Fairs/Festivals
Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival 2026
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Submission Limit: 2
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
- Total | Max: 4
Opportunity Summary
For over half a century, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival has stood as a premier destination for some of the nation’s most distinguished artists. As a top-ranked show by Sunshine Artist (18 in the "100 Best Fine Art and Design Shows of 2024"), we provide a three-day venue that will be productive and enjoyable for about 200 juried artists to connect with our community of loyal patrons and many visiting tourists.
Awards
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is proud to recognize and reward the talent of our participating artists with 23 cash prizes totaling $26,000.
- A Proven Marketplace: It’s tradition. Pensacola residents look forward to spending the first weekend in November shopping for original artwork with family and friends.
- A Historic Backdrop: Showcase your work in the stunning, oak-shaded beauty of Seville Square in beautiful downtown Pensacola – the first European settlement in America.
- Total Celebration: The fine art show is the centerpiece of a weekend that unites music and dance performances, heritage arts, delicious street food and thousands of visitors.
Awards
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is proud to recognize and reward the talent of our participating artists with 23 cash prizes totaling $26,000.
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General Information
GENERAL INFORMATION
Medium Categories:
Ceramics
Drawing
Fiber / Leather
Glass
Printmaking / Graphics
Jewelry
Mixed Media
Painting (oil, acrylics or watercolor)
Photography
Sculpture
Wood
Awards
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is proud to recognize and reward the talent of our participating artists with 23 cash prizes totaling $26,000. (Awards are not based on medium categories.) Additionally, all 2026 award winners receive an automatic jury exemption and priority booth placement for the 2027 festival.
We are committed to providing a supportive environment so you can focus on what matters most—your art and your buyers.
Wait List Policy
To ensure a balanced and competitive show, our jury identifies approximately 70 applicants to serve as alternates across all medium categories.
Medium Categories:
Ceramics
Drawing
Fiber / Leather
Glass
Printmaking / Graphics
Jewelry
Mixed Media
Painting (oil, acrylics or watercolor)
Photography
Sculpture
Wood
Awards
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is proud to recognize and reward the talent of our participating artists with 23 cash prizes totaling $26,000. (Awards are not based on medium categories.) Additionally, all 2026 award winners receive an automatic jury exemption and priority booth placement for the 2027 festival.
- One - Best of Show - $5,000
- Five - $1,400 Awards of Distinction
- Five - $1,200 Awards of Excellence
- Five - $800 Awards of Honor
- Five - $600 Awards of Merit
- Two - $500 Judges’ Awards
We are committed to providing a supportive environment so you can focus on what matters most—your art and your buyers.
- Daily Hospitality: Start each morning with complimentary coffee, fresh fruit, and doughnuts, available Friday through Sunday
- The Friday Night Artist Party: Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6th, for an exclusive Awards Presentation and celebratory party. Relax with an informal buffet featuring a wide selection of food, along with complimentary beer and wine.
- Booth Support: Our dedicated team of volunteers is available for booth sitting throughout the weekend, allowing you to take breaks with peace of mind.
- On-Site ATM: For your collectors' ease and your convenience, an ATM is located on the festival grounds.
Wait List Policy
To ensure a balanced and competitive show, our jury identifies approximately 70 applicants to serve as alternates across all medium categories.
- Curated Waitlist: Should a vacancy occur within a specific category, we select replacements exclusively from this pre-vetted waitlist to maintain the artistic integrity of the show.
Application Requirements
To maintain the high caliber of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and ensure a professional experience for all participants, we ask that exhibitors adhere to the following standards:
Application & Jurying
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is a prestigious, juried event. To ensure the highest level of impartiality, our selection process is conducted as a blind jury.
To preserve our focus on fine art and handcrafted mastery, the following items are not eligible for the fine art show section of the festival:
Commitment to Authenticity & Integrity
To ensure a fair marketplace and protect the professional interests of our artists, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival maintains a strict policy regarding the authenticity of work on display.
Scoring and Judging
GGAF invites two distinguished experts to serve as our jury and awards judges.
Legal Agreement
Please view the Legal Agreement section. (Link below.)
Application & Jurying
- Media Categories: Please select one category that best represents your current body of work. To exhibit in multiple media or showcase two distinct styles, separate applications (including unique images and jury fees) are required. Artists are limited to two applications.
- Anonymity in Jurying: To ensure a fair, blind jurying process, please submit three images of individual pieces and one booth shot. Ensure no legible signatures, artist names or logos are visible in these images.
- Artist Authenticity: All exhibiting artists must be physically present for the duration of the festival. No proxies or representatives are permitted.
- Exhibit Integrity: Artists must display work representative of the category in which they were accepted. Each assigned 10’ x 10’ space is reserved for a single exhibitor (or a pre-approved two-person collaborative team).
- Commitment to Original Work: All displays must consist of the artist’s original designs.
- Reproduction Guidelines: While we prioritize original work, signed and numbered reproductions are permitted if clearly labeled "REPRODUCTION." Framed reproductions may occupy one wall (up to 10 linear feet), while unframed pieces must be organized in viewing bins. All displayed 2D works (watercolors, prints, drawings, and photography) must be appropriately framed.
- Booth Specifications: Standard booth spaces are 10' x 10'. A limited number of expanded 10' x 15' or 10' x 20' spaces are available. Any on-site expansions must be approved by the Art Show Chair and will incur a fee ($175–$350).
- Safety & Security: While Seville Square is patrolled 24/7 by the Pensacola Police during the event, we recommend artists carry sufficient insurance for their work.
- Tent Stability: To meet Fire Marshal requirements, tents must be secured with a minimum of 40 lbs. per leg. Please note that stakes are not permitted in the park.
