NYC’s Legendary Sandcastle Art Battle Is Back After 13 Years—Here’s What You Need to Know

The Rockaways Are Transforming Into a Temporary Open-Air Gallery

New York’s beaches might be winding down their summer season, but one stretch of shoreline is about to become a sprawling, highly anticipated outdoor art installation. Creative Time is officially reviving its legendary Sandcastle Competition, bringing the event back to Rockaway Beach for the first time since 2013.

On Sunday, September 13, from 1 PM to 4 PM, a curated lineup of contemporary artists will descend upon Beach 108th Street. Their mission? To transform ordinary beach sand into elaborate, large-scale sculptures while spectators watch the creative process unfold in real time. Forget standard bucket-and-shovel builds—this is high-concept, ephemeral art meeting the Atlantic coast.

The participating roster reads like a who’s who of the NYC art scene. Competitors include Anthony Akinbola, Dean Millien, Rachel Rossin, Gabriela Ruiz, along with collaborative duos Marianna Simnett & Eliza Douglas, Chiffon Thomas & Victoria Martinez, and Canal Street Research Association.

These ambitious creations won’t just be judged by the crowd—they’ll be evaluated by a powerhouse panel featuring Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak, designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia, acclaimed artist Pedro Reyes, Rockaway Hotel owner Michi Jigarjian, and Problemista creator Julio Torres. It’s a level of cultural scrutiny that turns a simple day at the beach into a major artistic showcase.

Creative Time originally launched the competition in 2012 and brought it back in 2013, featuring heavyweights like Tom Sachs and Snarkitecture. This year’s revival continues that legacy of pushing scale and creativity to the limit. “As summer turns to fall, we’re thrilled to bring Creative Time’s Sandcastle Competition back to the Rockaways,” said Executive Director Jean Cooney. “It’s an invitation for artists to take over one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces, experiment at a different scale and make something both ambitious and ephemeral.”

Once the final sculpture is complete and a winner is crowned, the celebration moves indoors. From 5 PM to 7 PM, guests can attend the ticketed Sandcastles Benefit Bash at The Rockaway Hotel. Featuring live sets from DJ Maya Margarita, craft drinks, and exclusive surprises, the evening serves a dual purpose: celebrating the artists and funding future public projects. Proceeds directly support Creative Time’s groundbreaking initiatives, including Tribute in Light, Kara Walker’s A Subtlety, and Pedro Reyes’s Doomocracy.