibitions, shuttle services have connected the railway station with the exhibition area.

Visitors should check whether the service returns for 2027.

Driving is possible, but parking close to the beach becomes difficult during popular exhibition periods.

Public transport is strongly recommended on weekends.

Perth Airport is the main international and domestic gateway.

Visitors staying in central Perth can reach Cottesloe by train, taxi, rideshare or rental car.

Accommodation

Cottesloe offers the most convenient accommodation for visitors who want to experience the exhibition at different times of day.

Beachfront and nearby accommodation allows easy access to early-morning and sunset viewing.

Fremantle is another strong option.

It offers historic architecture, restaurants, galleries and cultural institutions while remaining relatively close to Cottesloe.

Central Perth provides the widest choice of hotels and convenient rail access.

West Perth and Subiaco may also appeal to visitors looking for restaurants, local neighbourhood atmosphere and transport connections.

Visitors travelling specifically for the exhibition should book early because March remains a popular period in Perth.

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Gallery: Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

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History & Context of a Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Sculpture by the Sea began at Bondi in Sydney in 1997.

The first exhibition was conceived as a one-day outdoor sculpture event and grew into one of the world’s largest annual public sculpture exhibitions.

The success of Bondi led to the creation of the Cottesloe edition in 2005.

Cottesloe quickly developed its own identity.

While Bondi uses Sydney’s dramatic coastal walk, the Perth exhibition occupies an open beach environment beside the Indian Ocean.

The relationship between sculpture, sand, sea and sunset has become central to the event.

Since its establishment, the Cottesloe exhibition has presented hundreds of Australian and international artists.

The event temporarily transforms a popular recreational beach into a cultural destination without removing its everyday public function.

The exhibition was paused in 2025 because of funding difficulties before returning in 2026.

Government support has since helped secure both the 2026 and 2027 editions.

The 2027 exhibition therefore represents both continuity and the renewed stability of one of Western Australia’s best-known public art events.

Tips for Visitors of Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Visit on a weekday if possible.

The exhibition attracts very large crowds, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

Early morning and late afternoon offer softer light and generally more comfortable temperatures.

Sunset is visually spectacular but can also be one of the busiest times.

Wear comfortable shoes suitable for both sand and paved paths.

Bring sun protection, water, and a hat.

Do not climb on sculptures unless an artwork is specifically designed for interaction.

Allow at least two hours for the full outdoor route.

Check the final 2027 program for artist talks, guided tours, and Sculpture Inside.

Visitors with limited mobility should consult the official accessibility map before arrival because not every part of the beach route is equally accessible.

The organizers traditionally provide dedicated access initiatives and beach matting during selected periods.

Tips from the ArtExpoWorld

Do not rush through the exhibition trying only to photograph every sculpture.

The strongest experience comes from seeing how each work relates to the coastline.

Walk around the sculptures where permitted.

A work can completely change when the ocean moves from background to foreground.

If possible, visit twice: once during daylight and once close to sunset.

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Editor’s Note

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 matters because it removes one of the biggest barriers between contemporary art and the public: the gallery door.

For ArtExpoWorld, the exhibition’s greatest strength is the relationship between sculpture and place.

The Indian Ocean is not scenery added behind the artworks. Wind, water, sand and changing light become active parts of the viewing experience.

The result is an exhibition that can be enjoyed by serious collectors and people who did not arrive intending to look at art at all.

That ability to make contemporary sculpture public without making it simplistic is what gives Cottesloe its lasting importance.

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 Event Overview

Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 – Outdoor Sculpture on Perth’s Coast

Dates:

Location:

Why attend to Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027?

Ticket Information

Getting There:

Accommodation

Don't Miss an Exhibition

Gallery: Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Secure Your Spot at Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027 — Before It's Too Late

History & Context of a Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Tips for Visitors of Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027

Tips from the ArtExpoWorld

Be the First to Access Official "Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe 2027" Tickets

Editor’s Note

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