- Power & Sound: To maintain the serene atmosphere of the park, no electricity or generators are provided (battery power is welcomed). Musical demonstrations are permitted within your booth at a considerate volume; however, amplifiers are not allowed.
- Permits: Artists utilizing double booths or tents exceeding 10' x 10' are responsible for obtaining a $35 City of Pensacola fire permit.
- Sales Tax: Exhibitors are responsible for collecting and reporting the 7.5% Florida sales tax on all transactions.
- Pet Policy: Per City of Pensacola ordinance, pets are not permitted on the festival grounds.
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is a prestigious, juried event. To ensure the highest level of impartiality, our selection process is conducted as a blind jury.
- Judicial Integrity: To maintain anonymity, all personal identifiers—including artist names, company logos, and signatures—must be removed from images and descriptions.
- A Balanced Exhibition: Our goal is to present a diverse and well-rounded show. Rather than adhering to a strict number of exhibits per medium category, we select the most exceptional work.
- Expert Oversight: The Art Show Committee maintains the final authority on show standards and rule interpretations to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for all participants.
- Notification: Artists will be notified of their selection status on July 17, 2026, or shortly thereafter.
To preserve our focus on fine art and handcrafted mastery, the following items are not eligible for the fine art show section of the festival:
- Commercial & Mass-Produced Goods: Buy-sell items, imports, mass-produced jewelry, ram-pressed pottery, and CNC or kit-based work.
- Apparel & Home Novelties: T-shirts, candles, decorated eggs, velvet paintings, and embellished commercially produced garments or furniture.
- Retail & Decorative Items: Art supplies, picture frames, mailboxes, and novelty shell items.
- Specific Craft Items: Decoupage, fork-and-spoon jewelry, and manufactured leather goods such as belts or handbags.
- Learn More: Visit our Heritage Arts Page for details.
Commitment to Authenticity & Integrity
To ensure a fair marketplace and protect the professional interests of our artists, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival maintains a strict policy regarding the authenticity of work on display.
- On-Site Verification: During the festival, committee members may visit any booth to ensure that the work presented aligns with the high standards of the images submitted via ZAPP.
- Consistency in Representation: Artists are expected to display work within the specific category for which they were juried. If work is found to be inconsistent with the submitted application or is categorized incorrectly, the artist will be required to remove those items immediately.
- Professional Accountability: Misrepresentation, including the inclusion of buy-sell or mass-produced items, is taken seriously. Failure to comply with these standards may result in a permanent ban from future festivals and a formal report to the National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA).
Scoring and Judging
GGAF invites two distinguished experts to serve as our jury and awards judges.
- National Expertise: Our judges are meticulously selected from across the United States and include established artists, respected academics, and professional curators with a proven track record of adjudicating major national exhibitions.
- Structured Evaluation: We employ a comprehensive scoring system throughout the selection process to ensure fairness.
- In-Person Award Judging: During the festival, judges individually visit each booth to experience your entire body of wok in person.
Legal Agreement
Please view the Legal Agreement section. (Link below.)
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
550
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
196
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
23
Booth Information
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival offers a standard 10’ x 10” booth size with a limited number of 10” x 15” and 10” x 20” to accommodate your display needs. Please note that corner booths are provided at no additional cost.
To ensure a stress-free experience, we utilize a staggered load-in schedule on Thursday, November 5th. You will receive an email prior to the festival with your assigned space number in the park, a map, and your designated two-hour unloading window. Upon check in on Thursday, you will receive a personalized welcome packet with your booth display card, parking pass (if purchased) and other important materials.
Tear down: At end of show on November 8th.
- 10’ x 10’ Space: $350
- 10’ x 15’ Space: $525
- 10’ x 20’ Space: $700
- Award Winner Priority: Previous year Award Winners enjoy first choice of booth locations.
- Standard Assignments: All other placements are determined by the Booth Payment Date, beginning July 22nd at noon CDT. Assignments are time-stamped via ZAPP, so early payment is encouraged to secure your preferred area.
To ensure a stress-free experience, we utilize a staggered load-in schedule on Thursday, November 5th. You will receive an email prior to the festival with your assigned space number in the park, a map, and your designated two-hour unloading window. Upon check in on Thursday, you will receive a personalized welcome packet with your booth display card, parking pass (if purchased) and other important materials.
- Coordinated Entry: Setup is grouped by zone—Interior (INT), Interior Perimeter (IP), and Outer Perimeter (OP).
- Efficiency Matters: You will have a two-hour window to unload and move your vehicle to designated parking. To keep the park accessible for all, please arrive as close as possible to your scheduled time and move your vehicle within the required two hour limit. Do not block access to the park if it is not your scheduled entry time.
- Support: Our staff, volunteers, and security team will be on-site to answer questions. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the load-in process moving smoothly.
- Alternative Setup: If you cannot arrive during your scheduled window, setup is available after 5:00 p.m. Thursday or early Friday morning (must be show-ready by 8:00 a.m.).
Tear down: At end of show on November 8th.
Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change. To protect the integrity of the show layout and the opportunities for wait-listed artists, we adhere to the following schedule:
- Application fees: No refunds will be issued.
- Parking passes: No refunds will be issued.
- Before September 15, 2026: Requests for cancellation via email will receive a 90% refund of the booth fee.
- After September 15, 2026: No refunds will be issued.
- Emergency Cancellations: Late cancellations (after Oct. 19th) that create gaps in the festival layout will be reviewed by the committee and may impact future eligibility.
- Weather & Environment: As this is an outdoor festival, booth fees are non-refundable due to inclement weather. We recommend bringing a floor mat for your space to ensure your display remains pristine regardless of ground conditions.
Additional Fees
10 x 20: $700
10 x 15: $525
10 x 10: $350
5 x 10: $175
Parking fee - non refundable: $16
Terms to Apply
Jury Fee: $40
