IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts 2027

Overview

The 51st Annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts is consistently ranked in the top 50 fine art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. This outdoor festival on Riverside Drive and Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach, Florida attracts 53,000+ arts enthusiasts and features more than $20,000 in cash awards. The event is limited to 225 spaces.

Event Dates & Hours

• Friday, January 22, 2027: Setup 6 AM–12:30 PM; Show 1 PM–5 PM
• Saturday, January 23, 2027: Show 9 AM–5 PM
• Sunday, January 24, 2027: Show 10 AM–4 PM

Location & Setup

The festival takes place on historic Canal Street and picturesque Riverside Drive adjacent to Riverside Park on the Intracoastal Waterway. All artist booths are located on the street. A food court, entertainment tent with musical acts, student art exhibit, children's programs, and face painting are featured in the park. Artists are assigned 10' × 11' exhibition spaces.

Booth Fees

• Single: $350
• Double: $675
• Corner: $100 (limited availability)
• Electric: $50

How to Apply

Submit a minimum of 3 images for juried selection. Artists may enter in more than one category; however, a separate application and jurying fee must be submitted for each category. Judges review all qualified entries on computers with artist names hidden to ensure impartiality. Each entry receives a numerical score from each juror, and the highest scores in each category are selected.

Key Dates & Selection

• Submission deadline: October 30, 2026
• Artist notification: November 9, 2026
• Acceptance notices and wait-list status will be emailed after the deadline

Jury Fee & Awards

Jury fee: $50 (non-refundable). Application does not guarantee participation. In-booth judging for cash awards begins Friday afternoon and continues Saturday. Artists are judged on excellence, originality, presentation, and overall impact.

Awards

• Best in Show: $5,000
• 1st Place (George and June Musson Award of Excellence): $3,500
• 2nd Place (Buddy Davenport Award of Excellence): $2,500
• 3rd Place (in Honor of Joey Twardowsz): $2,000
• Iris Legacy Award: $200
• 2 ACA Volunteer League Choice Awards: $500 each (1 in 2D, 1 in 3D)
• 28 Awards of Merit: $400 each (14 in 2D, 14 in 3D)

Eligibility & Restrictions

All work must be made by the artist in the tent; representatives are not allowed. Buy-sell, AI-generated work, and sublimation are not eligible. If you receive an invitation and accept it, you agree to be committed to the show.

Artist Hospitality

Festival Artist Hospitality is available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including breakfast snacks each morning and the Artist Breakfast on Sunday morning where awards are announced and winner ribbons distributed. Award checks will be delivered to artists on Sunday.