Check out these August 2026 plein air painting events, highlighting groups all over the United States. Bonus: Catch this month’s deadlines so you don’t miss out on upcoming opportunities.
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August 2026 Painting Events
California
21st ANNUAL FRANK BETTE PLEIN AIR PAINTOUT
Dates: July 27-August 1
Opening Reception: August 1
Sponsoring Organization: Frank Bette Center for the Arts
Venue: South Shore Center, Alameda, California
Format: Juried
Juror of Awards: Clark Mitchell
Award Total: $7,000
Contact: Margaret Fago, [email protected], 510.523.6957
Website: www.frankbettecenter.org
The Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout hosts up to 40 juried artists for a week of painting tree-lined streets; stately Victorian homes and shops; picturesque marinas; and historic naval ships and naval air station; as well as beaches, lagoons, parks, and San Francisco and Oakland skylines in this island city. The week includes a welcome reception, luncheon, and a quick draw and outdoor exhibit and sale of all the paintings on Saturday.
3rd ANNUAL SAUSALITO PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT & EXHIBITION
Dates: August 2-September 3
Contact: Charlie Barboni, [email protected]
Website: sausalitocenterforthearts.org
Colorado
COLORADO PEAK ART ADVENTURE PLEIN AIR EVENT & COMPETITION
Dates: July 22-August 2
Sponsoring Organization: Pikes Peak Plein Air Event
Venue: Reserve Our Gallery, Woodland Park, Colorado
Format: Combination
Judge: Chuck Mardosz
Award Total: $10,000 in 2025
Contact: Gayle Gross, [email protected], 719.401.2301
Website: pikespeakpleinairpainters.com
Join us for this annual plein air event. Artists of all skill levels are welcome to paint in the beautiful Pikes Peak area. Destination paint-out options feature stunning suburban, wilderness, and forest landscapes, along with other special artist events & activities. The juried plein air competition option offers cash and prizes for Master, Professional, Advanced, and Emerging categories. The Quick Draw Contest is a crowd-pleaser at the Vino & Notes Event. Additionally, there will be gallery exhibitions showcasing all the winners. Awards ceremony August 2.
GEORGETOWN PLEIN AIR 2026
Dates: July 30-August 1
Opening Reception Date: August 1
Sponsoring Organization: Georgetown Trust for Conservation and Preservation, Inc.
Venue: Georgetown Old School, Georgetown, Colorado
Format: Open
Award Total: $1,000
Contact: Ruth Rosenfeld, [email protected], 303.569.0289
Website: www.georgetowntrust.org
Ninth annual plein air event in vintage, picturesque Georgetown, 45 miles west of Denver at 8,500-ft. elevation, in the National Landmark Historic District. A charming town of colorful Victorian buildings ringed by mountain views, Georgetown has long been a favorite of artists. Includes Quick Draw in historic downtown. Exhibit and sale through August 9. Open to qualified plein air artists. Late registration accepted.
SNOWMASS PLEIN AIR ART FESTIVAL
Dates: August 3-9
Sponsoring Organization: Snowmass Village Arts Advisory Board
Venue: Events Lawn in Snowmass Base Village, Colorado
Format: Invitational
Contact: Diane Oshin, [email protected]
Website: www.gosnowmass.com
The Snowmass Plein Air Festival showcases the exceptional talent of over 20 Colorado artists as they paint the breathtaking landscapes of the Roaring Fork Valley. This festival invites guests to view and purchase stunning artwork during a weekend art sale at Snowmass Base Village. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and take home a piece of Colorado’s natural beauty.
ESTES VALLEY PLEIN AIR
Dates: August 20-25
Opening Reception Date: August 28
Sponsoring Organization: Art Center of Estes Park
Venue: Art Center of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado
Format: Juried
Award Total: $11,000
Contact: Lars Sage, [email protected], 970.586.5882
Website: www.artcenterofestes.com/plein-air
Estes Valley Plein Air welcomes artists to the stunning beauty of Estes Park for its eighth annual show. Activities include a quick paint/auction and nocturne painting, as well as poster/wine label and miniature contests. Enjoy the exquisitely beautiful painting opportunities within a 50-mile radius around Estes Park. A Gala Opening Reception will mark the beginning of the exhibit, which hangs at the Art Center of Estes Park through September 27.
PLEIN AIR @ ALTITUDE
Dates: August 27-September 6
Opening Reception Date: September 5
Sponsoring Organization: Fraser Valley Arts
Venue: Winter Park, Fraser, Colorado
Format: Juried
Award Total: $550-$2,500
Contact: Callie McDermott, [email protected], 651.210.3256
Website: www.fraservalleyarts.org
Plein Air @ Altitude is the Fraser Valley’s premier fine arts event, returning for its 6th year. Artists will paint across Grand County beginning August 27. With over 35 juried artists from across Colorado, the Mountain West, and beyond creating original works of art for an Annual Cocktail Reception & Art Auction, this ticketed event brings over 160 art admirers and collectors to purchase the art created in this beautiful landscape.
