2026 Floyd Plein Air Biennial

The Floyd Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the return of the Floyd Plein Air Biennial, the week-long outdoor painting festival, to take place at sites in and around beautiful Floyd County, Virginia September 14th-19th, 2026. This will be the fifth time the Center has invited and hosted a field of up to 25 regional and national artists in the county, with successful events held in mid-August back in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024. The festival will include multiple days of painting, patron events, selling opportunities, and artist celebration.

Artists juried into this event will enjoy painting plein air the Blue Ridge Parkway, the famed Buffalo Mountain, local farms, and scenic vistas, as well as the Town of Floyd. Events include artist demonstrations, collector educational talks, Juried Artist Collector Preview Exhibition, Artist/Patron Welcome Reception including Wet Paint Sale, Artist/Patron Cocktail Party, Quick Draw Contest at the Historic Floyd Country Store & Friday Night Jamboree, Gala Reception and Art Sale. The top cash prize for this exhibition is $1500, as well as other cash prizes for “Best of” themes and manufacturer awards and gifts. Approximate juried artist field is 20-25. Quick Draw will allow for non-juried artist participation competing for a separate award, and this call to artist announcement will occur closer to the event. 

Artists will be asked to paint a small work (8x10 and under) to be sold for less than $250, the full proceeds to benefit the Center’s educational programs.

Fulfilling the role of 2026 event judge, we welcome nationally known artist Deliece Blanchard. Deliece is an accomplished plein air painter and a prize-winning member of the Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, and the American Women Artists. Plein air painter and Virginia native Joli Ayn Wood will return as Chairperson for the 2026 event. Artists may apply to be juried into the event beginning January 3, 2026, with a deadline to apply February 14, 2026.

HOST HOUSING FOR ARTISTS

The Center will make every effort to offer free host housing to participating artists. Availability of host housing may be limited, or we could become unable to provide host housing for the event due to unforeseen circumstances. Any host housing provided will be granted on a first come basis & at the discretion of the hosts & the Center. Interested artists will have the opportunity to request free host housing while submitting the entry application. We will let all participants know if their request for housing was approved no later than 60-days prior to the start of the event.

For more information, please visit the Center’s website at floydartcenter.org.

All 2D artist media and substrates accepted to include watercolor, acrylics, oil, gouache, or other mixed media.

The non-refundable entry fee is $60. Failure to pay entry fee will result in application denial. For additional questions not answered here, please call the Center at 1-540-745-2784.

Visit www.callforentry.org to submit your images. A total of FIVE (5) works of art may be submitted for jurying per artist. Submitted digital images should represent the skill level and unique voice of each artist’s work. Video entries cannot be accepted. Review and acceptance of the artist field will be performed by Center committee. 

Open to all artists 18 years of age or older with a desire to paint the beauty that is Floyd County, Virginia.