Halifax Art Festival 2026

About the Festival

The 64th Annual Halifax Art Festival, now produced and stewarded by the Riverfront Arts District (RAD), is one of Florida’s longest-running juried art festivals and the second-oldest continually operating art festival in the state. Held in the historic downtown waterfront district of Daytona Beach, the Festival attracts over 35,000 art lovers annually.

As RAD steps into leadership, the organization brings new energy, expanded marketing, and a forward-looking vision to this celebrated event—while honoring its long-standing tradition of excellence. RAD’s proven success producing large-scale events such as the Daytona Beach Arts Fest and the county-wide Arts VoCo Season of the Arts further strengthens its commitment to delivering a high-quality artist and patron experience.

This two-day outdoor event features the juried work of 200+ artists, with approximately 150 Fine Art spaces competing for cash awards. Fine artists and fine craft artisans are selected through a competitive jury process, ensuring a high-quality, well-curated show.

Artists exhibit along scenic Beach Street overlooking the Halifax River, in a walkable, high-traffic riverfront setting surrounded by shops, cafés, and restaurants offering Festival specials. The event also features international cuisine and live entertainment, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for both artists and patrons.

Produced by the Riverfront Arts District, the Halifax Art Festival offers spacious 12′ × 12′ booth spaces, professional event management, and a strong commitment to supporting artists—making it a premier opportunity for visibility, sales, and recognition.

Fees & Artist Amenities (2026)

Fees

• $40 – Jury Fee (non-refundable)
• $350 – Competitive Fine Art Booth Space
• $225 – Non-Competitive / Juried Craft Booth Space

Artist Amenities

• Opportunity to participate in the 2026 Festival T-Shirt Branding Image Contest
  (Contact: Theresa@im-daytona.com| Deadline: August 21, 2026)
• Patron Program & Fine Art Cash Awards
• Discounted hotel accommodations
• Friday registration & set-up (phased times)
• Limited Saturday morning set-up (dolly required in some areas)
• Booth sitting (both days)
• Morning coffee & bakery items
• Complimentary parking (including overnight)
• Overnight festival security (Friday & Saturday)
• No additional fees for corner or end booth spaces
• Invitation for award winners to Saturday evening awards presentation

Festival Overview

The Halifax Art Festival features two distinct exhibitor sections:

Competitive Fine Artists

• Juried by panel and eligible for cash awards
• Located on Beach Street (asphalt surface)
• Approximately 150+ booth spaces
• Participates in the Patron Dollar Program

Non-Competitive Artists & Craft Artisans

• Juried for quality and balance
• Not eligible for cash awards
• Approximately 60 spaces, based on availability

Awards & Patron Program

• Best in Show Award: $5,000
• Additional award categories listed on website
• Active HAF Patron Program, providing patrons with “Patron Dollars” to purchase artwork
• Only Competitive Fine Artists are eligible for cash awards

Jury Fee Policy

All applicants must pay the $40 jury fee.

Exception:
The award winners from the 2025 Halifax Art Festival will receive a jury fee waiver for 2026.
(Booth fees still apply upon acceptance.)

Media Categories

Accepted media include:
Clay/Ceramics, Digital, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media, Painting (oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor), Photography, Printmaking/Drawing, Sculpture, Textiles, Upcycled Art, Wood

Note: No weaponry permitted.

Jury Process

• Jury panel convenes early August 2026
• Artists notified by email shortly after review
• Selection based on cumulative image scoring
• Jury determines:
  • Acceptance into festival
  • Placement in Competitive or Non-Competitive section
• Separate panels may be used to ensure balanced representation

Booth & Festival Layout

• Standard booth size: 12’ x 12’ with spacing between booths
• Beach Street (Competitive Artists):
  • East-facing: Esplanade Park views
  • West-facing: Shops and parking access
• Non-Competitive Locations:
  • Esplanade Park (grass)
  • Magnolia Avenue

Important Dates – 2026

• Application Deadline: August 31, 2026
• Jury Review: Early August 2026
• Artist Notifications Begin: Mid-August 2026
• Final Payments Due: September 30, 2026
• Artist Cancellation Deadline: October 5, 2026
  • 80% booth fee refund (less fees)
• Festival Dates: November 7 & 8, 2026

Application Requirements

Images (Required for Jury)

• 3 images of recent work (within last 3 years, same medium)
• 1 booth image showing display quality and professionalism
  • No artist name or face visible
  • Must reflect the medium(s) applied for

Additional Requirements

• Completed application (ZAPP or approved alternative)
• Artist bio and description of work/process
• Agreement to all festival rules and policies

Note: Images submitted may be used for festival marketing and promotion.

Payment Information

• All applications must be submitted through ZAPP
• Payment is accepted by credit card only via ZAPP

Mail-in or paper applications are not accepted.

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved in advance by the Riverfront Arts District. Please submit requests via email to:
📧 theresa@im-daytona.com

Contact & Website

🌐 www.HalifaxArtFestival.com
📧 theresa@im-daytona.com

Artist Rules & Regulations

1. Original Work
All artwork must be the original work of the accepted artist. No agents, dealers, or representatives are permitted.

