Art & Soul of the Magic Valley 2026

The Magic Valley Arts Council announces the 16th annual Art & Soul of the Magic Valley, a major non-juried art competition held June 5-27, 2026 in Twin Falls, Idaho and surrounding communities. Artists worldwide are invited to submit one original artwork for a chance to win up to $50,000 in prize money. All submitted artworks will be physically displayed in local businesses serving as pop-up art galleries. Winners are determined by public vote during the event, which attracts approximately 40,000 attendees.

Eligibility is open to anyone. Each artist may submit one entry in one category with a $50 non-refundable entry fee. Artwork must be physically installed in Twin Falls by June 1, 2026 (or earlier if shipped). Artist registration must be received by midnight on March 31, 2026. Venue and sponsor matching agreements must be completed by May 20, 2026. Each entry must be sponsored by a registered sponsor (sponsorship fee is $100). Only original work is eligible; work created from kits or patterns is not allowed. All AI usage must be disclosed upon entry; undisclosed AI usage results in automatic disqualification. Artwork entered in previous Art & Soul contests or created in previous years is not eligible. The Grand Prize winner is not eligible to enter the following year.

Prizes include Grand Prize ($12,000), 2nd Place ($6,000), 3rd Place ($3,000), and 4th Place ($1,500), plus category-specific awards (Best in Show $1,000, 2nd $150, 3rd $100, 4th $50 in qualified categories with at least 10 entries). Up to $50,000 will be distributed to as many as 98 artists. Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on July 10, 2026, then via email by July 14, 2026. Artwork may be listed for sale with a 20% commission payable to the Magic Valley Arts Council for sales between May 1 and August 1, 2026. Accepted categories include Acrylic, Ceramic, Digital, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Mixed Media, Mural/Street Art, Oil, Original Art Quilt, Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture 3' and under, Sculpture over 3', Uncategorized, Watermedia, Wearable, and Woodworking.