26th VICTOR CELEBRATES THE ARTS
Dates: August 28-September 7
Opening Reception Date: August 30
Entry Deadline: August 14
Sponsoring Organization: Victor Celebrates the Arts
Venue: Victor Elks Lodge, Victor, Colorado
Format: Juried
Award Total: $4,000
Contact: Judy Sandlin, [email protected], 719.286.0815
Website: www.victorcelebratesthearts.org
Professional and emerging artists participate in painting in and around the City of Victor and many nearby legendary 1890s gold mining sites. Our show is judged by an established professional artist. All paintings are created en plein air, on site, directly from life, within a 10-mile radius of Victor City Hall.
Idaho
DRIGGS PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: July 22-August 1
Sponsoring Organization: Sun-Ray Enterprises
Venue: Driggs City Gallery and Plaza, Driggs, Idaho
Format: Juried
Jurors of Awards: John Lintott and Kathryn Stats
Award Total: $5,000
Contact: Lisa Simmons, [email protected], 216.235.7532
Website: www.downtowndriggs.org
Please join us for the 15th Annual Driggs Plein Air Festival, held on the west side of the Teton Range. Artists paint anywhere in Teton Valley, located in between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Artists and collectors enjoy the extended show & sale, collector preview, artists’ workshops, opening reception and concert, quick draw competitions, paint-outs, competition awards ceremony, and closing reception.
PLEIN AIR COEUR D’ALENE
Dates: June 1-August 2
Contact: Jessica Bryant, [email protected]
Website: www.pleinaircda.com
Indiana
CARMEL ON CANVAS
Dates: August 28-29
Entry Deadline: August 28
Sponsoring Organization: City of Carmel
Venue: Midtown Carmel, Indiana
Format: Open
Award Total: More Than $11,000 in Awards
Contact: Tierra Bush, [email protected]
Website: www.carmelartsanddesign.com
This open-air painting exhibition and competition takes place on the sidewalks throughout the Carmel Arts & Design District, Carmel’s Midtown, the City Hall Japanese Gardens, Carmel City Center, and Carmel Central Park with its 161 acres of beautiful green space! The Carmel on Canvas plein air event hosts 60 highly acclaimed artists from around the Midwest including Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and many Indiana communities as well. The artists compete in a variety of plein air contests within the two-day event. They will register in a division that matches their skill level; professional, non-professional, or teen and child.
Iowa
ART319 PLEIN AIR COMPETITION
Dates: August 9-15
Opening Reception Date: August 15
Entry Deadline: August 5
Sponsoring Organization: ART319
Event City: Burlington, Iowa
Format: Open
Award Total: $2,500
Contact: Jessica Kirby, [email protected], 319.372.7063
Website: art319.com
A plein air competition in a scenic town on the Mississippi River. Painters have all week to paint anywhere within the city limits. They aren’t required to paint every day — it’s a relaxed and casual pace.
Michigan
ANNUAL PAINT DEXTER PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: August 10-15
Opening Reception Date: August 14
Sponsoring Organization: City of Dexter Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee
Venue: Monument Park, City of Dexter, Michigan
Format: Combination
Contact: Josh Tanghe, [email protected], 734.426.8303
Website: www.paintdexter.com
Paint Dexter is a community-oriented festival that sees artists and patrons from all over the country. Artists of all skill levels are invited to participate, including Emerging (open) and Professional (juried) artists.
Montana
PLEIN AIR GLACIER
Dates: August 24-28
Opening Reception Date: August 29
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Glacier Art Museum, Kalispell, Montana
Format: Juried
Contact: Alyssa Cordova, [email protected], 406.755.5268
Website: www.glacierartmuseum.org
Paint in beautiful Northwest Montana and Glacier National Park! Join us for the 19th year of this fun juried painting event, exhibition, and sale. Paint-out, hikes, workshops: August 25-28; Party and Sale: Saturday, August 29; Extended Exhibit, Online Sale: September 1-Octocber 3.
New Jersey
PLEIN AIR PLUS
Dates: July 1-August 31
Sponsored by: The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences
Venue: Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Website: lbifoundation.org
The “Island Life” exhibition of finished artwork opens September 12-November 1.
Long Beach Island has a vibrant artist community and is a vacation destination which draws its audience of collectors, supporters of the arts and artists from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC and beyond. This exhibition will feature the selected artist’s plein air works and/or studio paintings developed from their plein air studies. All artwork exhibited will be for sale. Prizes will be awarded by Juror Peter Trippi at the reception on September 12.
New Mexico
THE MOTHER ROAD PAINT OUT
Dates: May 15-October 3
Show Dates: September 4-October 3
Sponsoring Organization: Plein Air Painters New Mexico
Website: www.papnm.org
This is a non-juried plein air event open to artist members of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) and the Amarillo Art Institute (AAI). Artists may paint plein air anywhere along the historic route 66 in Texas, New Mexico and/or Arizona during the Paint Out period.
