Greenville’s top art expo takes place this Mother’s Day Weekend, featuring 140 artists along downtown Main Street, with food, music, and family activities, free for all to enjoy.
In an event that attracted around 80,000 patrons in 2025, the three-day art show happening May 8 to 10 is expected to be even larger in 2026.
Artisphere festival drew record-breaking crowds in 2017.
At the 22nd annual Artisphere, presented by Prisma Health, creatives from across the country, along with regional and local professionals, will display and sell their crafts and goods at booths lining the heart of Greenville. The 2026 edition of Artisphere will feature creatives from 34 states, including 47 first-time contributors, spanning 17 mixed-media genres, including digital, metalwork, painting, drawing, and more.
“Our 2026 lineup brings a vibrant combination of outstanding craftsmanship and creative energy that promises to make the festival weekend unforgettable,” said Kerry Murphy, CEO and president of Artisphere, during a First Look Party on Feb. 5.
Greenville native Kym Day stands in her booth as visitors come by during the 2025 Artisphere in Downtown Greenville, SC Saturday, May 10, 2025.
“It’s one of the most competitive shows in the country,” she added.
According to Murphy, the applicant pool reached its second-highest total in history (1,061), with one in eight artists handpicked for this year’s outdoor arts celebration in downtown Greenville.
In addition to the vast assortment of artists along Main Street, festival exhibits and demos, music performance stages, and culinary events, Artisphere 2026 will feature all of these.
“Connecting people with great art and the artists who create it has always been at the heart of Artisphere, and that remains true this year,” Murphy added.
Jordan Pritt, left, and Meredith Pool, both 23, smile as they create a marble painting at the USC Upstate booth during Artisphere on Friday, May 10, 2024.
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Demonstrations, exhibits, and hands-on experiences at Artisphere 2026
Artisphere 2026 is more than an open-air art gallery; it’s an interactive experience that allows attendees an up-close opportunity to engage as a creative.
During the weekend-long event, participants can contribute personal artistry to a community mural, watch artists create on the go at Demo Row, and even jump into hands-on workshops, welcoming all skill levels.
Kidsphere tent, with dozens of play options, during the 2025 Artisphere in Downtown Greenville, SC Saturday, May 10, 2025.
For the children, activities such as birdhouse building and making pipe cleaner flowers, along with a dedicated section for toddlers to young adults called Kidsphere, are available during the weekend festival.
For full details on exhibits, demos, and children’s activities, visit: artisphere.org/exhibits-demos
Live music available at Artisphere 2026
Bluegrass, rock, and country are among the musical genres slated to play across seven free stages at Artisphere 2026.
Artisphere 2023 in downtown Greenville showcased music and artists in the city’s downtown area. This is Artisphere on May 13, 2023.
From noon on Friday, May 8, to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, 30-plus acts are performing, including the Fine Arts Center Strings Chamber, International Dance Academy, Poets Live, and more.
For a full list of performances at Artisphere 2026, visit: artisphere.org/stages
Which South Carolina artists will participate in Artisphere 2026?
Over the past two years, Artisphere has been nominated for USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and is again nominated for the reader-voted list in 2026.
A large part of the draw is the quality of artists involved:
A woman looks through art by Haosi Chen during Artisphere on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“This is one of the best events in the country and festivals for art,” said Joseph Bradley of Joseph Bradley Studio, who has been an Artisphere contributor since 2021, and attended the Feb. 5 “Artisphere First Look” event.
“A lot of us like to come to show our support, to get a glimpse of the upcoming artists as well… and Artisphere being in my own hometown, it’s just a privilege to be a part of it all,” he added.
“It’s important to meet the local artists to see what’s happening,” said Darin Gehrke of Darin R. Gehrke Ceramics, who has also contributed to Artisphere for the past five years. “There’s always great new artwork they unveil and new artists that join the show, I like supporting the arts here,” he added.
Darin Gehrke of Darin R. Gehrke Ceramics during the “First Look” event for Artisphere at Zen Greenville on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.
Both Bradley and Gehrke will also participate as two of 140 individuals on “Artist Row” who are based out of Greenville, and confirmed for 2026 Artisphere are:
Kent Ambler — Printmaking
Elizabeth Borowsky — Ceramics
Jonathan Bolton — Drawing
Rey D’Alfonso — Painting/Mixed-Media 2D
Adam Du Shole — Spray Painting/Woodwork/Mixed-Media
LJ Eidolon — Digital Art
Jessica Fields — Painting
Jenny Foley — Sculptures
Signe & Genna Grushovenko — Painting
Glory Loflin — Painting
Emily Rhodes — Mixed-Media 2D
To explore all of the 140 artists of Artisphere 2026, visit: www.artisphere.org/artist-row and www.artisphere.com
Road closures for Artisphere 2026
Road closures for Artisphere 2026 begin on May 7 and last through May 10, and go as follows:
Between Main Street from Court to Wardlaw and Broad Street from Laurens to Falls will be closed from 9 a.m. on May 7 to 11 p.m. on May 10.
Augusta Street from Boggs to University will close from 7 p.m. on May 7 to 11 p.m. on May 10.
Artisphere in downtown Greenville, 2013.
– A.J. Jackson covers business, the food & dining scene, and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@usatodayco.com, and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Artisphere 2026 in Greenville this Mother’s Day. Which roads will close?
