North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival Comes to Beaufort
North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival Comes to Beaufort
Live Outdoor Painting, Gallery Sales & Reception | May 14–15, 2026
Beaufort, North Carolina — As part of the North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival, Beaufort will host two vibrant days of live outdoor painting, pop-up exhibitions, and art sales on Thursday and Friday, May 14–15, 2026. Nationally and internationally recognized plein air artists will paint on location throughout Beaufort, capturing the town’s historic waterfront, maritime character, and coastal light in freshly created works available for public viewing and purchase.
Painting Live Throughout Beaufort
On Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15, Festival artists will be painting live throughout the day across Beaufort — along Taylor Creek, near the waterfront docks, on historic streets, and in scenic coastal locations throughout the town. Visitors are encouraged to explore Beaufort, watch artists at work, and experience the creative process firsthand as paintings evolve directly from observation of the landscape.
To help visitors easily find artists while they are painting, the Festival uses the En Plein Air Artist Locator, a mobile app that allows the public to see real-time artist locations during active painting hours. Instructions and details for accessing the app are available on the Festival Event Calendar at ncpleinair.org, making it easy to plan visits and engage with artists in the field.
Our roster of artists will split up for these days, with half of the roster remaining in New Bern – Craven County and the other half in Beaufort….attending each day ensures you have a chance to see all the artists in Beaufort May 14 & 15, 2026
Thursday, May 14 — Beaufort Paint-Out
Thursday’s Beaufort paint-out features artists working across the community from morning through late afternoon. These sessions are open and accessible to the public, offering an up-close look at plein air techniques in oil, watercolor, pastel, and mixed media. Paintings completed on Thursday will be prepared for exhibition and sale the following day as part of Beaufort’s gallery events.
Friday, May 15 — Gallery Exhibition, Pop-Up Show & Reception
On Friday, May 15, Beaufort’s Festival activities culminate in a special gallery exhibition and reception at the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, located in Beaufort’s historic district.
- Paintings created on Thursday, May 14 will be on view and for sale in the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery throughout Friday.
- Friday’s newly completed paintings will be added to a pop-up exhibition, offering collectors and visitors the opportunity to purchase fresh works created just hours earlier.
Reception: 4:00–6:00 PM
A public reception will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Friday, May 15, bringing together artists, collectors, residents, and visitors to celebrate Beaufort’s role in the Festival. Guests will have the opportunity to:
- Meet the artists who painted in Beaufort
- View and purchase newly completed plein air paintings
- Learn more about the artists’ inspirations, techniques, and experiences painting in Beaufort
The reception creates a lively, welcoming atmosphere that bridges outdoor painting and gallery exhibition, highlighting the immediacy and energy of plein air work.
From Beaufort to New Bern — Festival Finale & Awards
Following the Beaufort venue, artists will wrap up the Festival week in New Bern, where the final competition paintings are exhibited and judged. The Festival concludes with the announcement of $16,000 in cash awards, recognizing outstanding plein air work created during the week across all venues.
The New Bern finale includes a celebratory event with live music, continued gallery exhibitions, and art sales throughout Saturday, giving the public and collectors additional opportunities to view and purchase award-winning and freshly painted works.
A Coastal Highlight of the Festival Week
Beaufort’s two-day venue is a key highlight of the North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival, which runs May 11–17, 2026, with exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and community events based in New Bern and surrounding coastal communities. By combining live painting throughout town, real-time artist tracking, and gallery-based sales and receptions, the Beaufort venue offers a unique opportunity to experience and collect plein air art in one of North Carolina’s most historic coastal settings.
For schedules, artist locator app information, and full Festival details, visit ncpleinair.org.