It’s that time of the year again, the beach sculpture exhibition is back. If you’re worried about the heat during the day, going in the late afternoon is actually perfect. Sunset with the ocean and sculptures together just looks so good.
Exhibition period: 6 Mar – 23 Mar 2026
Location: Cottesloe Beach, Perth
Entry: completely free
An annual March-only beach sculpture exhibition in Perth. Tomorrow is the last day. I didn’t make it this year because I’ve been too busy, but friends sent me photos and honestly it still looks so worth it. It’s free, super chill, and works for pretty much everyone, whether you like art, going with family, dates, or just going alone.
If you’re in Perth in March, you really should go at least once. It only happens once a year and the entire coastline turns into an open-air gallery. On one side you have the Indian Ocean, on the other side sculptures across the grass and beach. You can just walk along and everything looks good.
Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition tips
Where are the sculptures
From the seawall down to the beach and across the surrounding grass areas, sculptures are spread along the entire coastline. Just follow the path along the ocean and you’ll be able to see everything in one walk.
Best time to go
Sunset at Cottesloe is beautiful, but if you want to avoid crowds and the heat, morning is a better option. Weekends get very busy, with over 220,000 visitors expected during the exhibition period, so weekdays are a much better experience.
How to get there
Parking at Cottesloe is very limited, so it’s better to take the train to Cottesloe Station, then transfer to the free Cott Cat shuttle bus. It runs daily from 10:30am to 6pm during the exhibition, every 20 minutes between the station and the beach.
Download the map in advance
There is an interactive guide on the official website that helps you plan your route and gives information about each artwork and artist.
Don’t miss Sculpture Inside
There is also an indoor exhibition this year at Sea View Golf Club on Jarrad Street, featuring around 120 smaller sculptures by participating artists. It runs daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm and is also free to enter.
Cottesloe Beach is probably one of the closest beaches to Perth city. It’s about a 20-minute train ride from Perth Station to Cottesloe Station, then just walk straight towards the beach. It’s also easy to include in a Fremantle day trip.
I stayed from around 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Sunset, sky colours, ocean, everything just worked together. Even on slightly cloudy days, it actually makes the view more layered and interesting. The weather was calm, not too windy, really comfortable for a slow walk along the beach.
The experience is pretty simple. You walk, look at sculptures, look at the ocean, and just take your time. Some pieces are really eye-catching, some are quite abstract, but that’s kind of the point. There are also people sitting on the grass with picnic mats, just chilling there.
At sunset, the lighting across the beach changes completely. It feels more like you’re on a holiday than just visiting an exhibition. It’s one of those places where you don’t need to rush, just walk slowly and enjoy it.
Honestly one of the most worth-it things to do in Perth in March. Miss it and you’ll have to wait another year.