The Works Art & Design Festival

The Works Art & Design Festival returns from June 20 to July 1, 2026, at Churchill Square and venues across downtown Edmonton, offering FREE daily programming from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. 

This year’s festival theme began with a simple but layered phrase that isn’t quite a question: Are You Here.

Experienced Works visitors will recognize artists such as painter David Scholny, designer Jonathan Monfries, and audiovisual composers Instant Places. Their work is exhibited alongside emerging and experimental works that surround the theme of Place. What makes a space a place? How does distance impact relevance? What does it mean to share an experience? These are the kind of questions that lead to the work presented at this year’s festival. 

Festival programming features art exhibits, paintings, and installations, showcasing more than 200 artists across 41 exhibits at 18 festival sites and venues. In collaboration with galleries and cultural organizations throughout downtown Edmonton, the festival also offers more than 115 FREE events, workshops, and activations. 

The main festival site at Churchill Square opens daily at 11:00 AM, with free workshops, guided tours, and interactive art experiences running from 12:00 – 9:15 PM.

The Works Street Stage runs daily from 12:00 – 9:15 PM, showcasing Edmonton’s top musical talent, including JUNO-nominated artists, community choirs, and emerging performers. Lineups change daily, with special programming for Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), St-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), and Canada Day (July 1). The Street Stage is followed by a nightly soundscape from 9:20 – 10:00 PM.