Executive Director's Message
Artown’s 30th anniversary in 2025 marked a truly remarkable milestone in our history. Building on that success, Artown 2026 will continue to grow and elevate the festival and all it offers to our community.
This year also commemorates the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. We will honor American art forms and artists while celebrating the voices of artists from around the globe. Closer to home, we are proud to showcase the vibrant creativity of artists throughout our region, presenting a rich and colorful tapestry of artistic expression.
On July 4, we invite the entire community to join us for a spectacular, admission-free celebration at Mackay Stadium. The evening will feature a magnificent performance by Reno Phil, accompanied by flyovers and culminating in a 500-drone light show.
During a recent pilgrimage along the Camino from Portugal to Spain, I was inspired by the tradition of the Camino Passport. Collecting stamps at each stop became a meaningful way to mark the journey. Inspired by that experience, we are pleased to introduce the Artown Passport as an inaugural pilot program for July 2026.
A limited number of Artown Passports will be available for purchase, allowing attendees to collect stamps at select events. Should the program prove successful, we look forward to expanding it to include all Artown events in the future. Those who complete the ultimate round-trip journey—attending 31 events in 31 days, with passport stamps to commemorate each—will receive an Artown Passport T-shirt.
Our website has become a remarkable resource, thoughtfully designed to help you explore every event and detail. I encourage you to browse it and to pair it with the Artown Little Book, available in early June.
Many of our main stage, admission free events—including Opening Night, Closing Night, Cultural Connections, and Movies in the Park—will take place at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. In addition, venues across the region will host an exciting array of performances, workshops, and exhibitions spanning every artistic genre. We invite you not only to attend, but to participate—join a workshop and experience the joy of creating alongside fellow arts enthusiasts.
Take your time exploring the many extraordinary events and plan your Artown experience. I look forward to seeing you in July.
Warm regards,
Photo Credit: Peter Walker. Location Nevada Museum of Art.
