18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival

The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is one of the longest-running and most popular outdoor painting events in the country. Founded in 2008, the festival has welcomed over 500 artists to paint the splendor of the Philadelphia area and has become one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural events in the region. The 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks-off on May 3, 2026, with the arrival of 32 juried, nationally recognized, and emerging artists who will paint within a 35-mile radius of Wayne, Pennsylvania to capture the exceptional beauty of the Delaware Valley.

Participating artists will showcase over 300 works created during the festival in the art center's spacious, light-filled, and state-of-the-art exhibition galleries. These works, representing a diverse range of styles and mediums, will be on view and sale from May 9 through June 20, 2026. The galleries at Wayne Art Center are enjoyed by more than 30,000 visitors each year and sales during the Wayne Plein Air Exhibition are robust and remain steady throughout the six-week exhibition. Artist housing will be graciously provided by welcoming members of the community, and participants will attend a Welcome Breakfast at a local picturesque farm property on Sunday, May 3.

The festival culminates with a collectors' preview party on May 9, 2026, where over ten major cash awards totaling $25,000 will be presented by Juror Mark Boedges, including Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Special Themed Awards. The Best of Show award winner will be invited to participate in the next year's plein air event. Entry fee is $50.00, and artists may submit up to four images for juror's review. The call is open to artists 18 and older from the United States.