Check out these June 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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June 2026 Painting Events
California
BENICIA PLEIN AIR GALLERY PAINT OUT
Dates: May 31-June 6
Contact: Jessica de Jesus, [email protected]
Website: www.beniciapleinair.com
Colorado
Denver and the West
Dates: June 5-30
Sponsoring Organizations: Henry’s Tavern, Denver Pavilions, Downtown Denver Development Authority
Venue: Henry’s Tavern, Denver, Colorado
A kick-off reception, exhibit, and sale will feature artists who will be painting at iconic locations. Their paintings will be displayed at Henry’s Tavern, located in the Denver Pavilions along the mile-long pedestrian-friendly 16th Street with shopping, restaurants, and other attractions.
23rd ANNUAL TELLURIDE PLEIN AIR
Dates: June 29-July 5
Opening Reception Date: July 1
Sponsoring Organization: Sheridan Arts Foundation
Venue: Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, Colorado
Format: Juried
Award Total: $15,000 cash and prizes
Contact: Kylie Kirkpatrick, [email protected], 310.465.8888
Website: www.telluridepleinair.com
Each summer, over the Fourth of July weekend, the Sheridan Arts Foundation hosts 20-25 nationally renowned plein air artists in beautiful Telluride, Colorado. The Telluride Plein Air Festival allows locals and tourists alike to observe some of the nation’s top plein air artists at work. The festival culminates in a three-day sale, where the artists display the work they have created all week long.
Idaho
PLEIN AIR COEUR D’ALENE
Dates: June 1-August 2
Contact: Jessica Bryant, [email protected]
Website: www.pleinaircda.com
Iowa
Brushes & Blooms: Fresh Paint Plein Air + Colonies in Bloom
Dates: June 25–28
Hosted by: Amana Arts Guild, Amana, Iowa
Website: www.amanaartsguild.org
The event includes plein air painting throughout the historic Amana Colonies, garden access through Colonies in Bloom, more than $1,500 in prizes, art sales opportunities throughout the weekend, artist hospitality meals, and two classes taught by our lead judge, Jamie Green. Registration is $100 for artists and $50 for amateur artists. Whether you are an experienced plein air painter or an emerging artist ready to paint somewhere inspiring, this is a beautiful weekend to create, connect, and share your work.
Maryland
PAINT ANNAPOLIS 2026
Dates: May 31-June 7
Opening Reception Date: May 31
Sponsoring Organization: Maryland Federation of Art
Venue: Circle Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland
Format: Combination
Jurors of Awards: Selection: Gavin Glakas, Awards: Jill Basham
Award Total: $19,000
Contact: Laura Carty, [email protected], 410.268.4566
Website: mdfedart.com/paintannapolis
For 25 years, Paint Annapolis has been the premier plein air painting event for this sailing town, bringing the community together to share in the beauty of painting outdoors at the waterfront and along the Chesapeake Bay area. Paint Annapolis will kick off with the Quick Draw and have new events almost daily. Work will be on display and for sale from May 31-June 20. Paint Annapolis has something for everyone — from artist to art lover to collector. We are so excited to see you for a week of painting in our historic streets!
Michigan
PAINT GRAND TRAVERSE
Dates: June 21-28
Opening Reception Date: June 27
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, Michigan
Format: Combination
Award Total: $17,000
Contact: Kristi Wodek, [email protected], 231.941.9488
Website: www.crookedtree.org
Experience Northern Michigan through the eyes of an artist! Join Crooked Tree Arts Center for the 9th annual Paint Grand Traverse, a weeklong celebration of plein air painting. Enjoy workshops, live demos, and exhibitions featuring nationally acclaimed artists. The week concludes with the Fresh Paint Party, where you can meet the artists and collect new works inspired by the beauty of our region.
FRESH COAST PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION
Dates: June 26-28
Opening Reception Date: June 27
Entry Deadline: June 26
Sponsoring Organization: Lake Superior Art Association
Venue: Outdoors (Marquette, Michigan) and indoors (Presque Isle Pavilion, Michigan)
Format: Open
Award Total: $3,000
Contact: Marlene Wood, [email protected], 847.791.8403
Website: www.lakesuperiorartassociation.org
The annual Fresh Coast Plein Air Painting Festival takes place throughout historic, picturesque Marquette and along the magnificent Lake Superior Shoreline. Artists can paint Friday evening and Saturday all day. Competitors can turn in two paintings, entered into either professional or emerging artist categories. Our public awards reception is Saturday evening. Sunday morning is “Sales and Social Day,” giving the public the opportunity to meet artists and purchase paintings created throughout the weekend.
Missouri
AUGUSTA PLEIN AIR ART FESTIVAL
Dates: April 23-May 2
Sponsoring Organization: Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce
Venue: Harmonie Verein, Augusta, Missouri
Format: Open
Award Total: $15,000
Contact: Ann Struckhoff, [email protected], 314.435.3599
Website: augustapleinair.com
The Augusta Plein Air Art Festival provides artists with the opportunity for market growth, skill enhancement, artistic recognition, and to experience Missouri Wine Country with other artists. This 10-day event has 15 paint-outs, three theme paints, workshops, and a final sale and festival. Final judging awards Best of Show, Artists’ Choice, People’s Choice, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention in four categories. Art gallery open daily to display and sell artwork. All levels welcome.
