A sea of hands, a giant ‘lifesaver-saurus’ and a melting robot: Queensland’s SWELL sculpture festival 2026 – in pictures
News Source
•Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:00:24 GMT
📰 What Happened
Queensland's SWELL sculpture festival is back for 2026 at Currumbin on the Gold Coast. A new photo gallery shows this year's artworks. They include a giant lifesaver dinosaur called Nipper the Lifesaver-saurus. Another piece is The Rise of AI by Andre Braun.
Other works include a melting robot named Melting Man by Ajay Thomas. Visitors can walk among the sculptures on the beach and nearby parkland. The gallery lists more than ten artworks, with a mix of funny, strange and serious ideas. Families are a big part of the crowd each year.
🔍 The Backstory
SWELL is a free outdoor sculpture festival. It began in 2003 at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. It runs each September and shows work by local and international artists. Many pieces are built from recycled or natural materials.
Well-known Australian artist Patricia Piccinini has a work in the show this year. It is called Salute to the Sun. The festival is a major draw for tourists and art fans. It brings visitors and money to the region each spring.
🎯 Why It Matters
The festival gives families a free, outdoor way to enjoy art. It also draws visitors and spending to the Gold Coast each spring.
Queensland's SWELL sculpture festival is back for 2026 at Currumbin on the Gold Coast. A new photo gallery shows this year's artworks. They include a giant lifesaver dinosaur called Nipper the Lifesaver-saurus. Another piece is The Rise of AI by Andre Braun.
Other works include a melting robot named Melting Man by Ajay Thomas. Visitors can walk among the sculptures on the beach and nearby parkland. The gallery lists more than ten artworks, with a mix of funny, strange and serious ideas. Families are a big part of the crowd each year.
SWELL is a free outdoor sculpture festival. It began in 2003 at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. It runs each September and shows work by local and international artists. Many pieces are built from recycled or natural materials.
Well-known Australian artist Patricia Piccinini has a work in the show this year. It is called Salute to the Sun. The festival is a major draw for tourists and art fans. It brings visitors and money to the region each spring.
The festival gives families a free, outdoor way to enjoy art. It also draws visitors and spending to the Gold Coast each spring.