Southwest Arts Festival

Southwest Arts Festival brings more than 250 juried artists to the Empire Polo Club’s broad lawns for a January weekend of traditional, contemporary and abstract work. The setting is unusually relaxed for an internationally recognized art fair: open grass under desert light, with room to browse instead of rush. As the 2027 dates have not yet been published, it is a worthwhile event to keep on your winter arts calendar.

Why go

• Deep artist roster: More than 250 juried artists present work across traditional, contemporary and abstract approaches.
• Outdoor art day: The polo lawns give the fair a generous grassy setting that is easy to explore on foot.
• International stature: The festival is recognized internationally while retaining a casual Coachella Valley pace.
• Winter browsing: A January weekend offers a comfortable moment to make art the focus of a desert day.

What to expect

Expect an open-air fair arranged across the Empire Polo Club lawns, with artists and visitors sharing a setting that feels spacious rather than enclosed. The pleasure is in the contrast: carefully made art beside wide grass and desert sky. You can browse by medium, linger at a booth, and reset your eye on the walk to the next row. The crowd tends toward people who want to discover work in person, whether they are collecting, furnishing a home or simply spending the day with art.

Know before you go

• Check the organizer’s current listing for dates and admission before setting your January plans.
• Wear comfortable shoes for browsing across the wide grass grounds.
• Give yourself enough time to revisit work after you have seen the full range of artists.