The 2026 Coconut Grove Arts Festival will take place February 14-16, 2026.

Applications will open on July 1st, 2025!

Application Fee: $40. The application fee for 2025 Coconut Grove Arts Festival Award Winners is waived. Please contact FestivalArtist@cgaf.com via email to receive the code.

Each exhibiting artist must complete an online application with only one artist per entry unless you are entering as collaborating artists. A separate online application must be completed for each medium in which you would like to apply. Each application requires a jury fee and its own set of images. If an artist wishes to apply in more than one category a separate application form, jury fee, and set of images must be submitted for each category. Artists may apply in up to 3 categories, but only two entries can be accepted into the show. Artists may not apply twice in the same category.

Collaborating artists is defined as a group of two (2) artists that work together on any one piece of art. If two artists collaborate, it is regarded as one joint entry. If accepted, only finished work that is the result of the collaborative process may be displayed and sold. Both artists are required to sign in and present photo identification prior to setting up. Both artists must be present during the Festival hours in the booth during the entire three-day festival. Assistants, employees, office, or other support staff are NOT considered to be collaborators. If an artist has a helper who assists the artists with frames, setup, selling, paperwork, etc., but is not producing the work, this person is not a collaborator, but may certainly assist at the Festival.

IMAGES
Five (5) images are to be submitted for each individual media category entered by the artist. Four (4) images of individual work and a mandatory booth shot.

The booth image is IMPORTANT. It is factored into the jury’s decision. The booth image is used to show how you will present your work at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival.  Outdoor booth shots are best.  Booth images may not be created in a computer program.  Booth Image must be blind and must not contain any identifiable sign or photo of the artist themselves. 

If you do not have a booth image (because you are new to the art show world), please provide an image of a grouping of your body of work to give an idea of how you will present your work at the show and how your work looks grouped together, and a brief explanation of why there is no booth image, in the title part of your “booth image.” 

THE JUDGES AND JURY PROCESS
The Coconut Grove Arts Festival selects up to 285 artists to participate through a blind jurying process. A jury panel of five independent judges consisting of museum curators, gallery owners, professional artists, and art educators will gather to review each application. Jury may include peer jurors. 

The jury process is virtual and will not be open to the public. Decisions of the jury are based solely on the quality of the artwork. All Jury scores are final. Recent history shows that approximately 1/3 of our artists each year are exhibiting for the first time.

Claywork, Digital Arts, Drawing & Pastels, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media – 2-Dimensional, Mixed Media – 3-Dimensional, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Watercolor & Wood.

Are you an aspiring artist? Are you interested in beginning a career in outdoor art shows?  Then click here for more info!