Pearl Street Arts Fest Celebrates 49 years in Downtown Boulder
The region's premier fine arts festival brings more than 100 artists to the Pearl Street Mall July 17–19, 2026.
Boulder, CO [July 10, 2026] – Downtown Boulder will once again transform into a vibrant outdoor visual art gallery as the annual Pearl Street Arts Fest returns for its 49th year, July 17–19, 2026. The juried festival will feature more than 100 artists from 22 states, showcasing original works across 13 different disciplines, including painting, photography, digital art, woodworking, sculpture, and more.
Visitors can stroll the Pearl Street Mall and along 14th Street to experience and purchase original artwork and meet the artists. New this year, artists will be featured on the Boulder County Courthouse lawn, where hand-painted Adirondack-style chairs will also be displayed. The chairs will be up for auction on Saturday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, July 19, at 2:00 p.m., to raise funds for Downtown Boulder's 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2027. Additional information is available at PearlStreetArtsFest.com.
Festival Hours:
- Friday, July 17 | 3:00 – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, July 18 | 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Sunday, July 19 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Pearl Street Arts Fest began in 1978 and was the first community event held on the Pearl Street Mall. It is one of the oldest festivals in Colorado and has grown into one of Boulder’s most iconic events, showcasing the community’s love for the arts.
“The Pearl Street Arts Fest has been a downtown tradition for nearly 50 years,” said Anna Salim, VP of Operations & Programming for Downtown Boulder. “We are so excited to host the event yet again and share the creativity and talent of artists from all over the country.
This year’s commemorative poster, “Something in the Heart” by Mallory Cash will be available to purchase in 16 x 20 ($50). Pick up your high-quality prints while supplies last at Art Source International (1237 Pearl Street) or at the artist's booth (#1215). You can also purchase previous year’s commemorative posters at Art Source International.
In 2024, the Pearl Street Arts Fest launched the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Artist Invitation with the purpose of promoting equality and diversity in the arts. This year, Joseph Graves Jr., Aishwarya Kishore Puthran, Alexa Mosley, Butchi Indira Muddu and Charlotte Sellam were selected to showcase their work at the festival, showing off a range of mediums and artistic styles.
In addition to booths, Open Studios Mobile Art Lab will provide free creative instruction and inspiration for kids of all ages on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on the Courthouse Lawn. RestART Art Therapy will be on the lawn throughout the weekend with Community Wish Weaving, a collaborative art activity inviting attendees to write a hope, wish, prayer or personal intention on a strip of fabric and weave it into a shared community textile. This interactive art ritual fosters reflection, connection, and shared healing as individual wishes come together to form a unified community tapestry. Bank of America is providing a color-by-number mural and coupon cards for cardboard robot puzzles, redeemable at local Bank of America financial centers.
Admission to the festival itself is free. Every Saturday and Sunday, City of Boulder Parking Garages at 10th & Walnut, 11th & Walnut, 15th & Pearl and 14th and Walnut are free. More information about how to get to the festival can be found online at PearlStreetArtsFest.com.
The 2026 Pearl Street Arts Fest is presented by Bank of America and produced by Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives (DBCI). Sponsors include: City of Boulder, Eldorado Natural Spring Water, Three Leaf Concepts, The Camera, KUNC, and Boulder Magazine.
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For More Information:
General Public: 303-449-3774 | events@downtownboulder.org
Press Contact: Tana Benitez, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
303-449-3774 | tana@downtownboulder.org
About Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives (DBCI)
Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2017. DBCI’s mission is to engage both visitors and locals through arts, culture, innovation, and inclusive, community-driven experiences in downtown Boulder. Learn more at DBCIBoulder.org. DBCI operates under the umbrella of the Downtown Boulder Partnership, alongside the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District.