ArtSplash 2026

ArtSplash is an outdoor art festival managed by the Sioux City Art Center in its 32nd year. The festival is located in downtown Sioux City on and around the Art Center campus and is free to the public. ArtSplash attracts 10,000-15,000 arts enthusiasts from throughout the upper Midwest and invites up to 100 exhibitors to participate. Net proceeds from ArtSplash directly support the exhibitions and educational programming of the Sioux City Art Center, western Iowa's only nationally accredited art museum.

The festival runs Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each booth is 10'x10' with at least 1' buffer between spaces. Limited double-wide booths (20'x10') are available. Booth space fee is $295 for standard booths and $575 for double-wide booths, with an additional $100 for corner booths. Electricity (400 watts) is included. Artists must provide their own lights and fixtures and bring at least 100 feet of extension cord. White commercial-grade tents with minimum 60-pound weights on each corner are required.

Application deadline is May 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Late applications are accepted through May 10, 2026. Jury notification occurs May 26, 2026. Application fees are $15 (January 1-31), $25 (February 1-May 1), or $45 (May 2-10). Three jurors with MFA-level academics and working artists score applications 1-7 in a single round. Cash awards total $7,500: Best in Show $2,500, 2nd Place $1,500, 3rd Place $1,000, and five Awards of Excellence at $500 each. Upon acceptance, artists must provide a Certificate of Insurance naming The City of Sioux City as additional insured with minimum coverage of $1,000,000/occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate. Artist amenities include leisurely Friday setup, complimentary artists' cocktail hour Friday afternoon, artists' breakfast and awards ceremony Sunday morning, favorable hotel rates, booth sitters, hospitality team, complimentary beverages and snacks, 24-hour security, and free parking. The SPLASH Artist Program is available for beginning artists within 60 miles of the Art Center who have not previously participated in professionally run art shows; SPLASH Artists receive free booth space and display elements but are ineligible for cash awards.