Art Fair on the Square is held annually on the second full weekend in July. In 2026, Art Fair on the Square is July 11 and 12.
Where is Art Fair on the Square?
Art Fair on the Square takes place in Madison, Wisconsin on the streets surrounding the Capitol and along the first block of the streets radiating off the Capitol Square.
What is Art Fair OFF the Square?
Art Fair Off the Square is a separate art fair organized by the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople and located south of the Capitol Square. For more information about Art Fair Off the Square, visit artcraftwis.org/art-fair-off-the-square
Who organizes Art Fair on the Square?
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) organizes Art Fair on the Square. All proceeds support free admission and educational programming at the Museum all year long.
How do I get to Art Fair on the Square?
Art Fair on the Square is located in the heart of downtown Madison. The City of Madison provides parking information, including details on accessible parking, at: cityofmadison.com/parking. Bicycle parking is available surrounding the square, but bicycles must be walked through the event area. For real-time information on public transportation visit cityofmadison.com/metro.
Is there an entry fee to visit Art Fair on the Square?
Admission to Art Fair on the Square is free and open to the public (just like MMoCA!).
Where is the Farmers’ Market?
During Art Fair on the Square, the Dane County Farmers’ Market relocates to Breese Stevens Field. Visit dcfm.org for more information.
Are dogs or other pets allowed at Art Fair on the Square?
Animals that are not service animals, including pets, emotional support animals, comfort animals, therapy animals, or companion animals, are not allowed at Art Fair on the Square.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.”
What is Muse at Art Fair on the Square?
We’re taking our signature event, Muse at MMoCA, and bringing it to Art Fair on the Square. Located in the Lake Ridge Bank Beer and Wine Garden, the evening features a DJ, drinks by Tall Grass Executive Chef Elena Terry, and a drag show led by Bianca Lynn Breeze. Admission is free. This event is for adults 21+.
Is there food and drink at Art Fair on the Square?
Art Fair on the Square offers a wide assortment of food and drink, including the MMoCA Beverage stands, which directly supports free year-round admission to the Museum. Please note that the MMoCA Beverage stands will only be accepting cards at this year’s event (no cash will be accepted).
Can I bring my own food and drink to Art Fair on the Square?
You are welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages to Art Fair on the Square. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the Beer and Wine Garden on East Washington Ave and the MMoCA Beverage Stands (cards only—no cash will be accepted).
Can I sell food or beverages at Art Fair on the Square?
During Art Fair on the Square, only select food vendors are permitted to perform within the event area which includes the Capitol Square and the 100 block of the surrounding streets. Applications for food and beverage vendors are available in February.
How do I showcase my art at Art Fair on the Square?
Art Fair on the Square artists and vendors are selected by a panel of rotating judges. Applications open in November of the year prior.
I am a musician. May I perform at Art Fair on the Square?
During Art Fair on the Square, only select musicians are permitted to perform within the event area which includes the Capitol Square and the 100 block of the surrounding streets.
Can I volunteer at Art Fair on the Square?
Yes! Volunteers are essential to the success of Art Fair on the Square. Learn about available opportunities at mmoca.org/support/volunteer
Will you cancel because of the weather?
To ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors, the event team may make a decision to delay the event or adjust the hours in the case of inclement weather.
To get the most up-to-date information on Art Fair on the Square, visit mmoca.org/artfair or follow us on social media @mmocamadison.
Do you take Credit Cards, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or Zelle?
Each artist is different, but most accept major credit cards and cash. Be sure to ask them their preference directly.
The MMoCA Beverage stands and the Beer and Wine Garden only accept credit and debit cards.
Artist Application Process
When do applications for Art Fair on the Square open?
Applications for Art Fair on the Square open in mid-November and close in March. For the 2026 Art Fair on the Square, applications open on November 17, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026.
How much does it cost to apply to Art Fair on the Square?
A non-refundable application fee of $40 is due via credit card at the time of application.
What is the booth fee at Art Fair on the Square?
Accepted artists will pay $710 for a 10 x 10 foot booth.
I missed the deadline, can I still submit an application?
All applications are reviewed by independent jurors. To ensure a timely and equitable review process, we do not allow late applications. Please be sure to check back in November to apply for Art Fair on the Square next year.
Where do I apply to participate as an artist at Art Fair on the Square?
Applications must be submitted online through the website Zapplication.
Applicants will need to submit a total of four images.
Three (3) images that are representative of your work
One (1) image that clearly shows an example of your booth setup.
Artwork will be evaluated on the criteria of skill, originality, impact, and design.
Artwork shown in your booth shot should be representative of your current work and fit within the category you wished to be judged in.
Do not submit written or printed materials as they will not be considered by the jury.
What if my artwork ranges across categories (ie Digital Art and Painting)?
You should select the category that you believe best represents the majority of your artwork. You also may submit two individual applications, one in each category, each with their own application fee.
What is the Emerging Artist category?
This special category is intended for artists with little or no experience in exhibiting and selling work at an art fair.
This includes; early career artists residing in the Midwest, graduate students, recent graduates, artist apprentices, and artists working with new media or non-traditional materials not typically offered at the event. Emerging artists may not have not exhibited at any juried art fair more than 5 times prior to applying for this category.
Accepted artists in this category pay a reduced application and booth fee. All accepted artists in this category will be located on the sidewalk of the 100 block of State Street.
I’m an Invitational Artist or Best of Show award winner from last year, do I still need to apply this year?
Artists that won awards at the 2025 fair, who were invited back to attend the 2026 fair must still submit an application via Zappication, a registration form, and tax form at mmoca.org/taxform. Information and a coupon code for the jury fee will be sent by email in late-November.
Best of Show artists must apply, pay for their 2nd booth space (if a double space is wanted), and submit registration and tax forms by December 31, 2025 to confirm that they are committed to attending.
Invitational artists must apply, pay for their booth spaces, and submit registration and tax forms by December 31, 2025 to confirm that they are committed to attending.
Can I apply to participate as a food vendor or entertainer?
A separate application for food vendors and entertainers is available online in March.
When will I know if I was accepted?
The initial round of artist invitations will be sent via email before the end of March.
How do I withdraw my application?
Email artfair@mmoca.org that you wish to withdraw your application for the Art Fair. We will then mark it as ‘withdrawn’ on Zapplication.
Why was I not accepted when I have participated in the past?.
All applications are reviewed and scored independently by a panel of jurors. Those scores are aggregated, and the highest-scoring applicants by category are invited first. Because the jurors rotate every year, the selected artists change, allowing space for varied artists to exhibit at Art Fair on the Square. While you may not have been selected this year we encourage you to apply again next year.
What does it mean to be on the waiting list?
All applications are reviewed and scored independently by a panel of jurors. Those scores are then aggregated, and the highest-scoring applicants by category are invited first. If you are on the waiting list, it means there was not enough space to include you in the first round of invitations. As space opens up, we invite the next highest scored participants.
When will my waiting list status be updated?
Often, invited artists are unable to participate in Art Fair on the Square due to various personal reasons. When that happens, we invite the next highest-scoring applicants. The timeframe can range from months before to the morning of Art Fair on the Square. Unfortunately, we are unable to tell you your exact spot on the waiting list. Please refrain from asking for status updates by telephone and email.
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