2. Buy/Sell Policy
Buy/sell is strictly prohibited. All work must be created by the exhibiting artist. Violators will be required to remove items and/or leave the festival. No refunds will be issued.
We appreciate the support of our artists in helping to identify violations.

3. Artist Presence
Accepted artists (including collaborators) must be present for the full duration of the two-day festival.

4. Collaborative Artists

• Maximum of 2 collaborating artists per booth
• Submit one application listing both artists
• Both artists must be present for both days

5. Applications
Each artist must apply individually unless applying as an approved collaborative team.

6. Jury Fee
A non-refundable $40 jury fee is required with each application.
Jury fee waivers apply only to the previous year’s top five award winners.

7. Accepted Media
Artists may only display work in the category/media in which they were juried and accepted.

8. Multiple Media

• Maximum of 2 media categories per booth
• A separate application and jury fee is required for each category
• Only one booth fee will be charged

9. Artwork Eligibility (Fine Art Judging)

• Must be original work created since 2021
• Work previously awarded at this festival is not eligible
• This rule is strictly enforced

10. Prints

• Must be signed, numbered, and limited to 350
• No laser prints

11. Display Requirements

• Only original work may be displayed
• Prints must be kept in bins within the booth space (front or back)

12. Booth Occupancy
Only one juried artist per booth, unless accepted as a collaborative team.

13. Booth Identification
Official Booth Cards must be displayed at all times and in place by 10:00 AM Saturday for judging eligibility.

14. Judging
Judging begins Saturday at 10:00 AM. Booth Card display is required to participate.

15. Pre-Judging Restrictions
No awards, ribbons, affiliations, or publications may be displayed prior to judging.

16. Compliance Checks
Booths will be reviewed throughout the festival. Violations may result in removal of work or dismissal from the show.

17. Early Breakdown
Artists may not dismantle booths before 4:00 PM Sunday. Early departure may affect future acceptance.

18. Load-Out Policy

• No vehicles permitted before 4:30 PM Sunday
• Booths must be fully broken down before bringing in vehicles
• Vehicle access is determined by safety conditions

19. Sales Tax
Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting Florida sales tax. Forms can be downloaded at https://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library/current/dr1.pdf

20. Prohibited Work
The following are not permitted:
Decoupage, commercial photography, mass-produced jewelry, manufactured bags or belts, kit work, or commercially produced items.

21. Jewelry Category
Only artists juried and accepted in the jewelry category may display and sell jewelry.

22. No-Show Policy
Artists who fail to attend or leave without notice may not be invited to return.

Booth Assignments & Placement

23. Booth Preferences
Artists may indicate directional preference (North, South, East, West) on the application. Booth assignments will be sent in late September.

24. Returning Artists
Returning artists will be placed at or near their previous location when possible, with jury approval.

25. Award Winner Priority
Previous year’s award winners receive priority booth selection, provided their application is submitted by the deadline.

26. Booth Changes
No booth changes are permitted unless approved by Festival leadership. Security personnel are not authorized to make booth changes.

27. Placement Criteria
Booth placement, including corners and premium locations, is based on jury scores and overall show balance.

Enforcement

28. Rule Violations
Violation of any rules, regulations, or policies may result in immediate dismissal without refund and may affect future participation.

Tents must be professional, 10 x 10 foot with white top canopies and have side curtains for securing tent. The minimum tent weight is 45 lbs. Booth space is 12 ft by 12 ft
1.    No camping tents allowed
2.    Weights are required: Minimum weight (professional) is 40 lbs. each on all tent legs. (Highly suggest 60lbs). Please ensure that your displays are strong enough to withstand crowds, wind, and possible poor weather conditions. Please have weights not distract from the presentation of the booth appearance.
       ·Not permitted:  visible concrete blocks or bricks, grid only or stabilizer only without weights, dumbbells
       · Permitted:  Tube weights, sand bag weights, concrete filled buckets, stabilizer bars with sandbags, weight plates, water weights.
3.    The booth spaces will be marked using paint, tape or flags.  Please refer to festival map for booth layout and numbering.
4.    Tent set up begins on Friday. Time for Registration and Set-up will be announced.  Saturday morning set up is permitted.
5.    Exhibitors should be prepared with rain covers, tie-downs, and weights. Each exhibitor is responsible for his/her own display in case of loss or damage. We recommend that artists carry insurance. Not all booth locations are totally level so levelling devices for displays may be needed. Sorry, but we cannot aid with booth setup.
6.    Power is generally not available to artists. The use of generators is prohibited by exhibiting artists due to disturbance to guests and other exhibitors. 
7.   We do not provide tents but we will be happy to assist artists in locating a tent.
 

Artist cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to 📧 theresa@im-daytona.com no later than October 5, 2026 to be eligible for a refund. Approved cancellations will receive an 80% refund of the booth fee, less credit card processing fees and a $25 administrative fee. The jury fee is non-refundable. Text messages will not be accepted as a form of cancellation. No refunds will be issued after October 5, 2026.