Fairs/Festivals
ARToberFEST Galveston 2026
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Submission Limit: 1
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 5, Max: 5
- Total | Max: 5
Opportunity Summary
Mark Your Calendar for ARToberFEST 2026 Voted One of the Top 200 Art Shows in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine!
Join us for Galveston's 29th Annual ARToberFEST, the premier juried fine art festival on the Gulf Coast! This unforgettable two-day outdoor event takes place in the heart of Galveston's Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District on October 17th & 18th, 2026.
Nestled among the charm of Postoffice Street, ARToberFEST transforms the Downtown Cultural Arts District into a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community. With its growing reputation as a top-tier juried event, ARToberFEST attracts 8,000–10,000 attendees each year who come to experience the very best in fine art, live music, delicious food, and island hospitality.
ARToberFEST donates free booth space to local high school and college art students, to enable them to obtain valuable experience in the real world of creating, marketing, and selling their artwork. All proceeds from ARToberFEST will benefit educational programs at The Grand 1894 Opera House.
Join us for Galveston's 29th Annual ARToberFEST, the premier juried fine art festival on the Gulf Coast! This unforgettable two-day outdoor event takes place in the heart of Galveston's Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District on October 17th & 18th, 2026.
Nestled among the charm of Postoffice Street, ARToberFEST transforms the Downtown Cultural Arts District into a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community. With its growing reputation as a top-tier juried event, ARToberFEST attracts 8,000–10,000 attendees each year who come to experience the very best in fine art, live music, delicious food, and island hospitality.
ARToberFEST donates free booth space to local high school and college art students, to enable them to obtain valuable experience in the real world of creating, marketing, and selling their artwork. All proceeds from ARToberFEST will benefit educational programs at The Grand 1894 Opera House.
General Information
This event is an in-person event.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Show Date:
In-person showdate: Saturday October 17, 2026 10am to 5pm and Sunday October 19, 2026 10am to 4pm
Application deadline: Friday, May 30, 2026 until Midnight CST
Only one application per artist. If you are planning to sell in more than one category please make sure you showcase all media that you plan to sell. Make sure to apply in the category that contains the main medium.
Jury: Occurs the week of June 1-7, 2026
Acceptance notification: June 9, 2026
Booth Purchase deadline July 17, 2026.
In-person event
Load in Friday October 16th late afternoon TBA
Application Fee $25 non-refundable.
Booth Fee Single Booth 10X10 $200
Double Booth 10X20 $400 Please note there are a limited number of double booths available. These are on first come first serve basis.
Categories accepted:
1. Ceramics: original clay work other than jewelry
2. Digital: original computer generated art, photographs that are artistically manipulated using a computer
3. Drawing: two-dimensional works in pencil, chalk, pastel, charcoal, pen & ink
4. Fiber/Textiles: any wearable work crafted from fiber, excluding leather and jewelry
5. Functional Art (includes furniture, wearable art, etc.)
6. Glass: glasswork that has been hand-crafted by glassblowing, molding, casting or kiln-forming
7. Jewelry:
8. Leather: any work crafted of leather excluding jewelry
9. Metal: any work crafted of metal other than jewelry
10. Mixed Media: 2 or 3-dimensional work that incorporates more than one type of physical material in their production.
11. Painting/ Acrylic or Oil / Watercolor
12. PhotographyDigital /Traditional Film
13. Printmaking/ Intaglio, Relief and Planographic
14. Wood: original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved
15. Sculpture made from any medium
16. Other Please send in only one application. You may submit 4 images of all work being considered and one booth shot. 5 Images total. If you are a new artist and do not have a booth shot please add an additional image of your work.
Festival Amenities:
24-hour security starting at load-in through complete load-out Booth-sitting provided by Galveston Police Department.
Boothsitter artist available on request by calling number on back of exhibitor badge.
Artist Hospitality table will provide complimentary coffee and pastries which will be served on Saturday at 7:30 am to 9:00 am and Sunday at 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Boxed lunches available for purchase and delivered to your booth $12 per box
Hands-on art activities for kids
Live Music
Online presence on ARToberFEST Website and a fully promoted
One Free Parking Pass for each participating Artist for each day of show Saturday and Sunday. Additional passes are available for $10 if needed. Artist must provide his or her own parking the day of load in.
Sales Tax Information Artist will be responsible for collecting and paying sales tax of 8.25% on all items that you sell. Galveston has a city sales tax of 2%, and Texas state sales tax is 6.25%. Galveston Island sales tax and Texas state sales tax are not filed separately. All sales taxes are filed through the Texas Comptroller’s Office. You can contact the Texas Comptroller’s Office with questions at (800) 252-5555 or check their website at http://www.window.state.tx.us. Under the “I Want To…” section of the Comptroller’s Office website, the first link on the list, File/pay sales and other taxes with WebFile, allows you to file/pay your State Sales Tax online. All Artists must have a valid Texas Sales Tax Permit, which can be obtained through the Texas Comptroller’s Office. You can obtain one online by following this link: http://www.window.state.tx.us and clicking on the “Apply for a sales tax permit” link located towards the bottom of the list in the middle of the page. Sales tax will already be handled on the eventney site for online presence.
