Artsplosure

The Raleigh Arts Festival

Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival Will return to Downtown Raleigh 5/16 & 5/17, 2026!

Artsplosure's Raleigh Arts Festival is one of the most original and longest running arts festivals in North Carolina. Held annually on the third weekend of May in beautiful downtown Raleigh, the festival is a 2 day event and features an Art Market comprised of approximately 175 juried visual artists from across the United States showcasing works in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more. The festival presents national and regional entertainment on two stages, provides arts-based activities for children, and presents large-scale temporary art installations each year. Annual festival attendance averages 85,000+.

Main Stage Lineup

Saturday, May 16, 2026

12:00 - 12:40 PM Cuqui Gorman Dance

1:00 - 1:45 PM Club Cardio

2:15 - 3:00 PM T. Gold

3:40 - 4:30 PM Joseph Terrell

5:15 - 6:00 PM Sunny War

Sunday, May 17, 2026

10:00 - 11:00 AM Dari Satterwhite

11:05 - 11:45 AM Doug Watson

12:00 - 12:45 PM Luke & The Cool Hands

1:30 - 2:15 PM Dreamroot

2:45 - 3:15 PM Slow Funeral

3:45 - 4:30 PM Frail Talk

5:00 - 6:00 PM Tashi Dorji

Side Stage Lineup

Saturday, May 16, 2026

12:00 - 12:45 PM Cloverr

1:30 - 2:15 PM Clover-Lynn

3:00 - 3:45 PM Featherpocket

4:30 - 5:15 PM Housecat!

Sunday, May 17, 2026

11:00 - 11:45 AM M. Roomie

12:30 - 1:15 PM Kenny Wavinson

2:00 - 2:45 PM Leon Rosewater

3:30 - 4:15 PM Pretty Crimes

5:00 - 5:40 PM Bedroom Division

2026 Featured Artists

Carolina Shakespeare Schedule

12:45 - 1:30 PM 12th Night & As You Like It Monologue

12:15 - 2:45 PM Midsummer Night's Dream & Sonnets

3:15 - 3:45 PM Taming of the Shrew & Hamlet Monologue

4:30 - 5:00 PM Macbeth

Saturday, May 16, 2026

1:45 - 2:15 PM Midsummer Night’s Dream & As You Like It Monologue

3:00 - 3:40 PM Falstaff Monologue

4:30 - 5:15 PM Taming of the Shrew & Sonnets

6:00 - 6:45 PM Macbeth & Hamlet Monologue

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Volunteers

Interested in volunteering at Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival?

Volunteers must be in their second semester of high school, 14+ and able to work independenty unless accompanied at all times by an aide. You will need to sign a waiver on a Google form that releases Artsplosure. This event qualifies for student volunteer hours. Click the button below to register!

Learn more
Learn more

Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival In The News

Artsplosure on CBS17

Artsplosure fills Downtown Raleigh with Art & Music

Artsplosure - Raleigh Magazine

Thousands Attend Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival

Celebrating 45 Years Of Artsplosure In Raleigh, NC

Guide To Visiting Artsplosure: Raleigh’s #1 Arts Festival

2026 Sponsors

Artsplosure would like to thank the following sponsors and patrons for their support of Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival

MAJOR Sponsors

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

FEATURE PROGRAM Sponsors

ACTIVITY SPONSOR

GENERAL SUPPORTERS

Beer Sponsor

MEDIA SPONSORS

Artsplosure is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on the recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Artsplosure wishes to acknowledge the support of the Wake County Nonprofit Arts Relief Fund created by United Arts and Wake County.

Questions? Contact us.

Postal Mail:

Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival, Inc.

PO Box 391

Raleigh, NC 27602-0391

919.832.8699

artsplosure.org