Artsplosure, the Raleigh Arts Festival, fills Fayetteville Street on the third weekend of May with about 175 artists and two stages. 2027 dates not yet out.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Updated each year; the same page carries next year’s dates. Facts come from the organizer, the nonprofit Artsplosure.
Artsplosure, the Raleigh Arts Festival, takes over Fayetteville Street for a weekend every May. The organizer calls it one of the longest-running arts festivals in North Carolina and says attendance averages more than 85,000.
The 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Artsplosure says the festival is held annually on the third weekend of May; in 2027 that would be Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16. We will confirm the dates here when the organizer posts them.
Who to call
- Organizer: Artsplosure, 919-832-8699, info@artsplosure.org
- Food and novelty vendors: vendors@artsplosure.org
- Getting downtown: our getting around guide and downtown Raleigh guide
When: the third weekend of May
The 2026 festival, from the organizer’s festival page:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Where: Fayetteville Street
The 2026 festival map placed the event on Fayetteville Street, from the State Capitol at the north end to City Plaza at the south, with booths and food on the cross streets: Morgan, Hargett, Martin and Davie streets, between Salisbury and Wilmington streets.
- Main stage: on Fayetteville Street just south of the Capitol, at Morgan Street.
- Emerging Artist Stage: on Davie Street east of Fayetteville Street.
- Kidsplosure, the children’s area: on Hargett Street.
- Art market: along Fayetteville Street.
- Student art exhibition: inside the PNC lobby on Fayetteville Street, open festival hours.
The organizer had not posted street closure times for 2027 when we checked; this page will carry them when it does. For live closures that weekend, see DriveNC.gov and our road closures guide.
What’s there
From the organizer:
- The art market: about 175 juried visual artists from across the U.S., selling ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more.
- Music and dance on two stages: national and regional acts. The 2026 bill included Sunny War and Luke & The Cool Hands.
- Kidsplosure: arts activities for children. The 2026 theme was Elizabethan art.
- Large temporary art installations, new each year.
- Food, beer and craft guilds, placed along the cross streets.
Who runs it
Artsplosure is a Raleigh nonprofit that produces arts and cultural events. It also runs WRAL First Night Raleigh on New Year’s Eve; see our New Year’s Eve guide. The organization says it is funded in part by the city of Raleigh on the Raleigh Arts Commission’s recommendation, and supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the N.C. Arts Council.
For artists and vendors: artists apply through the organizer’s exhibit page. Food and novelty vendors apply through the vendor page, which listed 2026 booth fees from $500 for novelty to $1,350 for top-level food.
What to know
- Accessibility: Artsplosure says it works to make its festivals welcoming and safe for people with disabilities; questions go to info@artsplosure.org.
- Restrooms: the 2026 map marked four restroom stations across the festival area.
- Downtown parking: decks and GoRaleigh routes are in our getting around guide.
What this means for you
- Mark the third weekend of May; we will post the confirmed 2027 dates here.
- Driving downtown that weekend? Fayetteville Street and its cross streets are festival space; check DriveNC before you go.
More plans: things to do this month and free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
When is Artsplosure 2027?
Artsplosure had not announced 2027 dates when we checked. The festival is held each year on the third weekend of May; in 2026 it ran May 16-17.
Where is Artsplosure in Raleigh?
On Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, between the State Capitol and City Plaza, with booths and stages on the cross streets from Morgan Street to Davie Street.
What are Artsplosure’s hours?
In 2026 the festival ran 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
How many people go to Artsplosure?
Artsplosure says attendance averages more than 85,000 a year, with about 175 juried visual artists from across the U.S. in its art market.
Have your say