ArtPrize

September 18 – October 3, 2026

Did you know that the world’s most attended public art event takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan? Nearly one million people visit downtown Grand Rapids every fall for ArtPrize, an international art competition and cultural festival launched in 2009.

Visitors come to see art – sculptures, paintings, glasswork, fiber art, photographs, installations, performance art, and more. Art is everywhere you look during ArtPrize, in hotels and restaurants, throughout parks and parking lots, on sidewalks and bridges, and just about anywhere else an artist can find a space. And it’s all free to see.

Visitor votes determine which artist wins a $100,000 public grand prize as well as six $10,000 category awards. A juried panel awards its own separate prizes, totaling more than $160,000 in 2026. Since its founding, ArtPrize has distributed more than $7.4 million to artists.

ArtPrize transforms downtown Grand Rapids into a place where creativity is sacred and wonder and joy lurk around every corner. It feels like a massive street festival, with a vibe that makes everyone feel welcome.

ArtPrize 2026 Opening Celebration

ArtPrize kicks off Sep 18 with a lively parade through downtown, giant puppets, live music and the mesmerizing Earth Harp – the world’s longest playable stringed instrument, which will stretch across downtown’s Pearl Street Bridge, turning it and surrounding architecture into a massive acoustic chamber. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks finale.

Join the free Opening Celebration in Rosa Parks Circle from 5:30-7:30pm and Pearl Street Bridge from 7:30-10:15pm.

ArtPrize 2026 Halftime Party

Celebrate the midpoint of ArtPrize on Sept. 26 at John Ball Zoo, with live painting, animal encounters and a first look at the competition standings. Free admission for ArtPrize artists and venue managers, $10 for the general public. Buy tickets here. 5:30-8:30pm.

ArtPrize 2026 Awards Celebration

The outdoor Acrisure Amphitheater is the setting for the free Awards Celebration. Doors open at 6:30pm for the 8:00pm awards ceremony, which will feature actor Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad” fame. The world’s largest fashion show follows the presentation of the awards.

ArtPrize Clubhouse

The ArtPrize ClubHouse is the central hub for visitors, artists, venue managers and volunteers. Visit the Clubhouse for concierge staff ready to help guide you through your ArtPrize experience, official ArtPrize merchandise, beverages and refreshments, and art workshops. The ClubHouse is located at 428 Bridge St. NW in downtown’s Bridge Street Entertainment District. It is open Mon-Sat from noon-8pm and Sun noon-6pm.

New for ArtPrize 2026

In 2026, ArtPrize expands to include a special Preview Week (Sep 12-17), when visitors can view 70-80% of the 1,000+ art entries in a more relaxed, less crowded environment before voting begins. The addition of Preview Week extends the ArtPrize experience to 22 days, and organizers are taking advantage of the extra time to introduce four distinct themed weekends. In partnership with local arts institutions, each weekend will showcase a different art discipline:

Weekend 1: Dance. Grand Rapids Ballet kicks off ArtPrize Preview Week with free outdoor performances at Rosa Parks Circle, from 2-6pm on Sep 12.

Weekend 2: Music. Opera Grand Rapids presents free live opera performances in Rosa Parks Circle from 2-6pm on Sep 19.

Weekend 3: Visual Arts. The Grand Rapids Downtown Market hosts Doodle Street, a free hands-on art experience where kids and families can create, explore and celebrate creativity together. 11am-4pm Sep 26.

Weekend 4: Fashion. Fashion meets fine art in a free runway experience incorporating haute couture, live classical musicians, opera singers and dance choreography. Guinness World Records representatives will be present at Acrisure Amphitheater as ArtPrize attempts to break the world record for the largest attendance at a fashion show. The fashion show by Grand Rapids-based designer-to-the-stars RC Caylan starts at approximately 9pm on Oct 3, following the ArtPrize Awards Ceremony Reserve your tickets for this free event..

Also new this year:

Light Up the Night is a synchronized light installation celebrating the building arts of Grand Rapids. On Sep 25, six illuminated towers will surround downtown’s Rosa Parks Circle while and LED wall highlights nearby building projects. Grab a drink from the beer garden, enjoy the sounds of a DJ and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind light experience. 8-10pm.

ArtPrize is partnering with Mobile GR to support a wellness-focused approach to engaging with art this year. Check out a suggested walking route for each of ArtPrize’s three downtown districts. Each map is designed to intersect with as many installations within each district as possible and define key points for micromobility, bus routes and parking.  

Look for Arty, the new ArtPrize mascot, hidden in each of ArtPrize’s five districts. Find all five, snap a photo with each, then visit the ArtPrize ClubHouse to claim your prize. Download the ArtPrize Event Guide for a look at Arty.

SouthPrize, a neighborhood-driven art competition that extends the ArtPrize experience into Grand Rapids’ third ward. More than 35 third-ward artists will display their work at businesses in Alger Heights, Boston Square, Madison Square, MLK/Eastern, South Division and Seymour Square, and compete for $3,750 in prize money. Voting Day is Saturday, Sep 26, when a free trolley will transport visitors between districts and amidst live art and live performances. SouthPrize art installations can be viewed from Sep 17-Oct 3.

A featured exhibition, Fragments of Displacement 3, which brings together an international group of contemporary artists to explore movement, geography and cultural identity via video, installation, text and sound. Organized by internationally acclaimed curators Omar Lopez-Chahoud and Eduardo López, the exhibition is free to attend. See it at Ferris State University’s KCAD Gallery in downtown GR from Sep 12-Oct. 24.

KCAD is also the site of The Voices of ArtPrize, an evolving exhibit featuring brief interviews with ArtPrize artists. Stop by through Oct 3 to hear directly from artists about their works, inspiration and experience being part of this year’s event.

Many artists and venues are hosting special events throughout ArtPrize, from a sumo tournament at Zeal Aerial Fitness (Sep 26) to an interactive LEGO Space Adventure at Grand Rapids Children’s Museum (through Oct 3). There are also many community events being offered, including free walking tours, block parties, live painting events, food trucks and much more. Visit the ArtPrize Calendar to browse each day’s events.