Black Swamp Arts Festival 2026

The Black Swamp Arts Festival (BSAF) is a free, outdoor art and music festival held annually in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio on the first weekend after Labor Day (September 11-13, 2026). BSAF is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that celebrates the arts and connects art with the community. The festival draws an estimated 40,000 area residents and visitors over the weekend and is often ranked among the top 200 festivals nationally by Sunshine Artist magazine. In 2023, BSAF received the Governor's Award for the Arts in Ohio for its sustained dedication to promoting artistic excellence.

The Juried Art Show comprises 108 booths and typically receives 250+ applications. Medium categories include Ceramics, Fiber & Leather, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography & Digital Art, Printmaking & Drawing, Sculpture, and Wood. The festival offers $8,000 in artist awards: Best of Show $2,000, Best 2D $1,500, Best 3D $1,500, Judge's Award $1,000, Sustainability Award $500, Emerging Artist Award $500, and three Honorable Mention awards of $350 each.

Application deadline is April 1, 2026. The application fee is $35. Single booths are 10 ft. x 10 ft. for $325; double booths are 20 ft. x 10 ft. for $650. Artists must be 18 years or older and submit 5 images (a booth shot is required). Artwork must be of the artist's own design and craftsmanship. Set-up is Friday daytime with exhibit hours Friday 5:00 PM-8:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Take-down is Sunday 5:00-7:15 PM. Artists must attend in person throughout the entire festival. The festival provides volunteer assistance for loading/unloading, a hospitality area with refreshments and restrooms, and extensive marketing including social media promotion and a festival website featuring each artist's information and booth location.