Sand Sculptures in Písek 2026

The 20th anniversary edition of the beloved Sand Sculptures in Písek exhibition takes place in 2026 at its traditional location – on the embankment of the Otava River near the Stone Bridge. This year's theme is "The Otava Flows, Písek Creates and Connects History, Nature and the City's Present Life." The official opening of the exhibition will be held on May 20, 2026 at 2 p.m., after which the sculptures will be freely accessible throughout the summer tourist season, weather permitting.

Eight sand sculptures will be created on the embankment this year – five large and three smaller ones – from a total of one hundred tons of sand. The exhibition's centerpiece will be a personification of the Otava River, the largest sculpture standing 3.5 meters tall. Other motifs will recall the Celts as the first gold panners, the founding of the royal city of Písek with the legend of the Deer Bridge, the Stone Bridge, and contemporary Písek. The Písek Tower will serve as a symbolic time machine. The atmosphere is enhanced by small motifs of water sprites, water nymphs, aquatic creatures and plants; in the evening hours, the sculptures will be illuminated.

The sculptures are created by a team of experienced sculptors led by Marián Maršálek – Josef Faltus, Jaroslav Fuka and Roman Mikuš. The anniversary edition will commemorate the twenty-year history of the event through a catalog titled "Sand Sculptures in Písek 2007–2026." The exhibition is freely accessible with free admission. The event is organized by the Department of Culture and Education of the City of Písek.