SWELL Sculpture Festival’s 2026 Currumbin exhibition has finished. From 11 to 20 September, visitors could see the outdoor sculptures for free, with selected works lit from 5 to 9 pm. It made an afternoon visit from Main Beach worth extending after sunset.
The organiser has confirmed a return to Currumbin Beach from 9 to 19 September 2027. The lighting, shuttle and programme details below describe 2026. Check the next edition’s arrangements before building an evening around them.
Arrive while you can still see the details
The 2026 exhibition brought more than 100 artworks to the coast between Currumbin Beach and Flat Rock, Tugun. Arriving in daylight gave visitors time to find their way before deciding where to spend the evening.
Some visitors chose a few works to revisit after five. Seeing the same sculpture in daylight and under its evening lighting gave them something to compare on the return walk.
The exhibition extended along the coast, so there was no need to reach every work to have a worthwhile visit. The 2026 maps helped visitors judge how far to wander and how much energy to save for the return journey.
Five o’clock changes the plan
SWELL’s 2026 visitor FAQs distinguished the outdoor exhibition, open all hours, from the staffed Information Hubs, open 8 am–5 pm. Only a selection of sculptures was lit; the whole walking route was not illuminated.
Sort the return before heading south
In 2026, the organiser offered a free park-and-ride from Currumbin RSL. Its transport page listed the last return departure as 4.45 pm, from outside Wallace Nicoll Park on Pacific Parade.
That timing ruled out using the shuttle after the evening lights. Visitors staying later needed another way back. It is a useful reminder for 2027: check the whole trip from Main Beach, including connections and the return service, once the organiser publishes its new transport plan.
A light layer and a flexible dinner plan made room for both a daylight walk and the illuminated display.
A Main Beach morning either side
The Crest puts Tedder Avenue’s cafés about two minutes away on foot. That makes coffee close to the apartment easy before a Currumbin trip or the following morning. The full kitchen also leaves room for an early dinner before an evening exhibition.
Browse The Crest’s apartments for a stay that combines Main Beach mornings with SWELL 9–19 September 2027. Before setting out, check the organiser’s new programme, lighting and transport information for your chosen day, especially if you intend to stay after dark.
