If the Columbus Arts Festival is already one of your favorite weekends of the year, there’s a way to level up the experience.
VIP packages for the 2026 Columbus Arts Festival are now available, giving art lovers access to a special opening-night party and a few perks that make exploring the festival a little easier.
The festival, produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, will return to the downtown riverfront June 12 through June 14. As always, the event itself is free to attend and packed with artists, performances, food vendors, and activities all weekend long.
The VIP package includes admission to the festival’s long-running Patron Party, which kicks off the celebration on opening night. The party will be held at the Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center on Friday, June 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live entertainment.
Beyond the party, the VIP package also comes with a few extras designed to make your festival visit smoother.
Guests will have access to an exclusive VIP shade tent at the Cultural Arts Center throughout the weekend, complimentary bottled water at beverage stations, and help transporting any artwork you buy back to your car.
VIP guests will also receive two drink tickets for the Patron Party, and if you purchase your package before May 16, your name will be listed in the festival’s digital guidebook.
Packages are $150 per person, and proceeds help support the festival and keep the three-day event free for the community.
The 2026 Columbus Arts Festival runs:
- Friday, June 12: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, June 13: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday, June 14: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Artist booths typically close around 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, although some artists may stay open later.
If you want to grab a VIP package or learn more about the festival, you can visit columbusartsfestival.org.
And if you’d like to get involved behind the scenes, the festival is also looking for volunteers to help make the weekend happen.
