53rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival on September 19th, 2026 sponsored by the Lynchburg Art Club
September 19
Free
The Lynchburg Art Club & Gallery will present the 53rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at E.C. Glass High School. The rain date is Sunday, September 20. Admission is free and open to the public.
More than 100 artists from Virginia and neighboring states are expected to exhibit and sell original work spanning watercolor, oil, pastel, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and other fine art disciplines. Attendees can browse and purchase directly from exhibiting artists throughout the day.
This year’s festival will be judged by Alex Grabiec of Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. Awards totaling $6,000 to $7,000, including Best in Show, will be presented.
New for this year, the festival is offering dedicated Emerging Artist registration, reserved for artists who have never previously exhibited at the event, giving first-time participants a guaranteed opportunity to show alongside established regional artists.
The Lynchburg Art Festival traces its roots to 1954, when it began as a small clothesline exhibit on Monument Terrace. More than seven decades later, the City of Lynchburg has designated it a Legacy Event in recognition of its lasting contribution to the city’s cultural life. The festival remains organized entirely by volunteers of the Lynchburg Art Club & Gallery, a nonprofit visual arts organization founded in 1895.
Artist registration is open through August 31, 2026, by mail or online. Complete details, registration forms, and sponsorship information are available at lynchburgartclub.org/lynchburg-art-festival.
WHAT: 53rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival
WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (rain date Sunday, September 20)
WHERE: E.C. Glass High School, Lynchburg, Virginia
COST: Free and open to the public
About the Lynchburg Art Club & Gallery
Founded in 1895, the Lynchburg Art Club & Gallery is a nonprofit visual arts organization located at 1011 Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg, Virginia. The club supports local and regional artists through exhibitions, education, and community events, including the Lynchburg Art Festival. For more information, visit lynchburgartclub.org.
