Midwest Salute to the Arts 2026

The 38th Midwest Salute to the Arts is a three-day outdoor arts festival held annually the weekend before Labor Day at Everett Moody Park at Longacre in Fairview Heights, Illinois, approximately 15 minutes east of downtown St. Louis. The festival runs Friday, August 28 through Sunday, August 30, 2026, with registration and setup on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., public hours Friday 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (with awards presentation at 9:30 a.m.). The festival hosts up to 100 award-winning national and local artists and offers free admission and parking, 24-hour security, booth sitters and volunteers, and artists retain all sales.

Artists may apply in the following categories: Clay, Drawing/Printmaking, Glass, Jewelry (Precious Metal), Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Fine Craft, and Wood. Artists may enter multiple categories but will only be permitted one booth; a separate jury fee and application per category is required. The majority of work displayed must be from the category in which the artist is accepted. Booth spaces are located on grass with completely flat ground not guaranteed. A jury fee of $30.00 is required. The application deadline is May 8, 2026. Booth fees must be paid within 20 days of acceptance notification; the purchase deadline is June 1, 2026.

The festival offers $17,300 in cash awards: $2,000 for Best of Show, $1,000 for each of 10 Best of Category awards, $500 for each of 9 Award of Excellence awards, $500 for Arts Council Award, and $300 for Mayor's Choice Award. Each artist can win only one category of award. Award winners from 2025 are invited to return exempt from jurying if they request prior to May 8, 2026 and pay booth fees by June 1, 2026. All artists exhibiting are required to donate a minimum of two pieces of their own work to the Children's Gallery; a tax receipt will be provided.