Celebrating its 51st year, the Orange Beach Festival of Art has gained another reason to revel—voted the Best Arts Festival in the U.S. by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

For more than five decades, the Orange Beach Festival of Art has stood as the Gulf Coast’s premier fine arts event. The festival showcases over 100 juried artists, including jewelry makers, clay artists, photographers, authors, sculptors, painters, glass blowers, and canvas artists. This highly anticipated two-day event attracts over 20,000 visitors from across the country each year.

“Having the Orange Beach Festival of Art earn the title of Best Arts Festival in the nation in 2025 by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards is a testament to the hard work of Coastal Arts Center Director Desiree Hodge and her dedicated team,” says Kennon. “It is truly a diamond on our coast. The festival features some of the finest artists in our region, and everyone who visits the festival experiences Southern Hospitality at its best!”

Presented by the City of Orange Beach and the non-profit group The Friends of the Arts, the festival is a free event.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon expresses pride in this recognition, underscoring the city’s dedication to the arts.

The festival has a long history of accolades, including being named Best of Bama by ALABAMA Magazine readers and earning a spot in Sunshine Artist Magazine’s Top 100 Fine Art Shows for five consecutive years.

Desiree Hodge, director of the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, is thrilled with the win.

“We are so proud of this show and tremendously honored to receive this distinction,” Hodge says excitedly. “There are so many special elements to the show, but we have primarily worked to tailor the selection of artists to focus on fine art, which sets us apart from other shows. Along with that, we feature true local music talent, cuisine, and performance art so guests get an authentic feel for our coastal specialties.”

She adds, “In keeping with our family-friendly community, the Kids Art Alley is noteworthy for providing exceptional crafts, along with a Kids Art Award that the children design and give to their favorite fine artist. Exposure to the arts at an early age is so essential for developing minds.

“All this is made possible with the help of our dedicated staff and awesome volunteers! After 50 years of presenting this show on our island, it has become a beloved event that draws both artists and patrons from around the country here to Alabama’s beaches. We thank everyone who voted and helped make us the #1 show among Best Arts Festivals in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards!”

Plans for the 52nd annual event, set for March 14-15, 2026, are already in motion, with new additions such as literary arts and exciting performance art, including fire dancers and aerialists.

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