ArtPrize

Q: How can I get the latest news on ArtPrize?

Bookmark this page, follow ArtPrize on social ( Facebook , Instagram ) and sign up for an email newsletter on the ArtPrize website – scroll to the bottom of any page to enter your email address.

September 18 – October 3, 2026
September 12-17 Preview Week

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.

Explore the ArtPrize Venue Map (of all the art)

Get ready to explore a huge, vibrant artscape in Grand Rapids! Explore venue locations featuring ArtPrize entries.

Crowd at ArtPrize Competition in Grand Rapids

Register & Vote With Your Mobile Device

Want to get into the action at ArtPrize? Be a part of the action of voting for your favorite artwork.

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. 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.

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 starts at approximately 9pm, following the ArtPrize Awards Ceremony.

Also new this year:

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.

Explore 1 of America's Best Towns to Visit

Come for ArtPrize, stay for what CNN called one of America’s 10 Best Towns to Visit and LinkedIn hailed us as the #1 U.S. City on the Rise. Grand Rapids is known for art and culture, craft beverages, food, agritourism, family fun and outdoor recreation – and you can experience all of these within the ArtPrize district, which encompasses 200+ restaurants, 10 breweries and distilleries, five museums, a farmer’s market and walking/running/biking trails along one of Michigan’s best fishing rivers.

ArtPrize coincides with several other community festivals and big events, including:

Tech Week GR (Sep 14-19), our annual celebration of creativity and innovation.
Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen (Sep 15-20), the Broadway musical inspired by the acclaimed singer.
Dumpling Fest (Sep 19), a culinary trip around the world in downtown’s Calder Plaza.
Creston Pride Festival (Sep 20), featuring live performances, drag shows and music.
Mumford & Sons in concert at the Acrisure Amphitheater (Sep 22).
Brooks & Dunn in concert at the Acrisure Amphitheater (Sept 25).
Oktoberfest GR (Sep 25-16), a showcase of German culture (and beer) in Riverside Park.
Dan + Shay in concert at the Acrisure Amphitheater (Oct 2).
Beer City Brewers Festival (Oct 3), a free, family-friendly celebration of Beer City USA.
Chihuly at Meijer Gardens, showcasing the world-renowned art of Dale Chihuly.

You can search our Events Calendar and browse our Trip Planning page for many more things to see, do and experience during ArtPrize.

How do I get to ArtPrize?

Downtown Grand Rapids sits at the intersection of the US-131 and I-196 expressways, making it an easy destination from all directions. Street, lot and ramp parking is available throughout downtown – see the city’s parking webpage for maps and costs. Be aware that parking may fill up fast, especially on weekends. You can skip parking when you use The Rapid bus system, which routes from many outlying areas into downtown. Bicyclists will find hundreds of bike parking spaces downtown, and e-scooter and e-bike rentals are available throughout a 12-square mile radius of the city, including downtown.

Search all Accommodations

Before You Arrive

Visit ArtPrize.org for the most comprehensive guide to this year’s artists, venues and visitor essentials. Consult the City of Grand Rapids Parking and Mobility Access Guide to plan your ArtPrize route. Subscribe to our monthly TravelLink enewsletter for advance notice of ArtPrize 2027 and other things to see and do in Grand Rapids.

ArtPrize Every Day

Can’t make it to ArtPrize 2026? You can experience a glimpse of ArtPrize anytime through entries that have been permanently installed in Grand Rapids. Several ArtPrize entries are also included in our self-guided Center City, Heartside, North Quarter, Uptown and West Side mural tours, and our Downtown East and Downtown West sculpture tours.

FAQ

ArtPrize:

What is ArtPrize?

ArtPrize is an annual art competition and cultural festival held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a non-profit venture presented in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

How long does ArtPrize in Grand Rapids last?

ArtPrize Preview week is six days long and the official ArtPrize competition runs 16 days, giving visitors 22 days to see as many of the 1,000+ artworks on display as possible.

Where is ArtPrize located?

The ArtPrize district spans 4.5 square miles of the urban core of Grand Rapids, encompassing multiple neighborhoods and diverse districts within the city. Art is displayed in and around museums, parks, universities, retail shops, office spaces, restaurants, breweries, churches and any other venue that wants to participate. The greatest concentration of art can be found in the Downtown Convention Neighborhood. Multiple sites in Uptown GR are also hosting ArtPrize entries. You can browse the full list of 180+ ArtPrize venues and exhibition locations on the official ArtPrize venue directory and download the official Event Guide for a map to venues. A concurrent mini-art competition, SouthPrize, takes place in the city’s Southtown neighborhood.

Is ArtPrize free?

Yes, it is FREE – there is no charge to see any of the competition entries, wherever they’re located.

How do I vote?

Anyone 13 years or older and present at the event (at least once!) can vote in ArtPrize.

Your first vote must be cast within the ArtPrize District via the ArtPrize mobile web app voting platform or at the dedicated on-site voting location. You can vote via smartphone/mobile device.

Vote by scanning the QR code on the artist’s label, searching the unique five-digit entry number associated with each entry, or searching by artist/entry name. Click “vote” on the artist’s profile. You can vote for an entry once a day to show your support.

Alternatively, you can register at the ArtPrize Clubhouse or an Info Kiosk to receive a physical ballot. Voting begins Friday, Sept. 18^th at noon and ends Friday, Oct. 2 at 10pm. Visit ArtPrize.org for 2026 Official Voting Rules.

How can I get the latest news on ArtPrize?

Bookmark this page, follow ArtPrize on social (Facebook, Instagram) and sign up for an email newsletter on the ArtPrize website – scroll to the bottom of any page to enter your email address.

How many people go to ArtPrize?

ArtPrize 2025 drew 967,000 visitors to Grand Rapids, according to a study by ArtPrize and Grand Valley State University. Visitors cast 110,000 votes in 2025. That’s more than 4x the total population of Grand Rapids – so plan your stay and book a hotel early before rooms sell out.

Who selects the Grand Prize winner of ArtPrize?

You do! Public voting determines who wins first place (and earns a $100,000 prize), and who wins $10,000 in each of six categories: 2D, 3D, Time-Based, Installation, New Media and Design.

There is also a separate juried competition: a hand-picked committee will award its own $100,000 grand prize as well as $10,000 in each of the six categories above. The jurors will also bestow a $5,000 Outstanding Venue Award.

This is in addition to grants to help artists produce their work. In all, ArtPrize 2025 will distribute a total of $600,000 in prizes and grants.

Who won at ArtPrize 2025?

“Arras,” a large hanging glass tapestry comprised of thousands of delicate glass fibers woven by hand, earned the most public votes for artist Mark Lewanski of Portland, Michigan. “Scraps,” an installation exploring the disconnection between people and the true cost of their clothing and calling them to consume more consciously, was awarded the juried grand prize.

View all the 2025 ArtPrize winners.

ArtPrize 2023 - Raining Wisdom by Abdoulaye Conde (elephant mural). Photography by Nick Irwin.

Art 10 months ago

Revisiting ArtPrize With Permanent Works of Art

8 min

ArtPrize is an international art competition entered by hundreds of artists from around the world each year. Launched in 2009, ArtPrize was recognized as the world’s most public art event just five…

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