OKC street closures start Friday for the upcoming Festival of Arts
Produced by Arts Council Oklahoma City, the Festival of the Arts is celebrating its milestone 60th anniversary this year with another colorful, world-class showcase of visual, performing, and culinary arts in the heart of the city.
The flagship event for the nonprofit Arts Council OKC, the 60th annual Festival of the Arts is planned for April 23–26 in and around Bicentennial Park, Colcord and Couch drives and City Hall lawn in downtown OKC.
"What a testament to Oklahoma City as a community to support the arts — and to the stakeholders and supporters of Arts Council (OKC to celebrate) 60 years for an outdoor art event. We're honored and thrilled," said Angela Cozby, executive director of Arts Council OKC.
"I can't believe we close the streets on Friday. It is here. It is happening."
What downtown OKC streets will be closed for the 2026 Festival of the Arts?
Temporary street closures before, during and after the Festival of the Arts will affect downtown traffic from April 10 to May 4.
Streets bordering Bicentennial Park will be closed for setup starting at 8 a.m. Friday, April 10.
The closures include:
- Walker Avenue: Closed northbound from Colcord Drive to Robert S. Kerr Avenue and southbound from Robert S. Kerr Avenue to Main Street.
- Lee Avenue: Closed northbound from Main Street to Couch Drive with alley access. Northbound and southbound lanes from Colcord Drive to Couch Drive also will be closed.
- Colcord Drive: Closed from Shartel Avenue east to Walker Avenue.
- Couch Drive: Closed from Walker Avenue west to Lee Avenue.
A sign alerts motorists and pedestrians to street closures planned for April 10-May 4 for the upcoming 60th Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City. The free, family-friendly festival is planned for April 23–26 in and around Bicentennial Park, Colcord and Couch drives and City Hall lawn.
On-street parking along Bicentennial Park will not be accessible while the streets are closed.
The Arts District Garage and City Hall will be accessible from Walker Avenue and Latting Circle.
Pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park and Civic Center Music Hall will be maintained during the street closures.
Drivers are advised to allow extra time downtown during the closures.
All streets are expected to be reopened by 5 p.m. Monday, May 4.
What is planned for downtown OKC's 60th annual Festival of the Arts?
Launched in 1967, the Festival of the Arts annually draws about half a million visitors from across the state and even from around the world — "if not close to a million, on a good year with no rain," Cozby said.
The free, family-friendly event showcases works by 144 juried visual artists, assorted fare from many food vendors and trucks, a wide range of live entertainment, children's activities and more.
The festival grounds will feature large-scale community contribution art pieces, inviting festivalgoers of all ages to become part of the creative process throughout the four-day event.
A women sits inside a booth during the Festival of the Arts in Oklahoma City on 2025.
A highlight of the spring festival is the Fresh Paint OKC mural competition, a partnership between Arts Council OKC and the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team. The five diverse emerging Oklahoma artists selected for the 2026 program were introduced, along with their large-scale works, at the April 5 Thunder home game at Paycom Center.
Public voting to determined this year's Fresh Paint mural contest winner is open now at https://www.nba.com/thunder/artscouncil. The award will be presented at the Festival of Arts opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 23, and all five murals will be exhibited on the grounds during the fest.
“These 60 years of unforgettable Oklahoma memories reflect 60 years of world-class art and music, incredible food, and the coming together of our community each spring," said Sarah Frank and Richard Forshee, 2026 festival co-chairs, in an email.
"The festival holds a special place in our city’s story — from first works of art purchased to marriage proposals under the trees of Bicentennial Park. We are honored to help lead this anniversary year and cannot wait to see what new memories are made."
60th Annual Festival of the Arts
- When: April 23–26.
- Where: Bicentennial Park, Colcord and Couch drives, and City Hall lawn, downtown OKC.
- Admission: Free.
- Information: https://www.artscouncilokc.com/festival-of-the-arts.
