Bethesda Row Arts Festival 2026

We invite you to apply to the 28th Bethesda Row Arts Festival
Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13, 2026

ABOUT BRAF

Every September, over 30,000 affluent art enthusiasts from the Washington, DC Metro Area and its surrounding suburbs, including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and the Upper Northwest, converge upon the Bethesda Row Arts Festival. The three-mile radius surrounding the Festival boasts an average household income of $196,910, positioning it as one of the nation’s most affluent and educated art marketplaces.

Renowned for its exceptional quality, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival is highly esteemed by artists and is frequently recognized as one of the country’s premier events. The competition is fierce, and the caliber of art presented demands the utmost creativity and skill.

To effectively promote this remarkable event, we have implemented a comprehensive marketing strategy that integrates targeted social media and internet campaigns, print advertisements in magazines and newspapers, postcards, posters, and radio promotions. Additionally, our public relations firm collaborates with the local chamber of commerce and urban district to foster community engagement and expand the festival’s reach.

Do not miss the opportunity to be an integral part of this unforgettable experience. 

NOTE: This show is not recommended for anyone who has not shown at similar outdoor fine arts events.

BASIC INFORMATION

Dates and Times: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10:00am to 6:00pm; Sunday, September 13, 2026, 10:00 am to 5:00pm
 

Location: Five blocks of Bethesda, Maryland (20814) The center of the show is at 4801 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
 

Attendance: 30,000+ high-income art lovers
 

Festival Director: Jon Gann
 

Office Mailing Address: 14803 Southlawn Lane, Suite L-N, Rockville, MD 20850
 

Telephone: 301-637-5684
 

Email: director@bethesdarowarts.org
 

Festival Website: bethesdarowarts.org
 

Application Fee: $65
 

Booth Fees: 10' X 10' space is $680. There are a limited number of double spaces available. Details below.
 

Application Images: 4 images of work + 1 outdoor booth image. 
 

Jury: Images electronically reviewed using a scale of 1-5. Details below.
 

Jurors: Three paid art professionals, including at least one working artist.
 

Award Winners: Jury exempt for 2027 Show.
 

Number of Artists Exempt from Jury: 19 (Award Winners from 2025)
 

Cash Awards:

• Best in Show $2,500
• Second place $1,250
• Third place $750
• Category Winners (16) Jury Fee waived for 2027 Show
   

Security: Police detail, 24 hours. Details below.
 

Hospitality: Snacks and beverages are provided during show hours. Portajohns on-site. Local hotel discounts. Booth Sitters are available on-demand. For details, read below.
 

Artist Parking: Only trailers and RVs may park at our offsite lot four blocks away. Sprinter vans and other vehicles will be directed to local surface parking lots: paid on Saturday, free on Sunday. Details below.

 

CALENDAR OF DEADLINES AND EVENTS

JANUARY 15, 2026 — APPLICATION OPENS

$65 non-refundable application fee

APRIL 30, 2026 — APPLICATION DEADLINE

JUNE 1, 2026 — EMAIL INVITATIONS

Invited artists have two (2) weeks to respond.

Invitations are guaranteed by paying the booth fees: $650 for single 10’x10’ booth, or $1,300 for a limited number of 10’x20’ double booths (available on a first-buy basis.)

JUNE 15, 2026 — WAITLIST OPENS 

Any unpaid invitation (Zapp status change to CONFIRMED) will be offered to waitlisted artists. Invited artists are no longer guaranteed a space — the show will fill up on a first-paid basis.

JUNE 30, 2026 — FINAL DAY TO ACCEPT AND PAY 

AUGUST 10, 2026 — BOOTH ASSIGNMENTS AND LOAD-IN TIMES EMAILED

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026

• 4:00am — Load-In begins. Drive-up times are assigned based on location and traffic logistics. Dolly-only load-ins allowed at any time, and must be pre-scheduled.
• 7:00am — Last Drive-In assignment
• 8:00am — Dolly-only setup ends
• 10:00am - 6:00pm — Show Hours

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026

• 8:00am - 9:00am — Awards Breakfast (TBD)
• 10:00am - 5:00pm — Show Hours
• 5:00pm - 8:00pm — Teardown. All artists must be off the streets and sidewalks by 8:00pm. Anyone remaining at 8:00pm must be parked in a legal space with their possessions off the street to avoid a ticket.