New York
GLENS FALLS PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: July 27-August 2
Sponsoring Organization: The Hyde Collection
Venue : Glens Falls, New York
Website: www.hydecollection.org
Set in the heart of “Hometown USA,” the festival will showcase the natural beauty, historic charm, and distinct character of the Glens Falls region—framed by the breathtaking landscapes of the Adirondack Mountains. Throughout the week, participating artists will paint en plein air, capturing Glens Falls’ scenic streets, parks, architecture, and surrounding vistas. Finished artwork created during the event will be displayed in a special weekend exhibition. The festival will include several public-facing events, including an opening reception on Friday, July 31, and a culminating Quick Draw competition held during The Hyde Collection’s Community Day on August 2, marking the final day of the festival and exhibition.
ADIRONDACK PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: August 17-22
Opening Reception Date: August 21
Sponsoring Organization: Saranac Lake ArtWorks
Venue: Harrietstown Town Hall, Saranac Lake, New York
Format: Juried
Juror of Awards: Cynthia Rosen
Award Total: $6,000
Contact: Lorraine Merrihew, [email protected], 518.524.1849
Website: www.saranaclakeartworks.org
Forty juried artists will spend six days painting the region’s stunning mountains, lakes, and villages. Highlights include: Meet the Artists Reception, Nocturne Contest, Quick Draw Competition, a Silent Auction and Preview Party with over $6,000 in awards. The event culminates in a Show & Sale; hundreds of paintings will be on display.
South Dakota
HARVEY DUNN SOCIETY PLEIN AIR
Dates: August 13-16
Opening Reception: August 14
Sponsoring Organization: Harvey Dunn Society
Venue: Ingalls Homestead, De Smet, South Dakota
Format: Combination
Contact: Janae Bell, [email protected], 320.894.7540
Website: www.dunnpleinair.com
The 18th annual “Painting on the Prairie,” South Dakota’s longest-running plein air event, is located in De Smet, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little Town on the Prairie,” and near the birthplace of famed local artist Harvey Dunn. This 4-day event is open to all. Free registration includes workshops, demos, and group painting events. The weekend culminates in an art show, wet sale, and award presentation. Come paint our picturesque prairies and historic landscapes!
Wisconsin
PAINT THE POINT
Dates: August 5-8
Opening Reception Date: August 5
Sponsoring Organization: Arts Mineral Point
Venue: Masonic Lodge #1, Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Format: Juried
Award Total: $8,000
Contact: Steve Brown, [email protected], 608.574.3454
Website: www.artsmp.org
The 13th annual Paint the Point will feature artists competing in Main Event, Nocturne, Quick Paint, and Postcard events. Main Event paintings may be painted throughout Mineral Point and neighboring Dodgeville township. Founded in 1826 and located in Wisconsin’s Driftless region, the town’s motto is “Where Wisconsin Began.” Historic limestone architecture and an idyllic countryside offer artists a tremendous variety of subjects to explore.
Online Art Events
GOUACHE LIVE
Date: August 20-21
Sponsoring Organization: PleinAir Magazine
Venue: Online
Contact: PleinAir Magazine, 561.655.8778 or 800.610.5771
Website: www.gouachelive.com
Unlock the essentials of gouache painting in a single, immersive experience. Spend the day with Eric Rhoads and a lineup of today’s top gouache masters. Learn how to sharpen your technique, build your confidence, and gain the control you need to create with gouache like never before.
August Deadlines for Artists
- August 31: McKinney En Plein Air (McKinney, Texas)
- Next monthly deadline coming soon: The Salon Art Prize (formerly PleinAir Salon)
Coming Soon
FALL COLOR WEEK
Presented by PleinAir Magazine
Dates: October 11-18
Venue: Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Winter Harbor, Maine
Contact: PleinAir Magazine, 561.655.8778 or 800.610.5771
Website: www.fallcolorweek.com
Fall Color Week was designed for people who don’t have fall color in their area. This is your chance to spend a week painting with old friends and new, sharing meals and staying on the same property … all included in one price. Join PleinAir Magazine’s Eric Rhoads this fall in Acadia National Park at peak color. Come enjoy the beautiful fall scenery without competition. Roll out of bed, get fed, and paint all day.
2026 PLEINAIR MAGAZINE TRIP TO CHINA
Dates: November 6-22
Sponsoring Organization: PleinAir Magazine
Website: www.pleinairtrip.com/china
Join Eric Rhoads, PleinAir Magazine, and special guest artist Kevin Macpherson for an immersive 16-day plein air painting expedition through China’s most visually powerful landscapes — from the Great Wall to Guilin’s karst peaks, ancient river villages, and the urban contrasts of Shanghai.
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Content prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
