Pismo Beach Sand Art Festival Brought International Artists to the Shoreline for Three-Day Open-Air Gallery

Eleven artist teams turned the beach into a temporary gallery over three days using only rakes and ropes

PISMO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For three evenings, thousands of people walked Pismo Beach to find the shoreline covered in art that the high tide would erase. The second annual Pismo Beach Sand Art Festival, held Nov. 7-9, brought 11 teams of artists to town, where they raked large-scale works into the sand with no tools beyond rakes and ropes for measuring.

Pier counters recorded 13,050 visitors over the weekend. 

The pieces ranged from intricate mandalas to mazes visitors could walk through, alongside sweeping geometric patterns and three-dimensional illusions. One of the most photographed works came from artist Manu Froelich, whose design used carefully shaded steps to create the impression of descending a staircase into a room hidden below the sand.

"We wanted to give people a reason to come to the beach in November and see it in a completely new way," said Emma Rhoads, festival organizer from Experience Pismo Beach. "Every piece was made by hand with a rake and a rope, and every piece was gone with the tide. Watching people come back night after night to see what the artists had made next told us this festival has found its home in Pismo Beach."

The festival was co-founded by sand artist Avery Kintner, whose large-scale mandalas have drawn a following on Pismo's beaches.

Beyond the artist installations, the weekend invited the community to pick up a rake themselves. A community draw session and a sand globe workshop day gave residents and visitors a chance to create alongside the artists.

The Pismo Beach Sand Art Festival will return each mid-November annually, with 2027 dates to be announced.

All photos and videos from the festival are available for use HERE. Please credit Experience Pismo Beach.

About Experience Pismo Beach

Located on California's iconic Highway 1, Pismo Beach offers a balance of adventure and relaxation. Visitors can surf, kayak, hike coastal bluffs, explore nearby wine country, and catch the sunset from the pier. With its laid-back vibe, walkable downtown, and natural beauty, Pismo Beach delivers the quintessential California coastal experience. Follow the adventure on Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau