History of the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest
More than 60 years ago, the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest was created to spread hope and joy to residents and visitors following the collapse of the Elk Creek Bridge. As the oldest and original sandcastle contest in Oregon, the sandcastle contest continues to bring in thousands of visitors each year. With Haystack Rock as the backdrop to the weekend-long festivities, attending the contest is the hallmark of a Cannon Beach summer.
2026 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest Details
This year’s Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest will run from June 19th through June 21st. Saturday is when all the fun happens. Teams will work to construct towering masterpieces made of only sand and water. If you want to view the sculptures, make sure to attend Saturday’s festivities, as the evening tide will wash away all the work by nightfall.
Saturday night, the celebrations will continue! Bring your beach chairs and enjoy an evening of live music by CJ and the Wild Tides, delicious s’mores courtesy of the Cannon Beach Bakery, and fun for the whole family.
2026 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Schedule
Fri. Jun 19
- 10 AM-7:30 PM | Contestant Packet n’ Pail Pickup at the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
- 10 AM-5 PM | Live Sandcastle Demonstration with Bill Rose on the beach off 2nd St.
- 5-7:30 PM | Sandcastle Kick Off Celebration at Steidel Community Hall
Sat. June 20
- 8:30 AM | Beach opens for parking
- 9:00 AM | Sandcastle Contest Building begins
- 2:00 PM | Final Judging
- 3:00 PM | All cars must be off the beach
- 7:00 PM -10 PM | Bonfire, S’mores & Music, Free admission and located on the beach at the West end of 2nd St.
Sun. June 21
- 8 AM | Registration and check-in for Singing Sands 5k Fun Run opens on the beach at the Tolovana Wayside beach entrance.
- 9 AM | Singing Sands 5K Fun Run begins
Plan Ahead for Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest 2027!
While we have a very limited selection of Cannon Beach vacation rentals for the contest in 2026, we highly recommend planning ahead and booking your stay for the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest in 2027! Contest date is tentatively scheduled for June 12, 2027.