Best Art Gallery Events & Exhibitions in Phoenix, AZ – Spring & Fall 2026 Guide

The Phoenix Art Museum’s premier annual gala transforms the Dorrance Sculpture Garden into an elegant evening affair. The 2026 edition features an exclusive viewing of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection — the first exhibition of its kind in Arizona — bringing together paintings and sculptures from the largest collection of Florentine Baroque art outside of Italy. The event draws 400+ of the Valley’s cultural leaders, philanthropists, and arts advocates. Proceeds support exhibitions, visual arts education, and the museum’s free-access initiatives that deliver over $1 million in annual access for visitors.

The Scottsdale Gallery Association’s quarterly Gold Palette ArtWalk returns for its spring edition, transforming Old Town into a walkable gallery district for one evening. Participating galleries along Main Street, Scottsdale Road, and Marshall Way host spring-themed exhibitions with live music, artist meet-and-greets, and wine tastings at Jamie’s Bottle Shop and Aridus Scottsdale Tasting Room. Notable features this edition: acclaimed wood sculptor Dave Barkby at Anticus Fine Art and the “Spring Solace: Ghost Towns and Gardens” exhibition at The Marshall Gallery.

FOUND:RE Contemporary wraps its acclaimed Color Series — which spanned multiple months and explored the spectrum of bold, vibrant monochromatic work — with this final ROYGBIV exhibition. The show revisits standout works from across the full series run and presents them in a chromatic sequence. An ideal stop for photographers drawn to abstract color fields and large-format fine art prints.

One of Phoenix’s most consistently distinguished galleries, Lisa Sette has championed contemporary and conceptual work for decades. The current spring exhibition runs through the end of May, making it a spring season essential for anyone exploring the Phoenix gallery scene beyond the tourist circuit. The gallery represents artists including Marie Navarre among others with strong national reputations.

The Valley’s flagship art institution runs a rich rotating calendar of exhibitions in 2026. Current and upcoming exhibitions span the full breadth of art history and media: Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion (celebrating the 60th anniversary of the museum’s fashion collection), Ecstatic Time: The Alchemy of Photography, Cara Romero: Panûpünüwügai (Living Light) celebrating Indigenous experience and photography, and the debut of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection. Free admission is offered roughly 30 hours per month — check phxart.org for current schedule.

The Scottsdale Arts Festival is one of the longest-running juried art events in the Southwest, featuring fine artists across every medium — painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, glass, and photography. The outdoor Civic Center setting is one of the most beautiful festival venues in the Valley. Exact fall dates TBD — check scottsdalecenter.org for the confirmed 2026 schedule.

While primarily a sporting and luxury lifestyle event, the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships incorporates significant fine art and cultural programming — including gallery showings, artist exhibitions, and luxury design showcases — alongside the polo matches. Fashion, sculpture, and a visually spectacular setting make this a crossover event for art and photography enthusiasts.

One of the oldest and most celebrated outdoor art festivals in the Southwest closes the year in Downtown Tempe. The Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts consistently ranks in the national Top 20 by Sunshine Artist magazine, drawing nearly 225,000 visitors across the three-day weekend. Over 300 juried artist booths line Mill Avenue and surrounding streets, representing ceramics, woodwork, photography, glass, jewelry, fiber arts, and more. All artists are on-site to engage with visitors. Live music, chalk art competition, wine and spirits garden, and a Kids Block round out the experience.