Neretva Delta to become canvas for giant sand artworks

The sandy landscape at the mouth of the Neretva River will be transformed into a temporary open-air art gallery this week as artists create monumental drawings in the sand for the sixth Sand Art Neretva festival.

The festival, known as SAN, takes place from 2 to 5 October 2026 at the Neretva Delta near Ploče, bringing together visual art, nature and the local community.

The large-scale works are created directly on the expansive sandy beaches of the river mouth. Designed to be viewed from above, the drawings reveal their full scale and geometric forms in aerial images, while their temporary nature means they will eventually disappear under the influence of the tide, wind and other natural elements.

This year’s festival features artists from Osijek, Zadar, Pula and the Neretva Valley.

Festival artistic director Nikola Faller will be joined by Koraljko Greben, Ružica Segarić, Deborah Trusgnach, Matej Šimunić and Mira Sekereš.

Their work will be documented throughout the creative process by photographer Tomislav Šilovinac. Ground-level photography will capture the artists at work and the details of the drawings, while drone footage will show the completed designs in their entirety.

The programme is timed around the tides, with the start of drawing shifting by roughly 45 minutes each day.

On Friday, 2 October, artists will work from 10:00 to 13:00, followed by Saturday’s session from 10:45 to 13:45. On Sunday, 4 October, drawing is scheduled from 11:30 to 14:30, while the final session on Monday, 5 October, will take place from 12:15 to 15:00.

Sand Art Neretva has been held for six consecutive years, using the distinctive landscape of the Neretva Delta as both its setting and its canvas.

The festival is organised by Slama Association for the Promotion of Artistic Awareness in Society, with the support of the Tourist Board of the City of Ploče, the City of Ploče, the Tourist Board of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia’s Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of Economy and Dance Studio Shine.

Unlike permanent artworks, the creations at Sand Art Neretva are intentionally temporary, with nature eventually returning the sandy canvas to its original state.