Montana
PAINT UNDER THE BIG SKY
Dates: June 19-July 5
Opening Reception Date: June 27
Sponsoring Organization: Big Sky Artists Collective
Venue: Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery, Big Sky, Montana
Format: Open
Juror of Awards: David Orrin Smith
Contact: Maggie Shane, [email protected], 406.995.3596
Website: www.bigskyartistscollective.com
Join us for an unforgettable plein air experience as you step into the heart of America’s most magnificent landscapes — where rugged mountains, crystal-clear streams, and endless inspiration await. Spend your days capturing nature’s beauty on canvas and your evenings relaxing with fly fishing, golf, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more! Kids Plein Air Competition— a perfect way to spark young artists’ creativity. We offer an adventure where art and nature come alive together!
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
PAINT ADIRONDACKS
Dates: June 6-13
Sponsoring Organization: PleinAir Magazine
Venue: Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, New York
Contact: PleinAir Magazine, 561.655.8778 or 800.610.5771
Website: www.paintadirondacks.com
PleinAir Magazine’s Eric Rhoads started the Publisher’s Invitational so his friends could
join him in the Adirondacks to paint. Now, no invitation is needed. It’s a chance for busy painters to escape, reconnect, and paint the beautiful landscapes that inspired masters. We make it effortless: Wake up for breakfast, pack a lunch for your painting day, and return for dinner. Your days will be filled painting the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York State and surrounding areas.
Pennsylvania
PLEIN AIR WEST READING
Dates: June 13-20
Opening Reception Date: June 19
Sponsoring Organization: Art Plus Gallery & Berks Art Alliance
Venue: Art Plus Gallery, West Reading, Pennsylvania
Format: Juried
Juror of Awards: Lon Brauer
Award Total: $6,000+
Contact: Russell Slocum, [email protected], 610.781.6560
Website: www.artplusgallerypa.com
The 11th annual competition offers up to six days to paint anywhere in multi-faceted Berks County. Friday evening, unveiling and awards in the historic ballroom; Saturday the exhibit becomes the keystone of West Reading’s “Art on the Avenue” festival that drew 20,000+ in 2025.
Utah
WASATCH PLEIN AIR PARADISE
Dates: June 20-July 4
Contact: Jerry Watterworth, [email protected]
Website: midwayartassociation.org
Vermont
SPARROW PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: June 12-14
Venue: Downtown Middlebury, Vermont
Website: www.sparrowartsupply.com/plein-air-festival
In partnership with Better Middlebury Partnership, painters will work across downtown streets, riverbanks, gardens, and historic sites, capturing Vermont’s landscape en plein air—directly from life. The festival is free and open to the public, inviting visitors to explore the town, watch artists at work, and engage with demonstrations and programming throughout the weekend. Participating artists register through a paid festival pass and families with young artists are also encouraged to join.
Wisconsin
PLEIN AIR: A PAINT CEDARBURG EVENT
Dates: May 30-June 6
Opening Reception Date: June 5
Entry Deadline: May 30
Sponsoring Organization: Cedarburg Artists Guild
Venue: Cedarburg Cultural Center, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Format: Open
Award Total: $8,500
Contact: Kerri Knapp, [email protected], 262.993.9517
Website: www.cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg
Celebrating 25 years, Plein Air: A Paint Cedarburg Event is Wisconsin’s largest gathering of outdoor painters. Over six days, artists capture the beauty of Ozaukee County’s quaint towns, charming farmlands, and scenic Lake Michigan shoreline. The week kicks off with Fresh from Cedarburg, a one-day painting event and public sale in historic downtown Cedarburg, and concludes with awards and an exhibition at the Cedarburg Cultural Center.
International
Wokingham Plein Air Art Competition
Date: June 14
Sponsored by: R. Young Art Fine Art Services and Wokingham Town Council
Location: Wokingham, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Website: www.enpleinairadventures.com
This event will feature 80 artists painting live across 30 locations in town and 6.5 hours of live painting followed by a public exhibition and awards ceremony in Market Place in front of the Town Hall. All artworks will be for sale, encouraging community engagement and supporting local artists.
PARRSBORO INTERNATIONAL PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
Dates: June 16-21
Opening Reception Date: June 20
Sponsoring Organization: Parrsboro Creative Arts Society
Venue: The Hall, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Format: Juried
Award Total: $7,000-$8,000
Contact: Sharrie DeCouto, [email protected] 782.515.9767
Website: www.pipaf.ca
PIPAF is a juried event located on the fabled shores of the Bay of Fundy where the highest tides in the world have carved the coastline and escarpment into a mosaic of pastoral delight and rugged coastal features — a plein air painter’s dream. The small community is known for its warm hospitality and support for the artists and event — a cultural oasis.
June Deadlines for Artists
- June 1: Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival (Dexter, Michigan)
- June 30: Paint the Point (Mineral Point, Wisconsin)
- Next monthly deadline coming soon: The Salon Art Prize (formerly PleinAir Salon)
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Content prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
