Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival
Over the past eight years, our Plein Air painters’ artistry, dedication, and spirit have been at the heart of what makes the Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival so special. We are deeply grateful for their partnership in helping shape the festival into such a beloved part of our community and BRAHM’s programming.
As we look ahead, we recognize that every successful event must evolve in order to remain vibrant and sustainable. Beginning in 2026, we will be making some thoughtful changes to the festival. These updates include adjusting the dates to avoid overlap with other local art events, refining the format to better align with the Museum’s vision, and expanding opportunities for artists to showcase more works in the Show and Sale.
These changes are being made with care and deep respect for the artists who have built this festival alongside us. Earlier this summer, many of artists submitted responses to our artist survey. Using this data, our goal is to support our artists’ best work while ensuring the festival continues to grow in quality and impact.
Festival Dates
The festival will take place September 15–19, 2026. We hope these early fall dates will add new inspiration—and perhaps a touch of seasonal color—to their work.
Show & Sale
We are decreasing the number of participating artists from 100 to 60. We are, however, increasing the number of works allowed in the Show and Sale to three per artist. We continue to work to develop the audience for the Show and Sale by surveying the guests who attended the event. In the coming year, we plan to promote the Show and Sale to a wider audience outside of our region. In addition, we are exploring the addition of a Quick Draw event to engage both festival participants and guest artists
- Dates: September 15, 2026 – September 19, 2026
- Recurrence: every day until September 19, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
- Address: 159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
- Phone: (828) 295-9099
