Durango Autumn Arts Festival 2026

The Durango Autumn Arts Festival (DAAF) is celebrating 32 years of presenting fine arts and crafts by makers from around the country. The festival takes place along East Second Avenue in historic Durango, Colorado, amid fall colors. DAAF is a fundraising event of the Durango Arts Center, the region's premier nonprofit arts organization serving Durango and the Four Corners. The festival is ranked among the top arts festivals in the country and welcomes an estimated 7,000–8,000 visitors annually.

The festival is known for exceptional artist care, generous hospitality areas, and friendly crowds. Amenities include booth sitters, indoor restrooms, and access to drinking water. The Durango Arts Center produces a full color festival Guide with a map of booth locations, exhibitor list, and photo gallery of selected exhibitors' work. The festival is widely publicized on local radio stations, online directories and calendars, area newspapers, and magazines.

Participation is limited to one artist/craftsperson per booth, unless more than one artist/craftsperson is collaborating on work. All work submitted must be original fine art or fine craft in concept and design, executed by the exhibitor present at the festival. Work displayed must be of the same type, quality, and materials as depicted in submitted images. A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required for each category entered. Artists are responsible for obtaining proper state and local business licenses and collecting and remitting sales tax. The festival does not allow mass produced jewelry, imported crafts, ceramics/metal/plaster casts from molds not made by the artist, clothing not made or embellished by the artist, or unsigned/unnumbered prints. Body care products, culinary, and botanical arts are not accepted.

Five jurors select applicants based on originality of execution, design and concept; quality of workmanship; predominance of handcrafted components; significant alteration and enhancement of starting materials; and professional booth display. Event judges will select award winners based on anonymous booth visits on Saturday morning. Awards include Best of Show – Fine Art ($500 cash award, automatic acceptance and waived application fee for 2027), Best of Show – Fine Craft ($500 cash award, automatic acceptance and waived application fee for 2027), Best of Show – Best Booth (automatic acceptance and waived application fee for 2027), People's Choice Award, and Good Vibes Award. Artists must be present both days of the festival. Festival hours are Saturday, September 19th, 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, September 20th, 10 am - 5 pm. Artists are required to bring their own freestanding display weighted to withstand wind and rain. The Durango Arts Center hires professional security services to monitor the festival site from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday. All booths must be completely closed and all objects removed from sight during Saturday night. The Durango Arts Center is not responsible for loss or damage to exhibitor booths or contents.