Art lovers often know that feeling when a scene is so inspiring they feel energized to capture it. Participants can prepare to experience that, perhaps repeatedly, at the Escalante Canyons Art Festival from September 18–27, 2026. Located near the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument, the festival offers opportunities for visual artists, writers, and musicians to hone their skills and seize the day.
Visual categories this year include Plein Air, Studio Work, Junior Studio Work, Miniatures, and Nocturne. Of special interest for 2026 is the Escalante 150th Anniversary Paint-Out. Details regarding stamp-in times, dates, and fees are available at escalantecanyonsartfestival.org. A total of $10,000 in cash prizes will be awarded at the Competition Awards Ceremony to the winners in these categories, and many will plan to take some of those winnings home.
Several events take place before the festival officially begins, including a three-day Slow Plein Air Painting workshop taught by Scott Geary and Wayne Geary on September 14. Terry Chacon, Susan De’Armond, and Nita Harper will each teach two-day workshops starting on September 17. The festival also features free Roving Talks, including presentations by topic experts in flora, fauna, and historical homes, as well as the festival’s first-ever ghost tour.
This year’s Featured Artist is Kathleen Price. Her fascination with recurring shapes in the living world inspires her to bring the complexity of experience to the viewers’ attention through experimentation and childlike joy. In addition to the visual arts, writing and music classes will cover poetry, landscape writing, acoustics, harmony, and musicianship. Musicians will also perform on stage in the park throughout the festival.
Local playwright and musician Raymond Shurtz will perform a one-person show entitled “The Art of Fire” about his colorful family from Boulder, Utah. A community mural will be a work in progress for everyone to contribute to, and the Arts and Crafts Fair will attract vendors from across the country. The Art Exhibit and Sale remains the highlight of the festival, showcasing artwork submitted for all competition categories.
Whether participants are visual artists, writers, musicians, or art collectors, there will be an opportunity to showcase skills or add to a collection. Attendees can capture the essence of the festival in Escalante and leave with treasures. For more information on the festival and its many offerings, visit escalantecanyonsartfestival.org.
