Bethesda Row Arts Festival

The Bethesda Row Arts Festival is a two-day outdoor fine art show held in the Bethesda Row Arts and Entertainment District. The 2026 edition is the festival's 28th year, and it brings together more than 180 juried artists from around the country to create an open-air gallery of original art. The event is widely attended, with published estimates ranging from 30,000 to more than 35,000 visitors over the weekend, and it has been recognized by Art Fair Sourcebook as one of the top fine art shows in the United States and by Sunshine Artists as one of the country's most important art fairs.

The featured artwork spans a broad mix of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, digital art, drawing and pastels, glass, and decorative and wearable fiber. The festival runs on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2026, with award winners announced on the morning of the second day. One published schedule lists Saturday hours as 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while another source lists Saturday hours as 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday hours as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When: September 12–13, 2026, in Bethesda Row, Maryland.

Showtimes: Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; one published schedule instead lists Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Venue: Bethesda Row Arts and Entertainment District, Bethesda Row, MD.

Lineup: More than 180 juried artists from around the nation.

Media: Painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, digital art, drawing and pastels, glass, and decorative and wearable fiber.

Awards: Award winners are announced on the morning of Sunday, September 13.

Tickets: No admission price is listed.

Ages: No age restrictions are listed.

Accessibility: No accessibility details are provided.

Run time: Two-day outdoor festival, with each day's show lasting approximately seven to eight hours.

Note: The event has been named one of the top fine art shows in the country by Art Fair Sourcebook and has drawn crowds of 30,000 or more in past years.