! UPCOMING !
34th Carmel Art Festival
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
May 14-16, 2027
Applications for plein air artists to apply to be juried into the 2027 festival will be available on this website between September 1 - 30, 2026. The 60 finalists will be announced here on or about October 30, 2026.
NEW IN 2027:
There will be a big change in the Carmel Art Festival in 2027! Artists will be allowed to start painting from
Monday, May 10, the day after Mother's Day.
Why? Our 60 juried artists come from all over, even abroad and, in the past, they only had effectively 2 days to paint for our competition. This puts a big strain on them to produce not only the two competition paintings but also others that they can sell during the 3-day Carmel Art Festival.
In 2027 we don't want our plein air artists to feel "rushed" and will give them 4 days to paint. Without the pressure of time, as one artist put it, "it will be like the old days of just going out to paint - free to be in the moment - the experience itself - the stroke on canvas that is so satisfying - become one with the beautiful scenery to be interpreted on the canvas."
Collectors, many of whom plan their vacations around this festival in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, are always in awe of what these artists can accomplish in such a short time. Now, in 2027, with the added element of extra TIME, how will that translate into the paintings? Come see for yourself in 2027.
To get early views of these paintings being created, artists can be seen all over the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur starting Monday, May 10, 2027. They will have a sign on their easel that they are part of the 34th Annual Carmel Art Festival.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, May 14, 2027, is the official opening day of the Carmel Art Festival in Devendorf Park in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Watch the newly painted art arrive in the park from 10am to 2pm, followed by judging, and the awards ceremony at 4pm. All art is available on a “buy now” basis.
Opening GALA festivities at 6pm - 9pm - a fun and convivial evening of meeting the artists plus live music, chef crafted food provided by award winning Nora’s restaurant, and wines from local vineyards and wine tasting rooms,
Saturday, May 15, 2027, is “Quick Draw on the Avenue” - artists will once again have 2 hours to paint mostly within the storybook city of Carmel-by-the-Sea (while the public can walk around town and watch them) and then have the art auctioned off on closed-off Mission Street next to Devendorf Park starting at 11am.
On Saturday afternoon, watch an expanded “paint-off” between artists in Devendorf Park, an event started in 2026 much to everyone’s delight. Yes, it’s fun, but it also provides valuable information just what artists have to do to come up with these incredible paintings.
Sunday, May 16, 2027, is “Studio” sales day: artists are encouraged to bring previously painted art from home to sell on this day! It was so popular in 2026, we will once again pre-promote these paintings on social media prior to the festival.
On Sunday morning, there will be youth activities including dance, interactive art, and next generation songwriting talent performances.
Live music throughout much of the 3-day festival including jazz, blues, classic harp, contemporary pop; in short, something for everyone.
Don’t wait to make your travel plans for 2027, hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea fill up that weekend.
Also, we urge you to get your Opening Night GALA tickets well in advance for the Friday, May 14, 2027 event. Tickets limited to 500.
Warmest regards,
President, Carmel Gallery Alliance/Carmel Art Festival
