Lubbock Arts Festival 2027

Overview

The 49th Annual Lubbock Arts Festival is a juried fine art and fine craft show limited to 100 artists, held April 10-11, 2027 at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The event has received four consecutive "Best in Texas" awards from the Texas Festivals & Events Association (2021-2024) and two "Grand Pinnacle" awards from the International Festivals and Events Association (2021, 2023). The venue features air-conditioned indoor space, 8,000+ loyal ticketed patrons, $50,000+ advertising campaign, professional staff, 24-hour security, free parking, and artist amenities including hospitality room, booth sitters, and preorder lunch service.

Key Dates

• August 1, 2026: Application opens, $35 jury fee
• August 31, 2026: Emerging Artist Program deadline
• September 15, 2026: Early Decision Application deadline
• September 21, 2026: Early Decision notification
• October 31, 2026: Early Decision booth fee due (save $50 + guaranteed placement)
• November 15, 2026: Regular Jury deadline
• November 20, 2026: Regular Jury artist notification
• December 15, 2026: Booth fee deadline for Regular Jury
• December 16, 2026: Rolling Jury begins (bi-weekly reviews until full)
• April 8, 2027 (Thursday): Setup noon-5pm
• April 9, 2027 (Friday): Setup 10am-7pm
• April 10, 2027 (Saturday): Show 10am-6pm
• April 11, 2027 (Sunday): Show 11am-5pm, load-out 5pm-8pm

Eligibility & Restrictions

Open to visual artists and fine crafters creating original work. Work must be completed within the last 18 months. Jewelry must be separately juried and accepted to be sold. Artists may submit multiple applications (up to 4) if work falls in different media categories or represents distinctly separate bodies of work.

Media & Categories

Festival accepts fine art and fine craft across multiple media categories. In recognition of America's 250th anniversary, the festival especially encourages applications from artists working in heritage arts and traditional craft mediums including leatherwork, quilting, woodworking, metal arts, ceramics, and fiber arts reflecting American cultural traditions and creative heritage.

Application Requirements

Submit 5 images total: 4 images of artwork completed within the last 18 months, and 1 booth image showing how work will be displayed. All images are viewed by jurors in a blind jury process (artist identity not disclosed). Artists are assigned a number; jurors judge only on digital images submitted. The jury consists of 3 art professionals who evaluate artistic excellence and balance. All work must be original and made by the applying artist. Use proper capitalization in ZAPPLICATION profile information.

Fees & Booth Options

• Jury fee: $35 (regular and rolling deadlines)
• 10'x10' standard: $375 (early decision 10/31) | $425 (11/1-12/15) | $475 (12/16-full)
• 10'x10' corner: $475 (early decision 10/31) | $525 (11/1-12/15) | $575 (12/16-full)
• 10'x20' standard: $700 (early decision 10/31) | $750 (11/1-12/15) | $800 (12/16-full)
• 10'x20' demo (for 10'x10' price): $375 (early decision 10/31) | $425 (11/1-12/15) | $475 (12/16-full)
• All booths include electric and pipe/drape. Larger spaces available on request.

Jury Process & Acceptance

Acceptance does not guarantee booth space. Once a category is full, accepted artists who have not paid the booth fee are automatically moved to a waitlist. After the booth fee deadline, any remaining spaces are filled through a rolling jury process meeting bi-weekly until the show reaches capacity. Work exhibited must be represented in jury images; types of work not reflected in submitted images may result in denial of future festival participation.

Emerging Artist Program

"Empowering Visual Artists for Festival Success": An in-person only training program for visual artists with fewer than 5 years of professional experience who are not gallery-represented and earn 50% or less of income from art sales. Participants attend expert-led workshops on identifying festivals, booth setup, pricing, sales management, marketing, and audience engagement. Workshop dates: September 19, 2026; October 24, 2026; November 14, 2026; February 6, 2027; May 22, 2027. Program includes participation in the festival with booth fee, setup, and electricity provided at no cost. Application deadline: August 31, 2026.

Contact & Accommodations

Contact: Maisie Alford, Lubbock Arts Alliance. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 806-744-2787. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5092, Lubbock, Texas 79408. Website: https://lubbockartsfestival.org/. Reasonable accommodation requests should be made at least two weeks in advance. Hotel: MCM Elegante Hotel & Suites (next to Civic Center) offers artist rate of $99/night + tax.