Jury Information
Jury consists of 3 jurors. All jurors are selected from local Community Arts Organizations based on their specific interests, professional knowledge and/or background. Jurors change with each event. Work is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 with a possibility of 15 points max. The body of work is viewed together. Jurors are not shown the artist's name or any other identifying information. Jurors are asked to review all applications. Applicants will be notified of event acceptance or decline status by email by the date noted on the application. The juror’s decisions are conducted as a personal critique and as such, individual responses are not recorded. A perfect score of 15 receives a ribbon indicating Best of Show and automatic acceptance to the following year and expempt from the jury. However, the artist must pay for application fee and booth space.
Festival Eligibility and Rules
By paying for your booth and participating in ARToberFEST, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:
Eligibility
• ARToberFEST is open to individual fine artists and craftsmen, displaying their own original work. Artists must be present at the festival. • No kits, molds, or edible art may be submitted.
• Artist representatives and agents, or gallery owners, will not be eligible.
• Participation is limited to a maximum125 juried artists.
• Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry.
• Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the graphics/printmaking category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Reproductions of other 2-D work must be clearly labeled “Reproduction”.
• Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.
• Participating exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying current city and state sales tax for all sales made during the show. Refund Policy Deadlines
• 50% refund available until September 1, 2026 • No refund available after September 1, 2026 • If Festival is called off by State or City Government for public health risks then artist will receive full refund of booth fee.
Booth Placement • Returning artists may request the same location as in a previous year but it is not guaranteed. We may move people in order to keep the venue fresh for our patrons. • Booth assignments for new artists are at the discretion of the Festival organizers. • Though we can’t guarantee all artists will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the artist in the general location that is requested.
Tent Specifications • Each artist must supply their own 10’ x 10’ clean white tent. Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’. • Each artist’s tent will have at least 5’ of space on sides of the tent to provide up to 3-sided customer access; the configuration is up to you. • As the Festival takes place on concrete streets, you must provide a minimum of 50 lbs weights for your booth per leg • ARToberFEST will not allow the use of any lightweight EZ up or pop up tents for an artist’s display. Artists are to provide tent structures of professional grade, which are properly weighted with at least 50 pounds on each tent leg.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Show Date:
In-person showdate: Saturday October 17, 2026 10am to 5pm and Sunday October 19, 2026 10am to 4pm
Application deadline: Friday, May 30, 2026 until Midnight CST
Only one application per artist. If you are planning to sell in more than one category please make sure you showcase all media that you plan to sell. Make sure to apply in the category that contains the main medium.
Jury: Occurs the week of June 1-7, 2026
Acceptance notification: June 9, 2026
Booth Purchase deadline July 17, 2026.
In-person event
Load in Friday October 16th late afternoon TBA
Application Fee $25 non-refundable.
Booth Fee Single Booth 10X10 $200
Double Booth 10X20 $400 Please note there are a limited number of double booths available. These are on first come first serve basis.
Categories accepted:
1. Ceramics: original clay work other than jewelry
2. Digital: original computer generated art, photographs that are artistically manipulated using a computer
3. Drawing: two-dimensional works in pencil, chalk, pastel, charcoal, pen & ink
4. Fiber/Textiles: any wearable work crafted from fiber, excluding leather and jewelry
5. Functional Art (includes furniture, wearable art, etc.)
6. Glass: glasswork that has been hand-crafted by glassblowing, molding, casting or kiln-forming
7. Jewelry:
8. Leather: any work crafted of leather excluding jewelry
9. Metal: any work crafted of metal other than jewelry
10. Mixed Media: 2 or 3-dimensional work that incorporates more than one type of physical material in their production.
11. Painting/ Acrylic or Oil / Watercolor
12. PhotographyDigital /Traditional Film
13. Printmaking/ Intaglio, Relief and Planographic
14. Wood: original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved
15. Sculpture made from any medium
16. Other Please send in only one application. You may submit 4 images of all work being considered and one booth shot. 5 Images total. If you are a new artist and do not have a booth shot please add an additional image of your work.
Festival Amenities:
24-hour security starting at load-in through complete load-out Booth-sitting provided by Galveston Police Department.
Boothsitter artist available on request by calling number on back of exhibitor badge.
Artist Hospitality table will provide complimentary coffee and pastries which will be served on Saturday at 7:30 am to 9:00 am and Sunday at 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Boxed lunches available for purchase and delivered to your booth $12 per box
Hands-on art activities for kids
Live Music
Online presence on ARToberFEST Website and a fully promoted
One Free Parking Pass for each participating Artist for each day of show Saturday and Sunday. Additional passes are available for $10 if needed. Artist must provide his or her own parking the day of load in.
