Arts & Culture
Painting, sculpture, jewelry, the Pensacola Symphony, crafts from the past, great food. It all comes together at the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in historic downtown Pensacola.
The 2026 festival is Nov. 6, 7 and 8, and admission is free.
The juried art show is the heart of the weekend. More than 200 of the nation’s best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists will fill downtown. This year’s lineup includes artists from 24 states and one from Canada, with 49 from Florida and 11 local artists. They’re competing for a total of $26,000 in prize money across categories including ceramics, drawing, fiber/leather, glass, jewelry, mixed media, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking/graphics, sculpture, watercolor and wood.
Invited International Artist
Each year the festival brings in an International Artist for a direct cultural exchange with our community. The 2026 invited International Artist is Mandy Bangerter, a textile artist from the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. Mandy works with fabrics, print, paint and photography, layering and stitching together her images. She studied Visual Communication at UCA in Kent, followed by a PGCE at the University of Brighton, before becoming a teacher of art and photography. Find her and her work near the Gazebo during the festival.
The Festival Poster
This year’s festival poster comes from Hua-Yao Tung of Valrico, Florida, a graduate of the Fine Art Department of Taiwan Normal University who studied traditional oriental and western art before coming to the United States. Tung is also a participant in the juried art show. His design becomes a limited-edition poster, T-shirts and other collectors’ items available only at the festival.
The only way to get posters and T-shirts is at the Festival.
Heritage Arts Festival
Step back in time in Pensacola’s oldest and most historic neighborhood. A favorite of festival fans, the Heritage Arts area gives craftspeople from around the country an authentic setting to demonstrate skills like blacksmithing, engraving, spinning and weaving.
Children’s Festival
Bartram Park hosts the Children’s Arts Festival, with hands-on art projects for kids of all ages plus an entertainment stage just for kids. All activities are free.
Bartram Park is also home to the Student Art Show, showcasing talent from private and public-school students across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. More than 2,000 pieces of art from elementary, middle and high school students will be on display.
Entertainment
New acts and returning favorites round out the main stage line-up, including the John Common Band, Roman Street Trio and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. The Parrish Performing Arts Stage and Children’s Stage feature local performing arts, dance and musical groups. A complete line-up is available on the festival website.
Festival Hours
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Children’s Festival Hours
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Other Details
- Pets are not allowed at the festival per city ordinance.
- Handicap parking is at Bartram Park. Patrons with handicap permits should enter from Main Street at Barracks Street and present their permit to the police officer manning the street closure.
- Posters, T-shirts and other items are available for sale only at the festival.
