Vancouver Arts & Music Festival 2026 - Visual Arts & Creative Makers Marketplace

The 2026 Vancouver Arts & Music Festival (VAMF) welcomes local and regional artists and makers to showcase and sell original work in the Visual Arts & Creative Makers Marketplace. VAMF is a three-day celebration of creativity, culture, and community held in downtown Vancouver, Washington, taking place August 7–9, 2026, in Esther Short Park and the surrounding downtown area. The festival draws 50,000+ attendees and features 160+ visual artists in a curated marketplace, 40+ musical, dance, and street-theater performances, interactive art zones, hands-on creative activities, food and beverage vendors, and nightly performances by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Approximately 60 Visual Arts & Creative Makers Marketplace booths will be selected through a review process conducted by a selection committee. Selections are guided by artistic excellence, quality and creativity of work, commitment to showcasing diverse styles and techniques, a broad range of price points, and overall balance of the marketplace. Media categories include ceramics, digital art, drawing/pastels, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media (2D and 3D), painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, traditional crafts, wearables, and wood. Not accepted: buy/sell items, mass-produced goods, AI-generated artwork, and commercial imported goods.

Applications must include five images: four of individual pieces and one booth or display image showing a grouping of the artist's work. This is a blind jury process; avoid submitting booth images with identifiable signage or photos of the artist. The festival welcomes established artists, interactive artists, demonstration artists, and emerging artists. Emerging artists are early-career creators with fewer than 3 years of experience participating in professional art festivals and are developing their professional artistic practice, portfolio, booth presentation, and business foundations.