INAUGURAL ART & POSTER DESIGN CONTEST
The North Carolina Folk Festival is now accepting entries for its inaugural 2026 Festival Art & Poster Design Contest, inviting North Carolina artists to help visually capture the spirit, energy and cultural richness of one of the state’s largest free music and arts festivals. The winning design will serve as the official poster and featured artwork for the 2026 NC Folk Festival, taking place September 18-20, 2026, in downtown Greensboro.
Open to artists who live in North Carolina, the contest welcomes original artwork created in any medium, including painting, illustration, collage, or digital work. There is no required theme: artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from the festival’s mission of celebrating diverse cultures through music, art, food and community connection.
“With the launch of the Festival Art Contest, we are opening the door for North Carolina artists to help shape the look and feel of this year’s Festival,” said Jodee Ruppel, Executive Director of the NC Folk Festival. “We are eager to see how artists across the state capture its spirit.”
The selected artist will receive a $1,500 cash prize, and their artwork will be prominently featured as the official 2026 festival poster, as well as across marketing and promotional materials, including digital platforms, merchandise, billboards, and on-site signage.
The 2026 Festival Art & Poster Design Contest opens January 5, 2026. Submissions must be received by February 13, 2026. Finalists will be announced on February 20, 2026, followed by a public voting period from February 20–27, 2026. The winning design will be announced on March 2, 2026.
Artists must submit original work created specifically for the contest. AI-generated artwork is not permitted. Full contest rules, eligibility requirements and submission guidelines are available at www.ncfolkfestival.com/festivalart.
