That familiar feeling when a scene is so inspiring that it energizes the soul is set to return at the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, running September 18–27, 2026, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Whether attendees are visual artists, writers, or musicians, the festival offers numerous opportunities to hone creative skills and celebrate the rugged landscape.
Visual art competition categories include Plein Air, Studio Work, Junior Studio Work, Miniatures, and Nocturne. Highlighting this year’s event is the special, one-time Escalante 150th Anniversary Paint-Out. To sweeten the competition, ten thousand dollars in cash prizes will be awarded at the Competition Awards Ceremony to the winners across these categories. For those looking to sharpen their techniques before the festival officially begins, several workshops are scheduled. A three-day Slow Plein Air Painting workshop taught by Scott Geary and Wayne Geary begins on September 14, followed by two-day workshops taught by Terry Chacon, Susan De’Armond, and Nita Harper starting on September 17.
Beyond painting, the festival features free Roving Talks led by experts covering local flora, fauna, historical homes, and the festival’s first-ever ghost tour. This year’s Featured Artist is Kathleen Price, whose work is inspired by recurring shapes in the living world and approaches creativity with trust, experimentation, and childlike joy.
In addition to the visual arts, writing and music classes will cover poetry, writing in the landscape, acoustics, harmony, classical composers, rhythm, style, 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,” which shares stories of his colorful family from Boulder, Utah. Attendees can also contribute to a collaborative community mural, browse the Arts and Crafts Fair featuring national vendors, and explore the Art Exhibit and Sale. More information, including stamp-in times and registration fees, is available at escalantecanyonsartfestival.org.
