On Bondi Beach, a neighborhood east of central Sydney known for golden sand and cliff-lined views, the coastline is punctuated this season by dozens of sculptures. The setting—also the site of a tragic terrorist attack in December 2025, when two men opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people—now hosts what’s described as “the world’s largest free to the public sculpture exhibition.” Gun deaths and mass shootings are rare in Australia compared to the U.S., and here, a strong sense of community is part of the backdrop as the 2026 edition unfolds along the shore through November 2.
Sculpture by the Sea is an annual outdoor presentation that spans a 1.25-mile stretch of Bondi’s coastline, featuring work by artists from around the world. The selection ranges widely in style and material, from geometric abstraction to a spectrum of representational forms. Emma Anna (Colombia-NSW) presents DREAM_N (2026), a piece that resembles a giant Scrabble letter rack, while Andre Braun (NSW-Switzerland) offers Surface Breach (2026), which depicts a monumental hand erupting from the earth.
Highlights along the headland
- Tim Storrier AM (NSW), Wayfarer (2026)
- David Doyle (NSW), Kaaku-Kaakulinya Eternal Sentinels (2026)
- Ulan & Rachel (NSW), The Guardians (2026)
- David Horton (NSW), Peace (2026)
- Nenad Milovanovin (Serbia), Support IV (2026)
- Keizo Ushio (Japan), Oushi Zokei – Enmusubi II (2026)
- Harrie Fasher (NSW), Unveiling the Edges of the Sky (2026)
Across Bondi’s paths and headlands, these works converse with the ocean light and eroded sandstone, amplifying the breadth of approaches on view. Some pieces turn to crisp geometry, while others take on the figure and the fantastical; together, they underscore the exhibition’s scope and the international mix of its contributors.
The 2026 Sculpture by the Sea remains on view through November 2, tracing Bondi’s 1.25-mile coastal walk with an expansive snapshot of contemporary sculpture.
