Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts 2026

The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is recognized as one of the top-rated outdoor fine art festivals in the country. The 56th Annual Festival will be held February 28 - March 1, 2026, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa. The Festival is presented by Gasparilla Arts, Inc. – a non-profit, entirely volunteer-run organization. Each year, up to 235 artists are selected through a juried process to exhibit their work for art enthusiasts and vie for at least $92,000 in award money, including the $15,000 Raymond James Best of Show Award and an additional 38 awards. The Festival is free to the public and attracts an estimated 30,000 visitors.

Artists must submit four images (three of artwork and one booth shot), pay a $50 application fee, and meet the September 7, 2025 deadline. Artwork must have been completed no earlier than February 1, 2023. Artists can submit up to four applications for different mediums but cannot submit multiple applications in the same medium. A Festival Awards Juror of national prominence will determine top awards on Saturday, while four Selection Jurors will determine additional Awards of Merit. Artists who received an award from the juror at the 2025 Festival are automatically accepted into the 2026 Festival.

All participating artists must be present during the complete Festival hours: 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Sunday. An awards ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Artists' Party. Artists must be 18 years of age or older, and all work must be original, created within the 3 years prior to the Festival, and available for sale with clearly visible pricing.