The 2026 Columbus Arts Festival has announced its performing arts lineup, featuring more than 75 acts across four stages during the festival’s June 12–14 run on the Columbus downtown riverfront. The festival is produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and presented by the American Electric Power Foundation.

Headlining Friday, June 12 on the Genoa Park Stage is the Fashion as Art showcase, a runway event presented by Encova and curated by designer and fiber artist Celeste Malvar-Stewart featuring four local designers. On Saturday, June 13, Columbus indie-rock band Karate Coyote headlines the same stage. Sunday, June 14 brings Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra to the Bicentennial Park Stage for a jazz brunch performance at noon. Other featured acts across the weekend include Doc Robinson, Austin & The Syd Experience, Snarls, DJ Serene Dion, Gabriela Flamenco Academy, Ballet Folclórico Xochihua, TINGMOTION Chinese Dance Group, the Columbus Black Theatre Festival, and Zephyr Chamber Winds, among dozens more.

The festival’s Cultural Arts Center Stage — located in the courtyard of the Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center — will again feature poets, writers, storytellers, and spoken word artists on Saturday and Sunday, including Flip the Page Teen Literary Journal, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, DiVERSES, and The Columbus Ohio Poetry Cauldron Open Mic. A Kids Hands-On Activity Village will provide family programming throughout the weekend. “We’re excited to continue featuring a stellar line-up of Columbus bands, dance troupes, theater companies and spoken word artists at the Columbus Arts Festival,” said Festival Director Alexis Perrone. Admission to the festival is free.

Source: Columbus Arts Festival