Newport Beach Art Week — County-wide August Festival

The City of Newport Beach is launching its first Art Week on Sunday, August 9, with a seven-day program of concerts, exhibitions, workshops and classes scheduled through Saturday, August 15. The city says the week is designed as a citywide arts celebration, with events spread across the Civic Center, Sherman Library & Gardens, Marina Park, local galleries and other venues. The opening event is a free Pacific Symphony concert at the Newport Beach Civic Center, and the closing event is the 59th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition, a juried competition also at the Civic Center. ### When does Newport Beach Art Week start and end? Sunday, August 9, is the first day of Newport Beach Art Week, and Saturday, August 15, is the final day, according to the City of Newport Beach. The city describes 2026 as the inaugural edition of the event and says programming will include exhibitions, live performances and classes across Newport Beach. (newportbeachca.gov) The City Arts Commission is set to open the week with a summer concert from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on August 9 and close it with the 59th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition on August 15. Both anchor events are scheduled at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive. ### What are the headline events on the calendar? The Pacific Symphony concert on August 9 is free, with pre-concert activities beginning at 5 p.m., the city says. (newportbeachca.gov) The city’s Art Week page says no tickets or pre-registration are required, and the event will include food trucks, a musical playground, face painting and balloon activities for children. Saturday, August 15, brings the 59th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition at the Civic Center. The city library calendar says the exhibition will be held at 100 Civic Center Drive, while the Newport Beach Arts Foundation says artists interested in showing work this year were directed instead to Art Week programming and the city-run exhibition. (newportbeachca.gov) ### Which workshops and classes are part of the week? Backhausedance is scheduled to present “Garden Flow: Dancing with Nature” on August 9 and August 11 at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar, according to the city’s Art Week listing. The city calendar also shows an open ballet class at Tutu School on August 12. Art Therapy OC is running “Soothing Self-Care Summer” daily from August 9 through August 15 at 432 32nd Street in Newport Beach, the city says. (newportbeachlibrary.org) The listing describes the sessions as creative art classes led by Diana Shabtai and prices them at $40 per person, with a 10% discount noted on the calendar page. Wednesday, August 12, also includes “Route 66: An Artist’s Journey” at the OASIS Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave. (newportbeachca.gov) The city says local artist Joan Gladstone will discuss her work tied to the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and paintings recently exhibited at the Hilbert Museum of California Art. ### Are there ticketed events as well as free ones? Friday, August 14, includes a Literary Tea with author Nicola Harrison at The Resort at Pelican Hill, 22701 S. (newportbeachca.gov) Pelican Hill Road South. The city calendar lists the event as being presented by Pelican Pages and Lido Village Books and prices it at $95, plus tax and gratuity. Saturday, August 15, also includes an exhibit and concert at Gallery Sonder, 3435 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. (newportbeachca.gov) The city says the event will feature local rock-indie artist Taji, with a 6 p.m. private viewing followed by a 7 p.m. concert. ### How broad is the city’s programming footprint? The City of Newport Beach calendar shows Art Week events at the Civic Center, Sherman Library & Gardens, OASIS Senior Center, Art Therapy OC, Gallery Sonder and other locations during the week of August 9-15. (newportbeachca.gov) The Visit Newport Beach events page also lists Newport Beach Art Week as a signature city event for those same dates. Marina Park is scheduled to host “The Art of Newport Beach Wildlife: Wildlife Connections” on August 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (newportbeachca.gov) Visit Newport Beach describes that program as a free, hands-on community art event connected to Art Week. ### Where can readers check the full schedule? The City of Newport Beach’s Art Week page and city calendar carry the most detailed public schedule now available for August 9-15. (newportbeachca.gov) Visit Newport Beach is also promoting the event on its events pages, while the Newport Beach Arts Foundation says it is supporting the city’s 2026 Art Week in place of its usual Art in the Park program. (visitnewportbeach.com) Saturday, August 15, remains the key closing date on the calendar, with the 59th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition at the Civic Center and the evening Gallery Sonder concert featuring Taji still listed by the city. (newportbeachlibrary.org) (newportbeachca.gov)