APPLICATION JURY PROCESS

Artistic excellence is the sole criteria for selection of exhibitors.

The application opens on January 15, 2026 at bethesdarowarts.org. In addition to general questions (name, address, etc.), you must submit four (4) digital images of your artwork, and one (1) image of your booth or sales display. NOTE: The booth image is only used to verify previous experience with similar shows. It is not used in jury scoring. 

Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges composed of practicing artists and full-time art professionals. Images are evaluated by jurors in a confidential online process. Artists are identified by a numerical designation and are judged solely through the digital images submitted. Digital images are presented in a single row, displaying the materials and dimensions for each image, as well as artist information statements.

The jury employs a rating scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1 indicating “do not consider” and 5 indicating “a perfect fit”). The three jury scores are aggregated to derive a combined score. The Show Director sorts all of the scores and determines an appropriate number of artists in each category based on past sales and audience preferences. Approximately 180 top applicants will receive invitations, while about three dozen of the next highest-scoring artists comprise the waitlist.

SHOW INVITATIONS

On June 1, 2026, invitations will be emailed, and artists will have two weeks to confirm participation by purchasing a booth space. 

On June 15, 2026, waitlisted artists will be invited to participate. Initial invitations will no longer be guaranteed. The show will fill up through a first-paid basis..

AWARDS  PROCESS AT THE SHOW

BEST OF SHOW JUDGING

Begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Judges will stop by each booth and will leave behind different colored stickers on a provided booth identification sign.  Please place your supplied booth sign on the outside entrance of your tent — the jury will not judge any artist who does not display the booth sign. If for some reason you did not speak with a judge or a colored sticker was not left on your booth sign, please notify your Street Captain.

BEST OF SHOW AWARDS & CERTIFICATES

Certificates will be awarded first thing in the morning on Sunday. Best of Show will receive $2,500, Second Place will receive $1,500 and Third Place will receive $1,000, Category Winners will receive $50. Award winners will be jury exempt and receive preference for corner booth requests in 2027.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

BRAF allows submission in multiple categories. If invited into the show, you may only exhibit and sell items in the accepted category. You will be asked to remove non-compliant works.

• CERAMICS: Original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.
   
• DIGITAL ART: Includes any original work in which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using the computer. Work must be in editions, signed and numbered, on archival papers, inks and emulsions.
   
• DRAWING: Work created using dry medium including pencil, chalk, pastel or charcoal, etc. or from fluid mediums like inks and washes applied by pen or brush. A minimum of 75% of work for sale (hanging and in bins) must be original works. Hand-colored reproductions are not considered originals. All work must be clearly labeled as original or reproduction.
   
• FIBER — DECORATIVE: Any work created from fiber, including leather and basketry. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass productions allowed.
   
• FIBER — WEARABLE: Any work created from fiber, including leather. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass productions allowed.
   
• GLASS: Glasswork that has been handcrafted by glass blowing, molding, casting or kiln-forming. No alterations of pre-fabricated glass objects.
   
• GRAPHICS/PRINTMAKING: Original works created using traditional printmaking methods including block, lithograph, serigraph, etc.
   
• JEWELRY: All jewelry must be entered into this category. NO STRUNG PEARLS OR BEADS. You may only display jewelry if you have been accepted in this category.
   
• METALWORK: Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
   
• MIXED MEDIA 2D: Two-dimensional work that incorporated more than one type of physical material in their production.
   
• MIXED MEDIA 3D: Three-dimensional work that incorporates more than one type of physical material in their production.
   
• OIL/ACRYLIC: Two-dimensional work created in oils / acrylics. A minimum of 75% of work for sale (hanging and in bins) must be original works. Hand-colored reproductions are not considered originals. All work must be clearly labeled as original or reproduction.
   
• PHOTOGRAPHY: Prints created from the artist's original negative processed by the artist. Prints must be framed to hang on the walls. If prints are in a bin, they must be matted and signed.
   
