This huge—and free—metro Phoenix festival is ready to surprise you

The year was 1989 and a new way to explore art galleries, businesses and studios throughout downtown Phoenix: Art Detour was born and over the last 38 years the even has expanded beyond Phoenix into Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Oracle, Chandler, Prescott and more.

The beauty of Art Detour is that it’s not a one-day, or even one weekend event. It spans the entire month of March with artists, venues, businesses and organizations throwing open their doors to the public and host events along with performances to showcase Arizona‘s eclectic arts and culture scene.

So, if you’re looking to celebrate Art Detour for the first time or the 38th time, here’s everything you need to know about Art Detour 2026.

What is Art Detour?

In the late 1980s, downtown Phoenix artists came together and invited the public to see a new side of the city’s arts and culture community. This gathering was the first Art Detour. From there the idea of Artlink was born with a mission to connect artists with one another and the wider community.

“From day one it was never just about the art,” Catrina Kahler, president and CEO of Artlink told The Arizona Republic in 2024. “It was about really appreciating artists and supporting them and keeping them in the community.”

Over the years, Art Detour went from a single weekend to a week to now an entire month.

“As our communities grow, more artists come to the forefront and as they do that, they share their talents and it contributes so much to the energy and the beauty of our neighborhoods,” said Kahler. “We want them to stay, we want artists to be able to build a successful career here in Arizona.”

Art Detour 2026 dates

Art Detour takes place March 1-31, 2026.

Art Detour 2026 location

Most of the Art Detour events are in cities throughout the Valley. If you’re up for a drive, there are events around the state, including in Prescott and Oracle, near Tucson.

Art Detour 2026 tickets

Most Art Detour 2026 events are free. A few have an admission fee or request an RSVP. See the full list of events and costs at artdetour.com.

Art Detour 2026 schedule

To see all the Art Detour experiences and locations, visit artdetour.com.

Top things to see and do at Art Detour Phoenix 2026

Here are highlights of Art Detour 2026:

First Friday on Roosevelt Row: On Friday, March 6, explore the renowned Roosevelt Row Arts District with its eclectic galleries and boutiques, small businesses, performance venues, top-notch restaurants and plenty of public art to keep you entertained for hours.

Love Arizona Art Exhibition: This special art exhibition was created in honor of Arizona‘s statehood anniversary, which shares a date with Valentine’s Day. With art from various local artists, this exhibit features original works inspired by Arizona‘s moments, memories, place and people. This exhibit is on display at Richau & Co. Gallery + Boutique throughout Art Detour.

Come From Away: Thirty-eight planes, 7,000 strangers. One unforgettable act of humanity that united us all. The Phoenix Theatre Company will have showings of Broadway’s “Come From Away” all throughout Art Detour and the musical tells the story of a small Newfoundland town that welcomed 7,000 stranded travelers after the tragedy of 9/11.

Scottsdale Art Week: Presented by Scottsdale Ferrari, the Scottsdale Art Week will have both historical and contemporary works and will welcome over 100 galleries from across the U.S. and around the world while also highlighting local contemporary Indigenous artists.

ROYGBIV: This is FOUND: RE Phoenix Hotel’s final installment in their Color exhibition series that will recap some of the vibrant monochromatic pieces that they explored throughout 2025. This exhibit will be on display throughout the entirety of Art Detour.

To see the full list of events, go to artdetour.com.

Reporting by Meredith G. White, Arizona Republic

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