2026 Portland Open Studios

Portland Open Studios returns for two weekends this October, with more than 100 artists opening their working spaces to the public across the city. It's a juried event, which means the studios you visit aren't just random—they've been selected by a panel of art-community members who review submissions in a blind process every March, stripping away names and identifying info to judge on the quality of the work, the professional presentation, and the consistency of the artistic voice. The tour is open to Portland residents working in all visual media except film.

That's the part that makes it different from a gallery show: you're going into the actual studios where the work happens. You get to see art in the making, talk to the creators, and buy handmade pieces directly from them. It's self-guided, so you make your own route through the city using an online tour directory and mobile-friendly maps. You can hit as many or as few studios as you like, on your own schedule, across the Portland Metro Area.

Behind the scenes, there's a bit of a process to getting in. Applications open every February 1st with a $25 fee, and accepted artists pay a $250 participation fee—both of which go toward the tour's marketing, advertising, and infrastructure. The event also offers two scholarships: the Kimberly Gales Emerging Artist Scholarship for artists under 30, and the Molly Cliff Hilts Scholarship for historically marginalized artists.

The tour runs Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11 and 17-18, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free.