• SCULPTURE: Three-dimensional work created in any medium.
   
• WATERCOLOR: Creation of a still life, portrait, landscape, abstract or other image on a flat surface with watercolors. A minimum of 75% of work for sale (hanging and in bins) must be original works. Hand-colored reproductions are not considered originals. All work must be clearly labeled as original or reproduction.
   
• WOOD: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

Applications are accepted via ZAPP only. No slides, CD's of images, or other envelopes, packages or boxes will be reviewed or returned. Award winners from the 2025 show are exempt from the jury process.

1. Applicants must create 100% of all work displayed. Artwork on display must be consistent with the images submitted for jurying. Artists may only exhibit work in the medium (media) for which they were selected.
    
2. Each exhibitor is responsible for the sale of his/her work. No agents or representatives are permitted.
    
3. Each artist must be present for the entire show. If accepted as collaboration, both artists must be present. No representatives or sales agents allowed.
    
4. All artwork must be signed by the artist.
    
5. Reproductions must be clearly marked. Each reproduction must be signed, numbered and clearly labeled "reproduction" and must comprise less than 25% of art for sale by an artist. Reproductions may not be framed. 
    
6.  BRAF allows submission in multiple categories. If invited into the show, you may only exhibit and sell items in the accepted category. You will be asked to remove non-compliant works. 

BOOTH INFORMATION

BOOTH IDENTIFICATION SIGNS
All booths will be provided with a hanging sign with the artist's name, hometown, website (if provided), indication as a new artist, and past jury winner. These signs must be hung in a prominent location for guests to locate you from information on our website. Our jury places stickers on these signs after they have reviewed your booth. Your Street Captain has extra zip ties.  

NO ELECTRICITY
There is no electricity at this show, and generators are not allowed. Artists are encouraged to use battery-powered lighting.

NO STORAGE POLICY
Since we are guests in a very active urban shopping/dining/entertainment mecca, storage is non-existent at this show, so lease plan accordingly. Booths are placed back-to-back, and sidewalks and bike lanes cannot be used for storage. Anyone in violation will first be asked to remove their items; a second violation will result in a $250 fine, and a third violation will result in a permanent ban from the festival. This policy is strictly enforced.

NO AWNINGS
In order to allow emergency vehicles to pass through, there are no front or side awnings or protrusions allowed outside the 10’x10’ or 10’x20’ footprint of your booth space.

SECURITY AND OVERNIGHT ARTWORK REMOVAL
Please notify your Street Captain if you plan to remove your artwork Saturday night to arrange a set load-out time. You may not drive up to your booth without an assigned time. Artists leave artwork in their booth at their own risk. PLEASE NOTE: while BRAF provides 24-hour police security at this show, the festival does not accept liability for loss/theft/damage.

TENT WEIGHTS
All tents must be weighted. You must have four (4) weights on your tent, with a minimum of 40 pounds each. If you do not bring enough weights, you will be asked to remove your tent and/or leave the show. Because of insurance issues, we are unable to supply weights without a full tent rental. No stakes, drilling into the street, or tying down to Bethesda Row property is allowed. 

RAIN OR SHINE
The show is held rain or shine. We monitor for inclement weather. The show will close early if, in our sole judgment, weather is considered potentially dangerous.

RENTED BOOTHS
We offer a limited number of rentable tent packages ($1,360 includes booth space fee). An example of the tents can be viewed at https://bit.ly/braftentsample  The walls and ceiling are opaque coated canvas. Depending on setup, the concrete block weights may reside inside your tent. All tent packages are supplied with two 6’ tables and 2 chairs. Tents are fully weighted. We highly recommend bringing a small step ladder to open and close your tent before/after the show. BRAF staff is not available nor allowed to assist with the opening or closing of your tent.

REFUND POLICY

There are no refunds of application fees. If you’re accepted into the Festival and pay your booth fee, you commit. This commitment prevents other artists from participating, so no refunds will be made. For booth tent rentals, a refund of $680 will be issued if cancelled within 15 days of the event.