Plein Air Litchfield 2026

Plein Air Litchfield is a week-long plein air painting competition and festival hosted by Art Tripping, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The event takes place September 12–20, 2026, across eight picturesque communities in northwestern Litchfield County, Connecticut, including Litchfield, Warren, Morris, Goshen, New Milford, Kent, Cornwall, West Cornwall, Washington Depot, and New Preston. Thirty of the finest plein air artists in the nation will compete for prizes and awards while raising awareness of plein air painting and the local creative economy.

Artwork must be created en plein air within the designated Litchfield communities without the benefit of photography between September 12–18, 2026. Acceptable mediums include oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and pastel. All paintings must have the PAL 2026 stamp on the substrate and be framed and ready for hanging. Participation in the Quick Draw and Collectors Soiree and Art Sales is required, and artists must stay for the duration of the event. All exhibited artwork must be for sale at artist-determined prices. PAL retains a 40% commission on all sales. Unsold paintings are the artist's responsibility.

To apply, submit three plein air painting images and pay a $50 non-refundable entry fee by April 1, 2026. The top 5 PAL 2025 prize winners are automatically invited back; the remaining artists will be selected by renowned plein air painter Ken DeWaard. Selected artists will be notified by email mid-April. Awards include 1st Place $2,500, 2nd Place $1,000, 3rd Place $500, Artist Choice $1,000, and 1st Place Quick Draw $500, plus entry into PAL 2027. Additional awards include three Honorable Mentions at $250 each and category awards for Best Farmscape, Best Abstract, Wild Spaces, and Best Historical Architecture at $250 each. Complimentary lodging in private homes will be provided for artists from outside the area, with discounted lodging in local hotels and inns also available.