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 .

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 that has awarded more than $7.4 million to artists over the years.

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.

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.

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 (Sep 12-13): Dance
Weekend 2 (Sep 18-20): Music
Weekend 3 (Sep 25-27): Visual Arts
Weekend 4 (Oct 2-3): Fashion

The ArtPrize Opening Ceremony kicks off the official competition on Friday, Sep 18, in Rosa Parks Circle, and will include a spectacular fireworks show over the Grand River. More details on the Opening Ceremony and other events to come – visit our Events Calendar for the latest info.

Sep 12

ArtPrize 2026 Preview Week

Sep 12, 2026

Recurring daily
ArtPrize

ArtPrize is an international art competition and cultural festival held every year in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s the world’s most attended public art event, with nearly one million people visiting…

Explore 1 of America's Best Towns to Visit

Come for ArtPrize, stay for what CNN calls one of America’s 10 Best Towns to Visit and LinkedIn says is 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, including Tech Week GR (Sep 14-19), Creston Pride Festival (Sep 20), Oktoberfest GR (Sep 25-16) and the Beer City Brewers Festival (Oct 3). The event also runs concurrent with Chihuly at Meijer Gardens, which showcases the world-renowned art of Dale Chihuly in outdoor gardens and indoor galleries just 10 minutes away from downtown GR. You can search our Events Calendar and browse our Trip Planning page for many more things to see, do and experience during ArtPrize.

ArtPrize 2025 Review

If you didn’t make it to ArtPrize 2025, here’s a look at some of the awesome experiences you missed:

931 art pieces created by 1,100 artists from 38 states and 18 countries, showcased across 155 venues.
“Arras,” an intricately woven glass installation created by Mark Lewanski, which won the $100,000 public grand prize.
Arborialis, a three-story, 9,000 sq. ft. luminarium that immersed visitors in a sensory celebration of nature, creativity and the power of collective wonder.
A lavish carnival-inspired opening celebration complete with a parade, brass bands, costumed performers and a spectacular fireworks show.
A festive half-time show featuring R&B-country fusion performer Tiera Kennedy and two Michigan music acts.
A festive awards ceremony revealing the public and juried award-winners.

Stay tuned to find out what new and different experiences ArtPrize 2026 will deliver!

ArtPrize Every Day

You don’t have to wait for ArtPrize 2026 to get a sense of it – you can revisit past ArtPrizes 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.

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.

Before You Arrive

Revisit past ArtPrizes through entries that have been permanently installed in Grand Rapids. You can also the Experience Guide on ArtPrize.org and subscribe to our TravelLink enewsletter for the latest ArtPrize developments and other things to see and do before, during and after ArtPrize!

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FAQ

ArtPrize:

What is ArtPrize?

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.

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 space within the district 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.

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 Firday, 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.

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: See what others are experiencing

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

Art 8 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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