Festival of the Arts - Laguna Beach
Juried OC-only fine-art exhibition sharing Irvine Bowl grounds with the Pageant. July 7 through September 3, 2026.
What It Is
Festival of Arts is a juried fine-art exhibition in Laguna Beach where 100+ selected OC artists display and sell original paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and functional crafts. Unlike Sawdust (open entry to Laguna residents) or Art-A-Fair (international jury), Festival of Arts is curated with application review and restricted to Orange County artists, so the work is vetted and hyperlocal. It shares the Irvine Bowl grounds with the Pageant of the Masters. 2026: opens July 7 and runs through September 3. The Pageant of the Masters, held on the same grounds, closes one day later on September 4.
Why Go
The juried selection means you're seeing vetted work rather than tourist-market art. Painting quality is notably higher than general street festivals. If you collect or want to buy a piece from an established artist while getting to know their practice, the artist-direct format makes this straightforward. Arrive early in the run for the best selection.
What To Know Before You Go
Open July through early September during roughly the same window as Pageant of the Masters. Day admission is modest at $10 weekdays and $15 weekends per the official 2026 pricing. Many pieces are priced for serious collectors (works range from the mid-hundreds into the thousands). Plan 2-3 hours to see it thoroughly. Parking: No parking is available directly at the facility, aside from very limited pickup/drop-off spaces. Use nearby paid public lots and meters, the free Laguna Beach trolley, or the Passport to the Arts for one-time Act V parking. Passport to the Arts also bundles one-time entry to all three Laguna Canyon festivals. Usually the best-value play if you're hitting more than one. Ticket prices and schedules subject to change. Confirm current pricing on the official event site before you go.
The Honest Take
It skews upscale in both art and clientele. Prices are steep. Sawdust next door is the more accessible option. Many works are one-of-a-kind and not easily replaceable, so there's pressure in browsing and decisions. The polished gallery-style experience contrasts nicely with the raw charm of Sawdust and the international breadth of Art-A-Fair.