Sales Tax Information Artist will be responsible for collecting and paying sales tax of 8.25% on all items that you sell. Galveston has a city sales tax of 2%, and Texas state sales tax is 6.25%. Galveston Island sales tax and Texas state sales tax are not filed separately. All sales taxes are filed through the Texas Comptroller’s Office. You can contact the Texas Comptroller’s Office with questions at (800) 252-5555 or check their website at http://www.window.state.tx.us. Under the “I Want To…” section of the Comptroller’s Office website, the first link on the list, File/pay sales and other taxes with WebFile, allows you to file/pay your State Sales Tax online. All Artists must have a valid Texas Sales Tax Permit, which can be obtained through the Texas Comptroller’s Office. You can obtain one online by following this link: http://www.window.state.tx.us and clicking on the “Apply for a sales tax permit” link located towards the bottom of the list in the middle of the page. Sales tax will already be handled on the eventney site for online presence.
Jury Information
Jury consists of 3 jurors. All jurors are selected from local Community Arts Organizations based on their specific interests, professional knowledge and/or background. Jurors change with each event. Work is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 with a possibility of 15 points max. The body of work is viewed together. Jurors are not shown the artist's name or any other identifying information. Jurors are asked to review all applications. Applicants will be notified of event acceptance or decline status by email by the date noted on the application. The juror’s decisions are conducted as a personal critique and as such, individual responses are not recorded. A perfect score of 15 receives a ribbon indicating Best of Show and automatic acceptance to the following year and expempt from the jury. However, the artist must pay for application fee and booth space.
Festival Eligibility and Rules
By paying for your booth and participating in ARToberFEST, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:
Eligibility
• ARToberFEST is open to individual fine artists and craftsmen, displaying their own original work. Artists must be present at the festival. • No kits, molds, or edible art may be submitted.
• Artist representatives and agents, or gallery owners, will not be eligible.
• Participation is limited to a maximum125 juried artists.
• Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry.
• Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the graphics/printmaking category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Reproductions of other 2-D work must be clearly labeled “Reproduction”.
• Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.
• Participating exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying current city and state sales tax for all sales made during the show. Refund Policy Deadlines
• 50% refund available until September 1, 2026 • No refund available after September 1, 2026 • If Festival is called off by State or City Government for public health risks then artist will receive full refund of booth fee.
Booth Placement • Returning artists may request the same location as in a previous year but it is not guaranteed. We may move people in order to keep the venue fresh for our patrons. • Booth assignments for new artists are at the discretion of the Festival organizers. • Though we can’t guarantee all artists will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the artist in the general location that is requested.
Tent Specifications • Each artist must supply their own 10’ x 10’ clean white tent. Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’. • Each artist’s tent will have at least 5’ of space on sides of the tent to provide up to 3-sided customer access; the configuration is up to you. • As the Festival takes place on concrete streets, you must provide a minimum of 50 lbs weights for your booth per leg • ARToberFEST will not allow the use of any lightweight EZ up or pop up tents for an artist’s display. Artists are to provide tent structures of professional grade, which are properly weighted with at least 50 pounds on each tent leg.
Application Requirements
Festival Eligibility and Rules
By paying for your booth and participating in ARToberFEST, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:
Eligibility
Refund Policy Deadlines
By paying for your booth and participating in ARToberFEST, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:
Eligibility
- ARToberFEST is open to individual fine artists and craftsmen, displaying their own original work. Artists must be present at the festival.
- No kits, molds, or edible art may be submitted.
- Artist representatives and agents, or gallery owners, will not be eligible.
- Participation is limited to a maximum125 juried artists.
- Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry.
- Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the graphics/printmaking category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Reproductions of other 2-D work must be clearly labeled “Reproduction”.
- Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.
- Participating exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying current city and state sales tax for all sales made during the show.
Refund Policy Deadlines
- 50% refund available until September 1, 2026
- No refund available after September 1, 2026
- If Festival is called off by State or City Government for public health risks then artist will recieve full refund of booth fee not on application fee.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
200
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
122
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
3
Booth Information
Booth Placement
- Returning artists may request the same location as in a previous year but it is not guaranteed. We may move people in order to keep the venue fresh for our patrons.
- Booth assignments for new artists are at the discretion of the festival organizers.
- Though we can’t guarantee all artists will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the artist in the general location that is requested.
- Each artist must supply their own 10’ x 10’ clean white tent. Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’.
- Each artist’s tent will have at least 5’ of space on sides of the tent to provide up to 3-sided customer access; the configuration is up to you.
- As the Festival takes place on concrete streets, you must provide a minimum of 50 lbs weights for your booth per leg
- ARToberFEST will not allow the use of any lightweight EZ up or pop up tents for an artist’s display. Artists are to provide tent structures of professional grade, which are properly weighted with at least 50 pounds on each tent leg.
- Festival may add extra weight to your tent if the organizer feels your tent is not weighted properly.
Refund Policy
Refund Policy Deadlines
- 50% refund available until September 1, 2026
- No refund available after September 1, 2026
- If Festival is called off by State or City Government for public health risks then artist will recieve full refund of booth fee not on application fee.
Terms to Apply
