Piedmont Park Arts Festival: (17th Annual) 2026, Piedmont Park -Midtown, Atlanta, GA

Overview

The Piedmont Park Arts Festival is a juried, outdoor fine arts festival held annually each August in the heart of Midtown Atlanta's iconic Piedmont Park. Recognized several times in the Top 100 Best Arts Festivals by Sunshine Arts Magazine and considered the Best Summer Arts Festival in Metro Atlanta, this two-day festival features up to 250 carefully selected artists representing a wide range of media. Set against the lush backdrop of Atlanta's most beloved public park, the event offers a welcoming, walkable layout with strong visibility and steady foot traffic.

Key Dates & Deadlines

• Application opens: September 30, 2025
• Submission deadline: July 21, 2026
• Event dates: August 15–16, 2026
• Load-in: Friday, August 14, 2026, 12:00 PM–7:00 PM
• Festival hours: Saturday 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Waitlist released as deemed necessary (category by category)

Eligible Media & Categories

• 2-D Mixed Media (collage, papermaking, encaustic, pen and ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, photography)
• 3-D Mixed Media (mosaic, papier mâché, clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or other 3-dimensional objects)
• Ceramics (earthenware, porcelain, raku)
• Digital Art (original images manipulated by the artist using software)
• Drawing & Printmaking (pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels, chalk, pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, lithography—all prints must be signed and numbered)
• Fiber (basketry, batik, weaving, papermaking, knitting, quilting)
• Glass (blown, fused, stained, cast, molded)
• Handcrafted (handmade from manufactured, recycled, or repurposed materials)
• Jewelry (at least 50% of organic materials must be produced by the artist; commercial molds not permitted)
• Metal (functional and non-sculptural works)
• Painting (oils, acrylics, watercolors, tempera)
• Photography (prints, transparencies, or digital images processed by the artist)
• Sculpture (three-dimensional work in any individual medium)
• Wood & Furniture (built, turned, carved, or tooled; embellished manufactured wood not permitted)

Prohibited Items

• T-shirts and commercial clothing
• Posters
• Manufactured toys
• Commercially manufactured or reproduced items (resale)
• Jewelry made from more than 50% manufactured components
• Any item using commercially available molds or patterns

Application & Fees

• Non-refundable administrative processing fee: $35
• Minimum 4 images required to apply
• Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Director and included on the waitlist

Waitlist & Cancellation Policy

A waitlist will be maintained. Selected waitlisted artists may be contacted when the waitlist is released one day prior to the event date. Artists who have not checked in by Saturday at 8:00 AM will be considered a no-show; no-show artists are not eligible for refunds, and assigned space(s) will be forfeited to a waitlist artist.

Amenities & Services

• Water provided for artists on Saturday and Sunday
• Booth sitters available during event hours (upon request, as available)
• Designated festival hotline available during event hours
• 24-hour onsite security
• On-street and paid parking available

General Information

The event will take place rain or shine with no rain date; fees will not be refunded in case of inclement weather. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting sales taxes (current rate: 8%). All fees support the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces, a not-for-profit organization providing scholarships for artists.