Artists hoping to exhibit at one of the nation's top-ranked fine arts festivals have until Oct. 12 to apply for the 2027 Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival.
The Woodlands Arts Council opened applications Aug. 1 for the three-day juried event, scheduled for April 9-11, 2027, along the Woodlands Waterway, according to a listing on Woodlands Online. A jury will review submissions Nov. 7, with artist notifications going out Nov. 23.
The festival features 200 juried fine artists and drew 20,000 attendees in 2025, its 20th anniversary year. It has been voted the No. 1 Best Event in The Woodlands for 15 consecutive years by Woodlands Online and was ranked the No. 4 Best Art Festival in the Nation in USA Today's 2025 Readers' Choice awards. Art Fair Sourcebook ranks it No. 6 nationally in art sales.
Jeweler David Alvarado was named the 2027 Featured Artist at this year's festival, which showed strong community support despite challenging weather, the Arts Council said.
How to apply
Artists submit applications online at thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/p/festival. All work must be original and made by the applying artist. Applicants must include images of their artwork and booth setup.
The jury scores entries across 12 media categories: ceramics, 2D mixed media and digital art, 3D mixed media, drawing/pastels/printmaking, emerging artist, fiber, glass, jewelry, painting, photography, sculpture/metal works and wood. Top scorers in each category earn an invitation.
Artists may submit up to two applications if their work spans different media categories or distinctly separate bodies of work. Prior participation does not guarantee selection.
Awards and perks
During the festival, judges walk the venue to select the 2028 Featured Artist and six Best of Show winners. The Featured Artist receives a complimentary three-night stay at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and a double booth for the 2028 festival, with their art featured on all promotional materials.
Best of Show artists receive a free single booth the following year with priority placement. All award winners are jury-exempt for two years.
The nonprofit Arts Council, led by board president Haley Garcia and executive director Jenny Carattini-Wright, has returned $1.8 million to the community over 20 years through scholarships, microgrants and public art programs. Garcia said in a September 2025 PaperCity Magazine profile that her vision for the organization is "always about expansion — finding new ways to connect more people through the arts."
Key dates
- Oct. 12: Application deadline
- Nov. 7: Jury review
- Nov. 23: Artist notifications
- Dec. 19: Payment deadline for invited artists
- Feb. 1, 2027: Refund deadline
- April 7-8, 2027: Artist load-in
- April 9-11, 2027: Festival weekend
