JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City's 37th Annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour kicked off Thursday and will run through Sunday with exhibitions, open studios, performances, tours, and workshops in all six wards.
Organizers said JCAST 2026 will center on the theme "Unbounded Nature" and invite residents and visitors to explore artists, neighborhoods and cultural spaces throughout the city.
The annual event will include galleries, studios, murals, cultural experiences and artist-led programs citywide. This year's theme asks artists and audiences to consider nature "as a concept without limits or boundaries" and to explore how it exists within a city and shapes community life.
"Jersey City's arts community is one of the great strengths of our city, and JCAST is a wonderful example of what happens when artists, residents, businesses and government come together," said Mayor James Solomon. "Our Arts and Culture Trust Fund represents an important commitment to making sure artists and cultural organizations have the resources they need to create, grow and reach communities across Jersey City."
The Jersey City Economic Development Corporation said it supports JCAST through UEZ funding.
According to JCAST producer Atim Annette Oton, expanded programming this year will include 25 free art workshops across the city, along with theater, performance and visual art programming at Camp Liberty and Liberty State Park through Educational Arts Team.
The announcement also said the festival will present 20 musicians and poets in venues and cultural spaces across Jersey City.
This year's JCAST Legend Awards will honor Diane Dragone, founding director, choreographer and teacher of The Kennedy Dancers School, and Ben Jones, a multidisciplinary artist and educator who taught art for more than 40 years at New Jersey City University.
Friday will include exhibition openings at Liberty State Park, Saint Peter's University Gallery and Rankin Hall, followed by JCAST Art Happy Hour at 902 Brewing Company.
On Saturday and Sunday, JCAST Open Studios will take place at 150 Bay Street, the Elevator Building and artist studios across all six wards.
Weekend programming will also include an LGBTQ+ tour, mural tours, art and food tours, a Heights photowalk, Bike JC tours, a Jersey City culture excursion and artist studio shuttles.
The four-day event will end Sunday evening with the JCAST Closing Party.
See the map, get tickets for special events, and find out more here.
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