Sedona Plein Air Festival 2026: Sedona, October 16–24

The closing days of Sedona Plein Air Festival let visitors move from the landscape to the finished work. Running October 16–24, 2026, the Sedona Arts Center event brings painters to the region to work outdoors. For the October 23–25 weekend, plan around Friday’s awards reception and Saturday’s community painting and final sale: the festival ends Saturday, October 24.

Event details

• Festival dates: October 16–24, 2026.
• Friday, October 23: Awards Night, 5–7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: Closing program, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; final art sale, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Venue: Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Times are Arizona local time.
• Community paint-out: Free to watch; $15 registration to participate.

Plan with the official Sedona Plein Air Festival information and the magazine’s Sedona Plein Air Festival database profile.

What makes plein air different

Plein-air artists work from the changing light and atmosphere outdoors. A festival exhibition gathers those individual responses, allowing visitors to compare how different painters describe the same region. Look for decisions about shadow, color temperature, edges and the amount of detail retained. The result need not be a literal inventory of a place to convey its character.

Friday’s awards and Saturday’s finale

The official schedule describes Friday’s reception as an opportunity to meet artists, view and purchase work made during the week, and watch awards announced with guest judge Kelly Kane. On Saturday, festival artists paint pumpkins from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; the organizer says these will be offered for purchase to support the arts center.

Community paint-out registration begins at 9 a.m., with judging at noon. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate under the event’s registration terms. The separate final art sale runs 10 a.m.–2 p.m., offering one last festival-day opportunity to meet the painters while they are still in Sedona.

Planning your visit

Choose the session that matches your interest: Friday for the reception and awards, Saturday morning for painting in progress, or the sale hours for browsing finished work. General gallery hours should not be substituted for these timed events. Confirm access, parking and any individual requirements with Sedona Arts Center.

Information for artists and before you go

Festival participation and the open community paint-out are different programs. Read the current registration instructions if you want to paint on Saturday rather than simply observe. Recheck the official schedule for changes before departure, and remember that no festival session is listed for Sunday, October 25.

Explore more destinations in our upcoming shows directory, Weekend Art Show Finder and Show Guides archive.

Organizer information checked October 18, 2026. Featured image is an AI-generated editorial concept, not event photography.