Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival 2026

The Ankeny Art Center and Uptown Ankeny will host the Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival on May 16th, 2026. The festival will transform several streets of Ankeny's Historic Uptown into a celebration of artistic expression, featuring 50+ artist booths, live music, artist demonstrations, food trucks, and entertainment. Artists work in mediums including painting (acrylic, oil, pastel), ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, mixed media, metal works, glass, and digital art. Awards will be given for Best in Show ($500.00) and Honorable Mention ($200.00) on the day of the festival.

Booth spaces are approximately 10' wide by 10' deep in an open outdoor area. Single spaces cost $100.00 and double spaces cost $200.00. All participating artists must provide their own tent, tables, chairs, and setup items. Setup begins at 6:00 am, with all exhibits required to be completely set up and staffed by 9:30 am before the event opens to the public at 10:00 am. The event closes at 4:00 pm, and all exhibit structures and debris must be removed in a timely manner.

All work exhibited must be created and produced by the artist. All two-dimensional work must be framed, matted, or stretched. Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist, with each piece signed if multiple pieces of the same design are displayed. Artists may only exhibit work in the category in which they are accepted and must be present to exhibit. A current ID is required for check-in. As an outdoor event, artists are responsible for holding proper insurance and protection of their work and setup. The Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival will not be responsible for damage due to weather or unrelated incidents. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting all taxes. Application fees are not refundable. Full refunds of booth fees are issued if canceled before April 14th; 50% refunds are issued if canceled between April 15th-28th. After April 28th, no booth fees will be refunded.