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The Festival of the Arts returns to downtown Oklahoma City for its 60th anniversary, occupying Bicentennial Park from Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26, 2026. The four-day program brings public art, live performances and community-focused activities — and it arrives with street closures and schedule changes that matter for anyone planning to attend.
- When: April 23–26, 2026
- Where: Bicentennial Park and surrounding Arts District, Oklahoma City
- Highlights: 144 juried visual artists, more than 100 performing acts, 33 food vendors
- Youth Art Sale: Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; proceeds go directly to student artists (ages 8–18)
- Admission: Free to the public
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What to expect on the grounds
Organizers say this year’s festival will mix familiar attractions with new placements and an expanded sculpture showcase. Two main stages will host music, dance and performance work while pop-up “Art Moves” presentations appear through the park.
Food options are concentrated along an International Food Row, with additional trucks and specialty carts scattered across the site. Expect a dense footprint: the festival’s layout spreads activity across plazas and lawn areas near City Hall.
Signature installations and participatory projects
The outdoor Sculpture Park has been relocated and enlarged inside the park to display large-scale pieces curated by Jenn Peek and Leticia R. Bajuyo. The reconfigured area is intended to give viewers more room to engage with the works.
For hands-on visitors, the Creation Station returns with a communal project celebrating six decades: an oversized sketchbook where attendees of all ages can add drawings at no cost. That project sits east of City Hall and is designed as an open, drop-in activity.
Fresh Paint mural program
The Fresh Paint initiative, produced in partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder, showcases murals by emerging artists who participated in a mentorship program earlier this year. Murals created through the program will be displayed during the festival.
Public voting for the Fresh Paint winner closed on Sunday, April 19; the recipient is scheduled to be revealed during the festival’s opening ceremony on April 23.
Youth Art Sale and community impact
The festival dedicates a corner of the grounds to young creators: the Youth Art Sale on Saturday lets students aged 8 to 18 sell original work, with 100% of proceeds paid to the artists. Organizers position the sale as both a learning opportunity and a direct way to support youth participation in the arts.
Logistics: road closures and access
To stage installations and manage crowds, several downtown streets will be closed for an extended period. Those closures begin April 10 and run through May 4, affecting vehicle flow around the Arts District.
- Walker Avenue: Northbound closed between Colcord Drive and Robert S. Kerr Avenue; southbound closed from Robert S. Kerr to Main Street. (Arts District Parking Garage remains accessible via Walker and Latting Circle.)
- Lee Avenue: Northbound closed from Main Street to Couch Drive; fully closed from Colcord Drive north to Couch Drive.
- Colcord Drive: Closed from Lee Avenue to Walker Avenue; limited access east of Shartel Avenue.
- Couch Drive: Closed from Walker Avenue west to Lee Avenue and east to Hudson Avenue.
- April 19–28 only: Couch Drive and Latting Circle closed from Park Avenue to Walker Avenue.
These closures are intended to support festival setup, exhibit placement and safe pedestrian circulation. Plan alternate routes and allow extra time for downtown travel during the event window.
Festival hours
- Thursday, April 23: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Friday, April 24: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 25: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sunday, April 26: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
The program is structured for daytime family attendance and later-evening performances. Admission is free to attend, though individual vendors and ticketed or limited workshops (if any) may carry fees.
Practical tips for visitors
Arrive early on Saturday if you plan to visit the Youth Art Sale or see high-demand performances. If you rely on street parking, allow extra time and review alternative public parking options as many nearby blocks will be restricted.
Bring weather-appropriate gear; the festival is outdoors and activities will continue in light rain. For those seeking quieter viewing, weekday hours on Thursday or Sunday morning are typically less crowded than Saturday afternoon.
As a community event marking a milestone year, this Festival of the Arts blends large-scale public art with opportunities for local and student artists to sell and be seen — a mix that reshapes downtown circulation for the better part of April and creates several points of interest for residents and visitors alike.
