! UPCOMING !
34th Carmel Art Festival
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
May 15-17, 2026
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 selected 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 be translated into the paintings? Come see for yourself in 2027.
To get early views of these paintings, artists can be seen around 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.
Opening GALA on Friday 6-9pm, May 14, 2027: Award winning Nora’s will be providing the food again! Tickets limited to 500.
Warmest regards,
President, Carmel Gallery Alliance/Carmel Art Festival
