HOUSTON (February 4, 2026) – Bayou City Art Festival, produced by Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), will return to Downtown Houston and benefit five local nonprofit partners for the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown on Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  

Each nonprofit will benefit from a portion of the event’s proceeds, provide volunteers, and have the option to host an art or craft station in the TJH Active Imagination Zone. The five nonprofit partners benefiting from Bayou City Art Festival Downtown this year include: 

• ARTreach 
• Fresh Arts
• Pink Bows Foundation
• Brave Little Company
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 

“At the heart of our work is a commitment to the Houston community and to creating opportunities for everyone to experience art in powerful and inspiring ways. We’re thrilled to bring the nation’s top artists to Downtown Houston once again and invite everyone to be part of this vibrant celebration,” said Kelly Batterson, Executive Director of ACA.

The outdoor gallery will take over Sam Houston Park along Allen Parkway. Patrons can meet with artists, view original works, and purchase one-of-a-kind art, world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art, and more. This year’s featured artist is Lijah Hanley (pictured above), an award-winning fine art photographer from Vancouver, Washington.

The weekend festival will feature entertainment stages, a food truck park, beverage stations throughout the festival, and a Chef’s Culinary Arts Stage and tasting experience featuring local chefs. Guests will enjoy Houston’s skyline views while sipping wine and craft beer at the festival’s wine and craft beer garden. Bayou City Art Festival will also feature the top 30 finalists from the Middle School Art Competition. 

For the ultimate art lover, the Bayou City Art Festival will offer a limited-availability VIP Hospitality Lounge, which will include complimentary light bites, beer, wine, and other refreshments. The relaxing setting under a canopy of trees will feature roaming musicians, artistic décor, and more. VIPs will receive access from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the VIP area and VIP parking. 

Early-bird online tickets will be available at www.bayoucityartfestival.com for $18 for adults, and all children can attend at no cost as part of the Kids Free Program sponsored by TJH (Thomas J. Henry Law Firm). Adult tickets purchased after March 15, 2026, are $20. A General Admission Weekend Pass for adults is $30. VIP tickets are $95. Online pre-purchased tickets are required to enter the festival.

For the most recent updates, follow the official event hashtags #HouArtFest and #BCAF, like the Facebook page, and follow on Instagram.

About Bayou City Art Festival: 

Since the founding of the Westheimer Art Festival, now known as the Bayou City Art Festival, the Art Colony Association, Inc. has raised nearly $4 million for local nonprofit programs from the proceeds of its festivals. The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the spring and the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the fall have provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. The festivals are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, corporate sponsorships, private contributions, in-kind support, and volunteer assistance. 

For more information, please visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.

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