The New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival 2026 marks 32 years of bringing fall to Bucks County, returning September 26 and 27 with more than 160 juried fine artists and craftspeople filling the New Hope–Solebury High School grounds. It’s one of the region’s largest outdoor arts shows, and this year’s lineup pairs a serious jurying process with the kind of live music, food trucks, and downtown access that turns a gallery walk into a full weekend.
160+ Juried Artists Across Every Medium at New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival 2026
Every artist exhibiting at the New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival 2026 is selected by a jury of arts and crafts professionals, continuing a three-decade tradition spanning categories including oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, sculpture, fine and fun jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, fiber, wearable art, glass, photography, outsider art, and mixed media. Work will be organized into seven exhibition categories: Crafts, Fiber, Fine Arts, Jewelry, Marketplace, Mixed Media, and Photography.
Saturday brings a separate round of judging, with ribbons awarded to three artists in each of eight categories, plus the festival’s prestigious Best in Show honor.
That real competitive structure sets this apart from a typical craft market — the artists on display have been vetted twice over, first to get a booth and again to be recognized for the work itself.
Live Music and Food All Weekend
This year’s musical lineup includes Eli Lev, Jeff Penque, Barry Peterson, Tobias Richardson, Brandon Warwick, and Andy Vitucci, performing throughout both days. On the food side, six vendors bring genuinely varied options: Aroi Mango for Thai sticky rice, Coastal Flavors for lobster rolls and crab cake sandwiches, Viva Mexico for gourmet tacos and burritos, Justin’s Joint for Portuguese-style barbecue, Nessie Tea for fruity tea drinks, and Traveling Tom’s Coffee for coffee, tea, and energizing drinks.
Michael Sklar, President of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce, described the festival as central to the town’s identity. “We have this incredible history as an arts community, and for 32 years this festival has brought artists, residents and visitors together to celebrate that,” Sklar said.
He called it “a great opportunity to spend the day in New Hope, discover incredible original art, enjoy live music and food, and then explore everything our downtown businesses have to offer.”
Parking is available behind the high school for a $5 donation, with overflow parking at Union Square and the Railroad Station. A complimentary shuttle runs continuously between the New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival 2026 grounds and South Main Street near the Bucks County Playhouse, Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 10am–5pm — making it genuinely easy to spend the morning browsing artwork and the afternoon exploring New Hope’s shops, galleries, and restaurants downtown.
Admission to the full festival is a $5 donation. Full details, schedules, and the exhibitor list are available here…
A Weekend Worth Building Around New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival 2026
There’s a particular kind of magic to a town that takes its identity as an arts community seriously enough to build a 32-year tradition around it, and New Hope wears that history well — every booth a chance encounter with a piece that might end up hanging in your living room for decades.
Bring cash for parking, comfortable shoes for wandering, and an open afternoon, because between the art, the music, and everything waiting downtown, this is the kind of festival that has a way of turning into a full day before you notice the time.
About Post Author
Discover more from dosage MAGAZINE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
