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Crimson Clay Club at Kentuck Festival 2025 — You won’t want to miss the 55th annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts happening October 17 + 18, 2026. (Henry Busby)

Get ready to feast your senses on all the art, food and fun at one of Alabama’s largest annual festivals—and it’s only an hour away from Birmingham. Kentuck Festival of the Arts is back for its 55th year on October 17–18, 2026 at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa.

The two-day festival welcomes more than 270 artists from across the country representing a huge range of styles and media. You may find a woodworker next to a photographer, or a fiber artist next to a welder, and they are all part of the unique experience that makes Kentuck a nationally renowned, must-see festival for lovers of the arts.

Keep reading for the details, plus a sneak peek of what you can expect at this year’s Kentuck Festival.

How can you visit Kentuck Festival of the Arts?

Sloss Metal Arts demo at Kentuck Festival 2025 — Create your own cast iron tile with Sloss Metal Arts at Kentuck Festival. (Henry Busby)

Whether you’re getting a head start on holiday shopping, adding to your personal collection or just looking for a way to entertain the family, Kentuck’s lineup of artists, performers and activities is sure to have something worthwhile for everyone.

Here’s how you can get in on the fun:

When: Saturday, October 17 + Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Saturday: 9AM–5PM
- Sunday: 9AM–4PM
  - VIPs get early access at 8AM on Saturday
Where: Snow Hinton Park, 21st St E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
Cost:
- 1 Day pass: $15
- 2 Day pass: $25
- Kids 12 + under: FREE
- VIP packages: $250–$550
Get your tickets for Kentuck Festival today!
- Online ticket sales end Oct. 15 at 12PM, but tickets will still be available at the gate

While Kentuck Festival is a chance to buy one-of-a-kind work from talented artists, it is much more than your average shopping spree—you will need a full day (maybe two) to experience all that the festival has in store.

What will you see at Kentuck Festival of the Arts?

Crowd of people at Kentuck Festival 2025 — Kentuck is bringing artists from all over the country to Alabama where they will share their talent with you. (Henry Busby)

You may want to bring a large bag with you to Kentuck Festival of the Arts because you’ll be so immersed in the creative process you might just take home a few items more than you planned.

Here are some things you can expect at the festival:

270+ artists selling handmade works + wares
20+ interactive demos + kids crafts, including:
- Tie-dye
- Birdhouse building
- Cast iron tiles
- Clay sculpting
- Chinese calligraphy
- Paper marbling
- + more!
2 performance stages: live music + spoken word performances
Food trucks + craft beer

For 55 years, Kentuck has been curating a unique festival experience that honors its roots in folk and self-taught art. One stand-out tradition demonstrating the festival’s history is the annual festival quilt, created by one woman for the last 43 years.

How is Kentuck Festival preserving its history?

Hallie O'Kelley with 2026 Festival Quilt-BLADES — Hallie O’Kelley with her handmade design for the 2026 Festival Quilt, *Blades.* (Kentuck Art Center)

The theme of Kentuck is determined every year by a custom, hand-stitched quilt that Hallie O’Kelley has been designing since 1983. Her design inspires the visual identity of the festival and will appear on t-shirts, mugs and signage for that year.

You would never guess that Hallie is 101 years old because she is still sharing her work with festival goers as a member of the West Alabama Quilters Guild. To commemorate her contributions to Kentuck, the 2026 festival quilt, Blades, will be cataloged into Kentuck Art Center’s permanent collection and will be displayed periodically for years to come.

Artists like Hallie are part of why Kentuck leaves such an impression on everyone who visits, and she is just one representative of Kentuck’s mission: “perpetuate the arts, engage the community, and empower the artist.”

You can get Hallie’s quilt design on festival merch at the 55th annual Kentuck Festival—get your tickets today!

Why should you visit Kentuck Festival?

Aerial view of an arts festival. — The footprint of Kentuck Festival at Snow Hinton Park. (City of Tuscaloosa)

Your support makes Kentuck’s mission of sharing the arts possible. Festival proceeds go toward year-round programming for Kentuck Art Center and next year’s festival.

Fill your weekend with creativity, entertainment and delicious food all in one place on October 17 + 18, and help Kentuck bring the festivities back to Tuscaloosa for years to come.

“After 55 years, Kentuck has grown to be one of the best festivals in the country and we’re proud of the legacy we’ve built right here in Alabama.”

Exa Cork, Executive Director of Kentuck Art Center & Festival

What part of Kentuck Festival are you most excited for? Grab your tickets online now + follow @kentuckart for more sneak peeks + festival updates!

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