The Big Local Arts Village is one of the standout experiences at the Columbus Arts Festival, and 2026 is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever. Creative Columbus artists, makers, and dreamers: applications are officially open.
Produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and presented by the American Electric Power Foundation, the 2026 Festival will take over downtown June 12 through 14. For the 14th year, the Big Local Arts Village will pop up at the Franklinton entrance on West Rich Street, which is basically the gateway to “oh wow, I need to redecorate my entire house.”
This is where central Ohio makers, artists, and creative geniuses get their moment in the spotlight.
What to expect from The Big Local Arts Village
Instead of paying a traditional booth fee, selected artists share space in the Village and pay commission on sales. The setup makes participating in a massive, nationally ranked festival far more accessible, especially for emerging and local artists who may not be ready to commit to a full booth.
Typically, more than 60 central Ohio artists sell their work in the Village. And we are not just talking paintings-on-a-wall energy.
Expect live demos and hands-on artistry like:
- Woodturning
- Japanese calligraphy
- Ceramics
- Blacksmithing
- Digital art
Basically, it is Etsy in real life, but cooler, and you actually get to meet the person who made the thing you are about to impulse buy.
Applications are open now and will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Selected artists will be notified in early April. If you are interested in applying, you can find more information and the application link at columbusartsfestival.org/apply/visual-artists/#bla. If you have been waiting for a sign to take your art hobby public, this is it.
The Details
The 2026 Columbus Arts Festival runs Friday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artist booths close at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, though some artists may choose to stay open later.
The Festival is also currently nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Best Arts Festival. Fans can vote daily through March 2 at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/columbus-arts-festival-columbus-ohio, because we all love a nationally recognized bragging right.
If selling your handcrafted ceramic mushroom lamps is not your thing, you can also volunteer. Sign-ups and additional details are available at columbusartsfestival.org.
Whether you are applying, shopping, voting, or simply showing up for the vibes and a lemonade, the Big Local Arts Village is one of those hyper-local gems that makes the Festival feel like it truly belongs to Columbus.
