From 10 to 17 May, Jelgava will host the competition of the 19th International Sand Sculpture Festival “SAND SIGNS 2025”, bringing together the finest sand sculptors from all over the world. This year the festival's theme is “Mythical Figures”, inviting artists to bring legends, mythological heroes and mythical creatures to life.
The International Sand Sculpture Festival in Jelgava is one of the most significant art events in the Baltic region, where professional sculptors demonstrate their mastery by creating impressive large-format sculptures out of sand. This year the festival's theme will bring myths and legends to life – visitors and participants alike can look forward to a journey through the world of mythology, where we will encounter deities as well as fearsome and mysterious beings.
The Sand Sculpture Park will shine with the Old Norse goddess Freyja, Radegast – the Slavic god of the sun, abundance and harvest – and the Sirens, the dangerous creatures of Greek mythology. Visitors will also be able to meet the mysterious humanoid Wendigo from the folklore of Canada's First Nations and the werewolf Vovkulaka, found in the myths of various cultures around the world. Each sculpture will not only tell a legend but also astonish with its refined artistic and technical execution. The festival's most ambitious work of art will be the demonstration sculpture – Medusa – created by Latvian sculptor Agnese Rudzīte-Kirillova.
A total of 35 sketches were submitted to this year's competition, and after careful selection 15 sculptors from 11 countries were chosen. Their task will be to transform sand into works of art in which myths and legends come alive – from the deities and heroes of ancient civilisations to the mysterious beings that have been shrouded in a veil of magic and mystique for generations.