DENVER – CherryArts is proud to present the 24th annual Denver Chalk Art Festival, returning to downtown Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This free, family-friendly event transforms city streets into a colorful, open-air museum filled with vibrant chalk art masterpieces created by more than 200 professional artists, amateurs, and emerging youth talent.
Set against the backdrop of Denver’s cultural hub, the beloved festival offers an immersive celebration of street painting rooted in a 400-year-old Italian tradition. Visitors can watch awe-inspiring artworks come to life in real time, engage with artists, enjoy live music, indulge in local food trucks and craft beverages, and vote for their favorite chalk drawing in the People’s Choice Award.
“The Denver Chalk Art Festival is one of the city’s most photographed events and an inspiring way to experience art as it unfolds,” said Renee Ortiz, Denver Chalk Art Festival Director. “This year, we’re expanding the celebration with a Friday night kickoff and a one-of-a-kind community mosaic honoring Colorado’s 150th birthday. It’s a milestone year, and we wanted the festival to reflect that.”
What’s New in 2026:
- Party Before the Pavement (Friday, June 5): A free community kickoff from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Golden Triangle Creative District with music, live performances and demonstrations, food trucks, beverages, and First Friday sales from participating artists. The festival stage at 13th and Bannock will be programmed in partnership with Analog Salon Evening plus an exclusive demonstration from a world renowned chalk artist.
- America 250 – Colorado 150 Community Chalk Mosaic: In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th anniversary, the festival will debut a large-scale interactive chalk installation designed by featured artist Lance Leber and divided into hundreds of smaller sections for the public to fill in throughout the weekend. Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera will fill in the first section, symbolically launching the collaborative artwork. Colorado is the only state celebrating both the nation’s semiquincentennial and its own sesquicentennial in the same year with its America 250 Colorado 150 initiative.
- Statewide Coloring Page: Ahead of the festival, the mosaic design will be released as a downloadable coloring page at denverchalk.art, inviting Coloradans to participate before the artwork comes to life on Denver’s streets.
Now in its fifth year in Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District, the Denver Chalk Art Festival is the largest event of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region and ranks among the top 10 chalk art festivals in the nation, drawing tens of thousands of attendees annually to witness the magic of street painting in real time.
Returning Festival Highlights:
- Live chalk art in action: Watch more than 200 professional, amateur, and student artists transform the streets into a vibrant outdoor gallery throughout the weekend.
- Youth Challenge Competition: Cheer on high school and youth group teams as they showcase their talent and compete for prizes and recognition.
- Family-friendly fun: Enjoy hands-on art activities, the free Kids Corner, eats from local food trucks, craft beverages, and live entertainment all weekend long.
- Meet the artists: Get up close with the artists, see their process unfold in real time, and learn what inspires their temporary masterpieces.
- People’s Choice Award: Vote for your favorite chalk drawing during the festival. Public voting opens the morning of Sunday, June 7 and closes at 4 p.m. The voting link will be posted on-site and online.
- Yoga at the Chalk Art Festival: Hosted by Denver Yoga Social, donation-based morning yoga sessions will be offered Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 at 9 a.m. at the festival stage at 13th and Bannock.
Michael Rieger, Denver Chalk Art Festival Artist Director, added, “One of the most rewarding parts of this festival is seeing so many incredible artists return year after year. There’s a real sense of community that forms on the streets, artists encouraging one another, sharing their process, and connecting with the public as their work comes to life. It’s a reminder of the power of art to bring people together.”
Whether you’re a seasoned art lover or discovering street painting for the first time, the Denver Chalk Art Festival offers an unforgettable experience for all ages, and a front-row seat to art in action. For event details, artist info, and the full weekend schedule, visit denverchalk.art.
The 2026 Denver Chalk Art Festival is presented in partnership with CherryArts, a Denver-based nonprofit committed to expanding access to arts education and experiences across Colorado. The event is also supported by generous contributions from returning sponsors and community partners including Toyota, Meow Wolf, Siete Foods, American Museum of Western Art, State Farm, Kroger, Meininger Art Material, Eventful Productions, The ART Hotel, Evans School, Goodies, Bodies – The Science Within, Schoolyard Beer Garden, and the Golden Triangle Creative District.
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