ARTLanta 2026: public spaces turn into galleries

Atlanta is about to turn its public spaces into art galleries for a few days, and the centerpiece is a nod to one of the city's most famous records. ARTLanta 2026, the free, three-day city-wide festival of culture put on by the I'm So ATL Public Art Campaign, runs from October 30 to November 1 at Historic Fourth Ward Park. It pulls together visual art, music, dance, performance, creative entrepreneurship, public installations, murals, artisan markets and interactive experiences, with thousands of people expected to wander through.

The headline this year is built around the 30th anniversary of OutKast's 2x Platinum sophomore album, ATLiens. The festival's Feature Presentation is a full listening experience under the Atlanta night sky, with the entire album played unedited and uninterrupted, paired with light and projection artwork created by Atlanta artists. The rest of the day fills in with a musical selection of favorites, deep cuts and B-sides celebrating the city's contribution to culture, and attendees are encouraged to dress in 90s 'ATL' style for what's being billed as an 'Old Atlanta Costume Party.'

That specific event lands on Saturday, October 31, from 1 pm to 9 pm at Westside Motor Lounge, at 725 Echo Street Northwest, which is less than two miles from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The venue sits on the corner of Northside Drive and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and doubles as a West Midtown restaurant and event space, with a full-service restaurant, two full-service bars, a private event space and an expansive outdoor courtyard that comes with a wired stage, beer garden, shuffleboard courts, firepits and a vintage Airstream travel bar. An RSVP at ImSoATL.org is required for that day.

It's worth knowing that the festival is only one part of a year-long campaign. I'm So ATL has been turning Atlanta's parks into a living art gallery since before the summer, starting with a phase one installation in June that began at Cleopas R. Johnson Park in the historic Atlanta University Center and spread to Grant Park, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park and Piedmont Park. The campaign also put on the Bronze Lens Film Festival in August and opened its campaign office at Pop Life Media Campus in September. The festival at Historic Fourth Ward Park is the flagship event of the whole thing, and the campaign wraps up its 2026 season in November.

Among the creatives involved this year are Chilly-o, Tyree Smith, Art By Tara, Ja'Net, Debbi Snax, Eric Nine, Nicholas Khadim 'Redd', Scott Sr. and Bola the Artist. The campaign is backed by the Atlanta Music Arts & Culture Foundation, Experience Atlanta, Tobin Ink PR, The Center Atlanta, Rebelity Software, Color Co., Atlanta Indie Market, The Trap Museum, The Hype Magazine and Rolling Out Magazine. If you've been following the city's public art over the last few months, this is the weekend it all comes together in one place.