If you’re an art aficionado, your idea of heaven might be perusing booths upon booths of beautiful artwork, just waiting to be purchased and displayed in your home. Well, you’re in luck, because this vision becomes a reality every year at Madison’s Art Fair on the Square.
This Madison art festival, hosted by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), is the largest art fair in the Midwest, boasting over 500 artists and drawing in nearly 200,000 visitors to the Wisconsin State Capitol Square. Full of local and international artists alike, this family-friendly, outdoor art fair is a don’t-miss Madison tradition. It’s a one-stop, elevated art experience for culture seekers who love shopping for pieces created by artists from around the world.
You’ll get the chance to peruse a wide array of art mediums produced by professional artists, including jewelry, sculptures, clothing, framed photos, stained glass, paintings and a whole lot more.
As for new additions to the 2026 Art Fair on the Square, look no further than Tall Grass, the new rooftop restaurant in partnership with Elena Terry. It will soon open in MMoCA, which will be doing a pop-up food concept at the Fair.
Culture never ceases to abound in Madison, and during the weekend of July 11–12, there are not one, but two marquee event experiences to attend—Art Fair on the Square and La Fête de Marquette. That means that you can combine two artful escapes into one getaway weekend!
Jump around to plan your art-filled weekend in Madison:
Art Fair on the Square
Know Before You Go:
Date: Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12
Location: Capitol Square
Cost: Free
Parking and transportation: There’s plenty of parking around the Capitol Square, from on the square itself to nearby parking garages.
More Things to Do This Weekend
To get your creative juices really flowing during the same getaway weekend, plan to also visit La Fête de Marquette. From Thursday, July 9, to Sunday, July 12, you’ll get the opportunity to hear (free!) live music to your heart’s content, right in the middle of the vibrant Wil-Mar neighborhood at McPike Park. It’ll feature plenty of cultural acts that you need to see (and hear), like Los Lobos, the Zydeco Voodoo Band and a Queer Variety Night that celebrates Madison’s queer art scene.
There are also other fun events to check out during the same weekend. You can listen to live music at downtown’s One Social Food Hall or savor Madison’s culinary delights during a Madison Eats Food Tour that focuses on the Capitol Square. Also, there are so many free museums to visit and Overture Center for the Arts features five free galleries that rotate seasonally, plus the James Watrous Gallery, which is dedicated to celebrating Wisconsin artists.
Recommended Hotels
Your artistic adventure won’t be complete without a stay at one of these recommended hotels near the Capitol Square.
- The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club
- AC Hotel Madison Downtown
- Best Western Premier Park Hotel
- Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown
- The Edgewater
- Embassy Suites Madison Downtown
- Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
- Mansion Hill Inn
- The Saddlery Madison
- Hotel Indigo Madison Downtown
More Arts & Music Festivals
Every weekend and beyond, Madison is brimming with events to explore, like local favorite Madison Night Market (with new themed nights this year, like “Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride” and “Celebrating UW Madison”), and arts and music festivals that include the Madison Jazz Festival, the Mount Horeb Art Fair, the Sugar Maple Music Festival and Art in the Park.
