The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival transforms Clearwater Beach with spectacular sand sculptures!

The #1 Sand Sculpting Festival in Florida is back, returning to Clearwater Beach from March 27 through April 12, 2026.

The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival returns to bright and beautiful Clearwater Beach from March 27 to April 12, 2026! This year, the festival celebrates its 12th year of bringing Clearwater's sugar sand to life.

The Sugar Sand Festival is a 17-day beach wide celebration of Clearwater Beach’s two most notable natural assets: sugar sand and sunsets.

Eighteen master sand sculptors, who journey from all corners of the globe, use 1,000 tons of Clearwater Beach's sugar sand to create a walk-through art exhibit housed in a 24,000-square-foot structure. The event also raises money for the community and supports the educational initiatives of the Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival.

The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival is the largest destination event on Clearwater Beach and attracts more than 200,000 visitors from all over the world.

There’s more fun to have during the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival than grains of sand on Clearwater Beach. The festival offers free sand sculpting classes, live music, fireworks, artisans, food vendors and more! Additionally, Pier 60 Park features a Ferris Wheel and amusements for added thrills.

Each year's Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival features a new theme, with 2026 featuring "United in Sand: Celebrating Sports & Spirit!"

The 2026 Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival invites you to experience a dynamic showcase of teamwork, triumph, and tradition. This year’s Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit will highlight the unifying power of sports and the spirit that inspires generations.

In addition to the main exhibit, guests will step into a special immersive tribute honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial, brought to life through stunning sand art and cutting-edge projection mapping.

"United in Sand: Celebrating Sports & Spirit!" celebrate the champions, the dreamers, and the defining stories that shape our nation, all carved in sugar sand on Clearwater Beach.

Live Entertainment at the 2026 Sugar Sand Festival

There will be eight nights of FREE beach concerts! Afterwards, you can continue the celebration at Shephard’s Beach Resort, the official after-party destination.

Friday, March 27 at 8 pm: The Fulcos

Saturday, March 28 at 8 pm: Cutty Jones x Jay Slay, with fireworks at 9:30 pm

Sunday, March 29 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m: Kenny Barcenas and Destiny Bachata Band, followed by Orquesta INFINIDAD at 7 pm

Friday, April 3 at 8 pm: 22N

Saturday, April 4 at 8: pm: The Black Honkeys Band, with fireworks at 9:30 pm

Friday, April 10 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Aubrey Wollett, followed by The Zac Brown Experience at 8 pm

Saturday, April 11 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Whosoever South, followed by Cross Fire Creek Band from 8 - 10 pm

Sunday, April 12 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm: Soul Circus Cowboys, followed by Kenny Chesney Tribute with Pirate Flag from 7 - 9 pm

Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit Hours:

The 2026 Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival runs Sundays through Thursdays: 10 am - 9 pm, with Fridays and Saturdays: 10 am - 10 pm.

Tickets

Skip the lines and visit the Sugar Sand Festival website to purchase tickets online. General Admission is $16 per person, plus tax, with children 3 and under FREE.

Purchase tickets online

Parking

This event is super-popular, and parking can be challenging, so knowing about alternative parking and transportation options can make a difference! 

The closest public parking lot to the event is the Pier 60 lot ($3.50/hr.) located just southwest of the roundabout, beachside.

There are three public parking garages located near the event venue on Coronado (Hyatt Regency, Opal Sol and Surf Style) and one public parking garage located on North Beach in the Pelican Walk Plaza.

Ferry & Trolley Service

Skip the parking hassle and ride the Clearwater Ferry or the Jolley Trolley to the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival. Both offer an easy, stress-free way to get to Clearwater Beach while enjoying the ride. Arrive relaxed, skip the traffic, and focus on the fun once you step off. 

For more details on the 2026 Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival: https://www.sugarsandfestival.com

Explore the latest entertainment news and things to do in Tampa Bay here!

Before going to any events listed on Gotta Go Orlando, it's advisable to reach out to the organizer or venue to verify the event's status, as details, changes, and cancellations may happen.

Contact Us:

You can contact us here. To advertise with us, click here. To list your upcoming event, submit it here.

Newsletter:

Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest news from Central Florida delivered daily to your mailbox.

Social Media:

Join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, plus, for extended coverage, catch the latest on our YouTube channel.