Open Studios Napa Valley 2026

Open Studios Napa Valley is a free, self-guided, art discovery tour. Each year, participating artists join together to present their work to the public. This allows collectors and art lovers to meet the artists, watch demonstrations, discuss creative processes, and buy artwork directly.  is the 39th annual event sponsored by Art Association Napa Valley. Normally it takes place over the last (2) two full weekends in September. The event will be held September 19-20 and 26-27, 2026.

OSNV 2026 is a collaborative effort by the participating artists of the association committed to bringing you the best possible event. The program exists today because the artists believe in the importance and value of sharing this unique experience. 

The Art Association Napa Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, contributing a portion of the proceeds to student scholars in the arts.

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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. OPEN STUDIOS DATES AND TIMES

Artists may choose to participate BOTH weekends or only ONE weekend, either the first or second weekend. The cost to participate is the same whether the artist shows for both weekends or only one.

Dates/Times:

·         September  19-20 and 26-27, 2026.

·         10:00 am to 5:00 pm on each day of the event.

·         All artists must be present at their location (shared or not) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on each day of the event.

2. COMPLIANCE

The eligibility (SEE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BELOW) and other requirements outlined here are critical to maintaining the quality and integrity of the Open Studios Napa Valley event. If any of these requirements are not met, you will be required to become compliant to participate in the 2026 event and/or possibly be prohibited from participating in Open Studios Napa Valley in the future.

3. FEES and DUES

Application Fee:                                                       $325 per artist

Jury Fee (new applicants only)                                $30 (non-refundable)

Total Fee for new artists:                                          $355.00

If a new applicant is not successfully juried, the application fee will be refunded.

4.  ENTRY DEADLINE:    April 15, 2026

5. VOLUNTEER HOURS

All Open Studios Napa Valley artists are expected to volunteer to help make this program a success. There is no paid staff. We need to work together and share our time and responsibilities to keep Open Studios Napa Valley viable. Please see the application form for task categories. All artists are expected to help distribute catalogs.

6. REPRODUCTIONS

THE MAJORITY OF WORK, ON DISPLAY, MUST BE ORIGINAL WORK. A limited amount of the artist's work, offered for sale in the studio, may be manufactured by others (prints, cards, giclées, etc.) or commercially reproduced only if it is created strictly from the artist's original design and produced under the artist's supervision.

7. DIGITAL IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

To submit images for this event, add the images in your CaFE Portfolio. Instead of a "artwork title" in your portfolio, enter your last name, first initial and artwork image number. Best done on a desk top or laptop computer.

Title the image your CaFE portfolio that you want included in the catalog as follows: Last name, first initial, catalog. The Catalog image must be high resolution (300 dpi).

Examples:

 Smith, J. image 1
 Smith, J. Catalog.

• 6 images required (5 artworks and one picture of the artist.)
• File Type: JPEG or JPG only.
• File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side.
• File Size: Under 5 MB.
• Color Profile: sRGB

8. LICENSING & SALES TAXES

It is the responsibility of each artist to obtain the appropriate business license and a California resale certificate for the collection of sales tax. The collected tax is the individual artist's responsibility for payment to the California Franchise Tax Board. Contact the City of Napa to see if your location qualifies. 

9. INSURANCE

Open Studios Napa Valley and Art Association Napa Valley, the parent organization, do not provide insurance for your studio, or display venue, during the program. It is your responsibility to obtain liability insurance for your location/studio and, by participating; you agree to hold harmless Open Studios Napa Valley and Art Association Napa Valley and their respective boards/steering committees.

 10. CANCELLATION POLICIES

This application is a commitment for juried artists to participate in Open Studios Napa Valley 2026. We begin processing applications the day after they are due.

The cancellation policy is as follows:

     ___*Written cancellation requests received prior to the application deadline, will receive a full refund of the application fee.  Jury fees are not refundable.  

      ___*NO REFUNDS after the application deadline. 

     11. STUDIOS AND/OR SHARED SPACES

The preferred studio location is a creative workspace, not a retail space such as a bookstore or hotel lobby, etc. Educational facilities are acceptable if at least one of the artists uses the facility as a workspace or performs demonstrations during Open Studios Napa Valley. Two artists sharing the same studio space must both apply and pay the entry fees.

Sharing spaces allows visitors to see more artists in a single location decreasing driving time and making frequent stops. This along with the draw from friends and families of each artist increases exposure and traffic, which can result in higher sales.

Studios or creative workspaces with a working and creative environment are more engaging for visitors.  In addition to works for sale, we strongly encourage artists to display work in progress, demonstrate their creative processes, and show videos or photographs of you working.

Open Studios does not guarantee you a space, but we can recommend available spaces. This has never been an issue in the past. Many artists love to have other participants join them in their studios so there are usually many spaces available. It is up to you, however, to confirm your studio location for OS.

