Galveston Sandcastle Festival

September 19-20

The American Institute of Architects and La Izquierda Fest partner to enrich the annual AIA Sandcastle Competition with music, vendors, and family-friendly activities at East Beach.

Competing teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event, the teams – stretched along the beach front – meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours.

The judging of the sculptures is rated on the originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sand, and sun.

THE SAND SCULPTURES 
Please respect the hard work of our participants by not touching any of the sand sculptures even after the event.  Many spectators visit the beach the next day, on Sunday, to view and enjoy the sculptures.

(Pictured: 2025 Gold Bucket Winner [1st Place], Shrek Love Island by PGAL + Manhattan)

Tickets

Ticket information coming soon!

Schedule

SATURDAY
6:30am Beach opens for teams and sponsors
10:00am Public is encouraged to begin to arrive to watch the competition
10:00am – 3:00pm Teams compete and build
10:00am – 4:00pm Castle Creation Kid Zone
10:00am – 4:00pm Solar Cooking Demonstration
11:00am | 1:00pm | 3:00pm Sandcastle Building Lessons from a Pro
3:00pm – 4:30pm Judging
5:00pm Awards
Music until 9:00pm

EVENT SHUTTLE
Skip the lines and ride the shuttle from Stewart Beach, just 2 miles away from all the fun! Stewart Beach shuttle offers a shaded waiting area, access to an air-conditioned gift shop, and two continuous shuttles running every 15 minutes from 9:00AM to 9:30PM, ensuring a breezy arrival and departure experience for all.

ACCESSIBILITY
Free beach wheelchairs are available at East Beach on a first come first serve basis and cannot be reserved. They glide through the sand with ease and float in the water, but they are not self-propelled and therefore require assistance to push the wheelchair.
How to get: Please let the gate attendant know you would like a beach wheelchair and meet a staff member on the east side of the pavilion.

Report Sea Turtles 866-887-8535 (866Turtle5)
Report Stranded Mammals 800-962-6625 (9Mammal)

SUNDAY
10:00am Doors open | live music | vendor village
10:00am – 3:00pm Local’s Amateur Sandcastle Contest
11:00am Bloody Mary Beachside Battle
9:00pm Doors close

(Pictured: 2025 Silver Shovel Winner [2nd Place], Sandor by Stantec + Brookstone + PEA)

Team and Sponsor Information

2026 TIMELINE

Monday, April 6 | Team Registration Begins
Team registration is open to firms that meet the following eligibility requirements: architecture, design, and engineering firms who have at least one AIA Architect or Assoc. AIA Architect on their team; or be an AIA Affiliate Member/Firm. Accredited Architecture, Design and Engineering Universities are allowed to participate in the competition. Only one student team per university is allowed.

Team site selection will be completed on a rolling-basis in the order we recieve team registrations. Please reference the 2026 Official Competition Rules for more information.

Friday, July 17 | Team Registration Ends

Forms Links and Deadlines:
Friday, July 31
– Team and Sponsor T-Shirt and Wristband Order
– Tent Rental

Monday, August 17
– Theme-Based Category Selection
– Ice Order Form

Monday, August 17 | Free Team Sign Artwork Deadline
Please provide a print-ready, 24″ x 36″ file with a 5″ white bar on the bottom of your design
Illustrator • Print ready PDF • TIFF • EPS
Signs will be printed exclusively on our direct-to-substrate printer on 3/16” Gator Board and will be ready for pickup the week of the event.
Printing sponsored by ARC Riot

Wednesday, September 2 | T-Shirt Distribution Party (5:00-7:00pm) 
Team and sponsor groups must send at least one representative to pick up t-shirts, vehicle beach pass and event participant wristbands. RSVP required to attend. Complimentary food and drink for attendees.
Location: Cookchill: Luxury Kitchen and Appliance Show Room Houston

September 19-20| Galveston Sandcastle Festival! 

OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES
To be uploaded soon.

THEME-BASED CATEGORIES 
Each team is permitted to enter only one of the Theme-Based Categories listed below:

To be announced

AWARDS
Each team is automatically entered in each of the overall categories listed below:

Gold Bucket (1st Place)
Silver Shovel (2nd Place)
Bronze Shovel ( 3rd Place ) 
AIA College Challenge (awarded only to university student teams) 
Team Signage 
Team T-Shirt 
811 Presents: Most Sustainable Team

Each team will be considered for an award for the Theme-Based Category it has entered.

Vendor Village

This weekend of colossal sandcastles, music, and beachside fun draws over 10,000 people to Galveston’s East Beach within the span of 2 days. Our vendor village features a variety of vendors, small business owners, creators, artists, and more. Everyone is welcome, from established businesses to start ups!

Vendor Registration
Earlybird Vendor Applications (with $80 discount) close July 31st
Vendor Applications close September 4th

Vendor Village Hours
Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm (Vendors must stay until 6pm, but may stay until 10pm)
Sunday: 10:00am – 6:00pm (Vendors must stay until 6pm)