US Upcoming

Santa Cruz County Open Studios

The 41st annual Santa Cruz County Open Studios is a multi-weekend art tour featuring over 350 local artists who invite the public into their creative workspaces. Spanning three weekends in October, the event allows visitors to meet creators, explore diverse artistic processes, and purchase original works directly from studios throughout the county.

Date
Sep 25 - Oct 18, 2026
Location
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County
Status
Upcoming
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Santa Cruz County Open Studios

Event summary

Highlights

  • Over 350 participating artists across Santa Cruz County
  • Direct access to private artist studios and creative processes
  • Regional weekends for South County and North County locations
  • Final All-County encore weekend featuring 250+ artists
Organized as a county-wide exhibition, the Open Studios art tour highlights the work of more than 350 participants across various regions. The event begins with preview exhibitions in late September at locations such as the Santa Cruz Art League, Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville, and downtown Santa Cruz galleries. These previews offer a curated look at the participating talent before the studio tours officially commence in early October.

The tour is structured geographically over three distinct weekends. South County artists host their open houses during the first weekend of October, followed by North County artists—including those in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Scotts Valley—the following weekend. The event concludes with an encore weekend where more than 250 artists across the entire county reopen their doors to the public. To assist with navigation and artist discovery, the organizers have introduced a dedicated mobile app for the current edition.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.

Sources and further information

Check these references for event announcements and updates before attending.

Location map

Approximate area only; exact venue coordinates are not confirmed.

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