Artwalk 2026: what to know about this FREE event Sept. 11–12, 2026

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The time has come for one of Birmingham’s most anticipated annual events: Artwalk returns for its 24th year in the Magic City on September 11 and 12, 2026.

The two-day art festival features 110+ regional artists, live music, street performances, food and drink vendors and much more.

Keep scrolling to see what’s on the agenda at Artwalk 2026 and the updates making the festival experience smoother than ever.

Why Artwalk matters for local artists

Artwalk plays a major role in diversifying art access in Birmingham. With more than 110 artists bringing their work to Artwalk 2026, every medium is represented in a variety of price points.

From paper to canvas, sculpture, wearable art and much more, there is work befitting all tastes and styles at Artwalk.

Some of the media presented by artists at Artwalk 2026:

• Paint
  • Acrylic
  • Watercolor
  • Oil
• Metal
• Wood
• Ceramic
• Photography
• Digital art
• Collage
• Jewelry
• Fiber

Find the full list of artists that will be selling their work at Artwalk 2026 here.

Opportunities presented by Artwalk are for artists of all ages, professional and amateur, from every walk of life. Artwalk is a juried art show, meaning the artwork is judged and winners are selected every year.

The previous year’s winner designs the logo for next year’s Artwalk. This year’s logo was designed by 2025 winners Yvonne Miller & Stefan Hochhuber. Check it out below. 👇

Enjoy more than art at Artwalk 2026

Beyond the incredible artists featured at Artwalk, there is a full day of fun waiting for visitors on September 11 and 12.

Grab a bite to eat at any of the local business lining 20th Street N and the intersecting avenues, or check out Artwalk’s specialty bars conveniently located on every block of the event, serving up a wide selection of drinks and handcrafted cocktails.

Some of the restaurants + bars around Artwalk 2026:

• Paramount
• Brick & Tin
• Trattoria Zaza
• Bistro Two Eighteen
• Bayonet
• Helen
• Salud Taqueria
• Cafe Dupont
• The Collins Bar
• El Barrio

There will also be plenty of entertainment happening alongside the shopping at Artwalk.

Live music will fill the streets, mobile performers will provide non-stop entertainment and the PeeWee Picassos KidZone on Saturday will guide kids through an art project they can take home.

You won’t want to miss the fun at Artwalk September 11 and 12, so mark your calendar and follow @bhamartwalk for all the details.

What’s changed for Artwalk 2026

Artwalk this year will look a little bit different, with a slight change in location and traffic allowances making for a safer and smoother experience for visitors.

Here’s your guide to navigating Birmingham Artwalk 2026:

• When: Friday, Sept. 11–Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
  • Friday: 5PM-10PM
  • Saturday: 10AM-6PM
    • PeeWee Picassos KidZone: Saturday only, 11AM-4PM
• Where: 20th St N, from 2nd Ave N to 6th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
  • PeeWee Picassos KidZone: Forestall Art Center parking lot, 3rd Ave N
  • Traffic on 2nd Ave N–6th Ave N will be diverted around Artwalk this year

Without having to wait on traffic at every intersection, visitors can expect the walk around the festival to be much easier.

How you can be part of Artwalk 2026

Part of what makes Artwalk great is you don’t have to be an artist to be involved. The festival wouldn’t be possible without the supportive and generous community of art enthusiasts in Birmingham.

Every year, Artwalk invites local businesses to play a vital role in the event’s success, offering sponsorship benefits and marketing opportunities.

Have your name seen by the thousands of visitors at Artwalk by becoming a sponsor and contributing to Birmingham’s growing art scene.

Looking for a free way to help Artwalk run smoothly? Volunteers are needed to help with things like set up/clean up, artist and vendor hospitality, kid zone art activities, event navigation and more.

If you want to volunteer at Artwalk, fill out an application with your availability and interests.

Some of the generous sponsors supporting Artwalk 2026:

• Tito’s Handmade Vodka
• Michelob Ultra
• Stella Artois
• Coca-Cola UNITED
• Lenovo

Will we see you at Birmingham Artwalk 2026? Show up September 11 and 12 and tag us @bhamnow to show off your finds.

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