Arts in the Heart of Augusta is held the third weekend of September. The 2026 festival ran Sept. 18-20; 2027 dates are not announced yet.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Dates, hours, badges and rules come from the Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival site and the festival’s FAQ, published by the Greater Augusta Arts Council. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta is held the third weekend of September every year, the Greater Augusta Arts Council says. The 2026 festival ran Friday, Sept. 18, to Sunday, Sept. 20. The 2027 dates have not been announced. By the council’s third-weekend rule, the next festival would fall on Sept. 17-19, 2027; we will confirm the dates here as soon as the council posts them.

Know before you go

  • When: the third weekend of September; 2027 dates to be announced
  • 2026 hours: Friday 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Admission: a Weekend Festival Badge covers all three days; children 10 and under free with a paid adult
  • 2026 badge price at local partners: $15, cash only
  • No pets and no coolers. Lawn chairs are welcome.
  • Organizer: Greater Augusta Arts Council

What the festival is

Arts in the Heart began in 1981 as two grassroots festivals, one about access to the arts and one celebrating the cultures that shaped Augusta. They merged in 1982. The first festivals were held in the parking lot of the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building; the festival later grew to fill several blocks of downtown. It is the arts council’s annual fundraiser and pays for its work the rest of the year, including the City Gallery, public art and education programs.

The 2026 festival had:

  • five stages of music, dance, theater and spoken word, with Whiskey Run headlining the Global Stage on Friday and Weedie Braimah and The Hands of Time on Saturday, and Avery*Sunshine headlining the Jazz and Soul Suite Stage on Saturday
  • the Global Village, with food and culture from 20 countries, served by local cultural organizations; Nigeria and Ghana were new for 2026
  • a juried Fine Arts and Crafts Market with artists from across the country; the council says the market usually has more than 130 vendors
  • a Family Area with performances and hands-on activities for children

Where it is held

The festival’s usual home is downtown Augusta, around the Augusta Common and Broad Street. Downtown construction has forced the festival to change its layout three times, the council says, and the 2026 festival was held at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds. The council has not said where the 2027 festival will be. We will add the location, gates and map when they are published.

Badges and tickets

Admission is a Weekend Festival Badge, good for unlimited entry all three days. A Weekend VIP Badge adds the VIP hospitality tent, with catered food, a private bar and seating with a view of the main stage. Both are sold online, and the FAQ says weekend badges are also sold at the gates during the festival. Digital tickets can be swapped for a physical badge at the gate.

Children 10 and under get in free with a paid adult.

In 2026, badges cost $15, cash only, at local badge partners before the festival, including:

  • Richmond County tag offices, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays: the Tax Commission office in the Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St., Suite 200; 2816 Washington Road, Suite 109; and 3463 A Peach Orchard Road
  • Sacred Heart Cultural Center gift shop, 1301 Greene St.
  • Augusta and Co., 1010 Broad St.

The council lists the full set of partners, including stores in Martinez and in Aiken, South Carolina, on its badge page.

Parking

The festival FAQ describes the downtown layout. There is no single festival lot. Drivers use the private lots around the site, street parking on Broad, Ellis and Greene streets, and the decks at Ninth and Reynolds streets and Eighth and Ellis streets. Lot and deck owners set their own fees. Accessible spaces are on the main downtown streets and in every deck. The council recommends carpooling or ride-sharing, with drop-offs near the Augusta Common gates.

Parking at a fairgrounds site is different; check the festival site before you go.

What to know

  • No pets. Trained service animals are allowed under the ADA; emotional support animals are not.
  • No coolers. Lawn chairs are welcome.
  • Bring some cash. Most vendors and every gate take cards, but some Global Village food vendors are cash only. There are ATMs on site.
  • Dress for the heat. The council suggests hats, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes, and a tote bag for anything you buy.
  • Maps and stage schedules are at each gate, the festival information booth and on the festival site.
  • Volunteers get free entry all weekend and a festival T-shirt. Sign-up opens on the festival site before each festival and closed Sept. 16 in 2026.

More in Augusta

Frequently asked questions

When is Arts in the Heart of Augusta?

The Greater Augusta Arts Council holds it the third weekend of September every year. The 2026 festival ran Sept. 18-20; the 2027 dates have not been announced.

How much is a ticket to Arts in the Heart?

Admission is a Weekend Festival Badge, good for all three days. In 2026 badges cost $15 cash at local badge partners, and children 10 and under got in free with a paid adult.

Where is Arts in the Heart held?

Its usual home is several blocks of downtown Augusta. Because of downtown construction, the 2026 festival moved to the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds.

Can I bring my dog to Arts in the Heart?

No. Pets are not allowed on the festival site; trained service animals are. Coolers are also banned, but lawn chairs are welcome.

What are the Arts in the Heart hours?

In 2026 the festival ran 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.