Jesolo hosts giant sand sculptures this Christmas
Every year sculptors from around the world descend on Jesolo, a seaside resort near Venice in north-east Italy, for an annual sand festival dedicated to religious art.
The 2025 edition of the popular event, celebrating its 23rd year, can be visited from 29 November until 8 February 2026.
On display are monumental sculptures, made entirely of sand, depicting Nativity scenes as well as messages of peace.
The 15 participating sculptors from around the world have used thousands of tons of compacted sand to create their masterpieces which appear to be carved from stone.
Instead the works have been created with the most ephemeral of materials – without a drop of glue used – relying only on skill and water.
Sand artists at work in Jesolo. Photo Comune di Jesolo.
This year’s event is dedicated to the Canticle of Creatures by St Francis, on the 800th anniversary of its writing, co-ordinated by artistic director David Ducharme from Canada.
Ducharme took over this role three years ago from American Richard Varano who gained global recognition in 2018 when he oversaw the creation of a giant sand Nativity scene at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Founded in 2002, the Jesolo event has welcomed more than two million visitors over the last two decades, raising over €1 million for international charities and local associations.
For more information about the festival and for visiting details see the Jesolo Sand Nativity website.
Cover photo: Detail of Nativity (2021) by Susanne Marguerite, David Ducharme and Marielle Heessels.
