2026 ARTISTS
The Park City Kimball Arts Festival is an award-winning, jury-selected visual arts festival located in the heart of the world-famous resort community of Park City, Utah. The Kimball Arts Festival is Utah’s longest-running visual arts festival and is one of the most highly regarded art events in the West.
About the Park City Kimball Arts Festival
For more than five decades, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival has been one of the nation’s premier juried fine art festivals. Each August, Historic Main Street in Park City transforms into an open-air gallery featuring exceptional artists from across the country while welcoming more than 27,000 art collectors and visitors. Artists consistently rank the festival among the country’s top events for sales, hospitality, and overall experience.
Presented by Kimball Art Center, the festival supports year-round arts education, exhibitions, and community programs serving thousands of people throughout Utah. It also champions artists by returning 100% of artwork sales directly to the artist.
A Truly Juried Festival
The Park City Kimball Arts Festival is committed to maintaining one of the most fair, competitive, and transparent artist selection processes in the country.
Every application is reviewed through a blind jury process, meaning jurors evaluate artwork and booth presentation without influence from Kimball Art Center staff, board members, donors, sponsors, or personal relationships. Every artist competes equally based solely on the strength of their application.
Because space on Historic Main Street is limited, acceptance into the festival is highly competitive. We encourage every applicant to submit the strongest possible portfolio and booth presentation.
FAQS
What is the general timeline for the application process?
Artist application opens - November 1st, 2025
Application closes - February 8th, 2026
Jury in progress - March 1st - March 15th, 2026
Notification date - April 1st, 2026
Registration Materials due - April 30th, 2026
2026 Festival Dates - August 7th - 9th
I AM AN ARTIST, HOW DO I APPLY TO THE PARK CITY KIMBALL ARTS FESTIVAL?
Artist applications open each November and remain open through February. Notifications are sent in April.
Applications are submitted online through ZAPP and require representative artwork images, a booth image, artist statement, and application fee.
Don't want to miss next year's application? Join our newsletter for reminders about application openings, deadlines, and festival news.
Booth Questions
Do I need to bring my own tent?
Artists must provide their own tent. Should you need to rent a tent or weights, the Kimball Art Center can help. Please email artsfest@kimballartcenter.org or our Front Desk at 435.649.8882 x101 for more information.
What color tent can I have?
Any color of tent is acceptable. The sun is very strong, so most artists prefer white or light colored tents. All tents must be fire rated.
Can I get electricity and/or water hook up at the booth?
No. The Kimball Arts Festival does not provide electricity or water hookups for artists.
Do I need to set-up and tear down my booth every day?
No. Booths may remain in place for the duration of the festival. It is up to the individual artists whether to remove all or some of the booth contents overnight. The Kimball Art Center and Kimball Arts Festival are not responsible for damage to property at any time.
Do I have to be open and in my booth for the entire Festival?
Yes. Booths must have the exhibiting artist present in the booth throughout the entire festival. Short breaks are permitted.
Do you have booth sitters?
Yes. Volunteer booth sitters can watch your booth for up to 15 minutes during public festival hours.
What to Expect in Park City
Where do I find lodging?
FAQ: Accepted artists are given a list of lodging discounts from a variety of our lodging partners in and around the city in the Invited Artist Packet. Room availability is not guaranteed, book early. RV use is not permitted in city limits. For a list of nearby RV parks, please call our Front Desk at 435.649.8882.
What kind of weather should I expect?
Park City is at nearly 7,000 ft elevation. The sun is strong, the air is dry and afternoon thunder and rainstorms can occur accompanied by strong winds. We recommend sunscreen and dressing in layers for your comfort.
What happens if it rains?
The Park City Kimball Arts Festival occurs rain or shine. The festival will continue as planned.
Can I bring my pet(s)?
For the comfort and safety of your pet, please do not bring pets to the festival.
General Operations
Do you have overnight security?
Yes. Security services do roam the festival overnight, however there is no guarantee that your booth and its contents will be secure. Please insure your items and take appropriate cautions.
How many vehicles can I use to bring my art to the Festival?
Only one vehicle is allowed entry to Main Street for unloading and loading. Trailers are permitted. Only one parking pass is issued per accepted artist. Artist assistants or additional vehicles are responsible for finding their own parking in one of the Public Festival Lots.
I have a question about the festival that is not answered here. Who do I contact for help?
For other questions, please email artsfest@kimballartcenter.org.
How competitive is the Park City Kimball Arts Festival?
Very competitive.
In 2026, we received more than 1,200 applications for approximately 190 exhibition spaces, resulting in an acceptance rate of roughly 16%.
Historic Main Street can accommodate only a limited number of booths, and festival capacity is further limited by fire safety regulations. Many excellent artists are not accepted each year simply because demand exceeds available space.
Despite the competitive process, participating artists consistently report strong sales and one of the country's best artist experiences, making the application worthwhile.
Who selects the artists?
All applications are reviewed by a blind jury. This ensures every application is evaluated fairly and solely on its artistic merit. We remove names and share only art information to keep the process as fair as possible.
What are jurors looking for?
Jurors primarily evaluate:
The quality and originality of the artwork
Consistency across the body of work
Professional presentation
Booth image quality and display
Your booth photograph is one of the most important parts of your application. It demonstrates how collectors will experience your work and reflects your professionalism as an exhibiting artist.
Does being a returning artist improve my chances?
Not necessarily!
Aside from winning "Best In Show", returning artists are not guaranteed acceptance and complete the same jury process as every applicant.
Each year we intentionally introduce new artists alongside returning favorites to create a fresh experience for collectors while maintaining the festival's reputation for excellence.
I know someone at Kimball Art Center. Can they help me get accepted?
No.
Our blind jury process is specifically designed to prevent personal relationships from influencing the outcome.
Staff members, board members, volunteers, sponsors, and donors cannot recommend or secure acceptance for any artist.
Why wasn’t I accepted?
Not being selected does not necessarily reflect the quality of your work.
With an acceptance rate of approximately 16%, many outstanding artists cannot be accommodated each year.
Selection depends on numerous factors, including:
Jury scores
Strength of the submitted portfolio
Booth presentation
Balance across media categories
Available exhibition space
We encourage artists to review their application materials, especially booth photography, and apply again in future years.
What does it cost to exhibit?
Application fees are due when submitting your application.
If accepted, booth fees vary depending on booth size and location. Current pricing is available in the application materials each season.
Can I receive feedback on my application?
Because of the volume of applications and the blind jury process, we are unable to provide individual jury critiques or scoring.
We encourage applicants to continually strengthen their portfolio images, booth presentation, and overall application before applying again.
When are artist applications open?
Applications generally follow this schedule:
November: Applications open
February: Applications close
April: Artist notifications sent
August: Festival weekend
Join our artist newsletter to receive reminders and important announcements before applications open. Specific application dates for the 2027 festival to be announced.
It’s a great show and our communications with the powers that be were stellar. The quality of the show is top notch.
– Artist, Participant
THE LATEST
Kimball Arts Festival History
Founded by local artists in 1969 and later expanded through Bill Kimball’s vision, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival has grown into a premier summer event, drawing thousands and showcasing exceptional artists each year.
Kimball Arts Festival is one of the best ranked art fairs in the country.
Call for Artists
With over $2.2 million in annual sales, the Kimball Arts Festival is one of the most prestigious in the country. We are currently accepting applications for the 2026 Park City Kimball Arts Festival.