• We have three group locations available:
  Behrens Street (indoors) limited to 4 artists: Need to commit to showing both weekends. A small fee is required to show at this location.
• Jessel Gallery (outdoors). You will need your own tent, tables and displays: Need to commit to showing both weekends. A small fee is required to show at this location.
• Yountville Community Center Courtyard (outdoors). You will need your own tent,
  tables and displays.
  If interested in one of these locations, just indicate under “Studio Location” that you
  would like to show at one of these locations.

12. JURYING GUIDELINES FOR NEW APPLICANTS

All applicants not previously juried into the Open Studios Napa Valley event or returning artists that have not participated in Open Studios Napa Valley since 2021 must submit six images (5 low-resolution and 1 high-resolution catalog photo) of their artwork to the jury panel. Submitted artwork must have been completed within the last two years.

The jury panel will be comprised of professionals in the field of art who will have no personal position or participation in Open Studios Napa Valley, and judging will be blind.  

 13. PUBLICITY AND EXPOSURE

Open Studios Napa Valley will work to maximize the exposure and promotion of the 2026 event, based on funding available from participating artists' fees and catalog ad sales, volunteer time, and participation of all of us. Funds will be expended, at a minimum, as follows:            

     * Printed catalog listing of artists, including a map of artist locations

     * Multiple press releases and promotional articles, social media posts.

     * Group show at the Jessel Gallery. Each artist is required to include one piece in the show.  
 

Participating artists are strongly encouraged to initiate their own individual marketing campaigns.

14. TRADEMARKS and COPYRIGHTS

All artists must recognize and acknowledge the validity of any trademarks and/or copyrights and their ownership which may be used as part of Open Studios Napa Valley 2026, including the exclusive right and jurisdiction of each participating entity to control the use of its trademarks and copyrights and to take all appropriate measures for their protection.

Artists shall faithfully observe the use and protection of the trademarks and copyrights in their activities.

15. SIGNS and the OPEN STUDIOS NAPA VALLEY LOGO

Each new participating artist will be provided 2 signs. Returning artists will receive one sign if needed. If additional signs are needed, they can be purchased ($10 from the committee).

Open Studios Napa Valley, and the Open Studios Napa Valley logo, may not be used by non-participating artists, or during other times of the year. 

 16. SURVEY

Artist feedback is critical to the success of future Open Studios events.  Any survey and all data submitted, which includes sales and visitor count will be anonymous. Participation in the survey requires that artists have access to the Internet. The 
survey results are shared with all participating artists. As a member of Open Studios, you agree to complete the survey after the event in 2026.

 17. COLLECTION of DEMOGRAPHICS

Open Studios Napa Valley desires to collect demographic and other information on our visitors each year. To accomplish this, we may request that studios collect basic information to facilitate the completion of a visitor survey. As a member of Open Studios, you agree to collect names and email addresses at your studio for this purpose and to build your marketing list.

 18. GRANTS and RIGHTS

Each participating artist hereby grants Open Studios Napa Valley fair use of all submitted photographs or images in any media for any purpose, which may include but not be limited to, advertising, public relations, promotion, marketing, and packaging for the Napa Valley Open Studios programs and events. The artist releases Open Studios Napa Valley and any sponsoring entity from all claims and liability relating to the use of the photographs/images associated with these events.

19. WAIVER

A waiver by Open Studios Napa Valley, or its parent, Art Association Napa Valley, of a breach by the Artist of any provisions of this agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of future compliance with such provisions, as well as other provisions, and shall remain in full force and effect.

 20. HOLD HARMLESS

With full knowledge, comprehension, and understanding, the Artist voluntarily accepts and assumes all risks involved in the participation in this event. In consideration of Open Studios Napa Valley's acceptance of the Artist's participation, the Artist holds harmless and releases and forever discharges the Open Studios Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Arts Association, from all liabilities for injuries and damages and costs of defense whatsoever.

 21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This and the signed Artist Application constitute the entire agreement between the Artist and Open Studios Napa Valley and its parent entity for 2026, and it shall not be amended, altered, or changed except by a written agreement signed by the parties.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:  The OSNV committee can assist applicants with finding a venue to present their work however, they make no guarantee.  We recommend you secure your space prior to applying since there will be no refund of application fees once the application deadline passes. Contact peggyfrancis1@gmail.com if you need a place to show.

Eligibility:

You are eligible to participate in Open Studios Napa Valley if you:

1.  Paid your Art Association Napa Valley (Artnv.org) membership through September 27, 2026.

2. Agree to update your Artist Public Profile on the Art Association website (artnv.org) with, at a minimum, a gallery of images of your work, a profile picture and the catalog image so that your information can be displayed on the Open Studio website.

3.  Live or work within Napa County or partner with an Open Studios participating artist.

4.  Create all the artwork yourself as original works

5.  Have a minimum of 10 pieces of art available, for sale, each day of the event,

6. Have a valid state resale license. 

7. Have a working email address.

8.  Have paid the current application fee (and jury fee, if applicable).

9.  Are a new applicant meeting all of the above criteria and successfully juried into Open Studios Napa Valley in 2026.

10.  Are a returning artist who has participated in at least one Open Studios event in years between 2021 to 2025.