As summer gives way to autumn, one of the most celebrated fall traditions in Santa Cruz County, the Arts Council Open Studios Art Tour, returns for its yearly celebration of visual arts. Join us this October for the annual Open Studios Art Tour, produced by Arts Council of Santa Cruz County. This remarkable event is open to visitors and locals alike looking to enjoy the best of the artistic community here in Santa Cruz County. The event is both free and self-guided, showcasing the talents of over 340 artists working across a multitude of mediums throughout the county. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or a newcomer to the scene, Open Studios offers a unique opportunity to connect personally with artists, witness their creative processes through tutorials or demonstrations, and purchase art directly from the source.
The event spans the first three weekends of October, with studios divided between South and North County, culminating in an All County weekend featuring over 340 artists countywide. There are various ways to plan your tour, all of which are free and accessible, from picking up artist guides at Good Times drop-off points to following Arts Council on Instagram, using the free app, or simply following the inviting lime green signs scattered throughout the county that will guide you to studios.
Save the Dates for Open Studios 2026:
October 3 & 4 • 11am-5pm: South County artists – from the Yacht Harbor and South
October 10 & 11 • 11am-5pm: North County artists – from the Yacht Harbor and North
October 17 & 18 • 11am-5pm: All County
Open Studios artists open up their homes, personal art studios, creative spaces, and pop-up in locations across Santa Cruz County from Davenport to Watsonville in a stunning display of the deep artistic roots in our community. With so many incredible artists to visit during the Open Studios Art Tour, here is a guide to some of the hot spots in each county that have a high density of artists that can all be visited in a single location!
All County
Even though All County weekend is the final weekend in the Open Studios Art Tour, there are a few spots where artist seekers can visit to get a feel for artists across the individual counties or plan their trips. Every person looking to learn more about Open Studios can check out the Santa Cruz Art League’s Preview Exhibit, featuring North County artists and running from September 26 to October 19, 2026; the Exhibit at Pajaro Valley Arts, featuring South County artists and running from September 26 – October 18, 2026; or M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery’s exhibit, featuring all county artists from September 25 – October 25, 2026.
The Santa Cruz Art League’s Preview Exhibit’s captivating showcase spotlights the creative genius of over North County Open Studios artists, providing a perfect launchpad for your artistic adventure. Wander through the gallery, where visitors can uncover artwork samples of the studios you simply can’t miss in North County. Plus, mark your calendars for a chance to meet the artists in person during the public reception on Sunday, Friday, October 2, 5-8pm.
SANTA CRUZ ART LEAGUE
Far Out – Preview exhibit featuring only North Coast & Santa Cruz mountains Open Studios artists
526 Broadway, Santa Cruz
831-426-5787 | scal.org
Exhibit Open: October 2 – October 18
Hours: Thursday – Sunday | 11am-5pm
Opening Reception: Friday October 2 | 5-8pm
The Pajaro Valley Arts Exhibit will be featuring art exclusively for artists in South County. Exhibit Dates are September 26 – October 18; a Preview Exhibit Public Reception is held on Thursday, October 1, 5-7pm. Regular Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11-4pm and Open Studio Weekend Hours are 11am-5pm. See website for more information on exhibit dates and times.
PAJARO VALLEY ART
Preview exhibit featuring only South County Open Studios artists
Porter Building, 280 Main Street, Watsonville
831-722-3062 | pvarts.org
Exhibit Open: September 26 – October 18
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday | 11am-4pm
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 1 | 5-7pm
Brand new to the 2026 Open Studios season is an all county exhibit at M.K. Contemporary Art Gallery in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz. This impressive gallery will feature art from all participating artists in the 2026 Open Studios Art Tour. The exhibit will be open from September 25 through October 25, Thursdays through Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Don’t miss the opening reception on Saturday, September 26 from 3pm to 6pm.
M.K. CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
Main preview exhibit featuring all Santa Cruz County Open Studios artists
703 Front Street, Santa Cruz
408-250-2224 | mkcontemporary.art
Exhibit Open: September 25 – October 25
Hours: Thursday – Sunday | 11am-5pm
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 26 | 3-6pm
First Friday: October 2 | 5-8pm
South County
This year in South County there are 133 artists and 18 artists in Watsonville including 8 artists that are new to the tour. Stretching from the picturesque countryside of Watsonville and Corralitos all the way up the coast through Live Oak, the South County artists have a wealth of artistic variety you won’t want to miss on your art tour! There is a great clusters of artists to check out at the Aptos Warehouse studios. In the Downtown Watsonville area there is a small cluster of artists and visitors can also check out Pajaro Valley Arts Open Studios Exhibit mentioned above with artists from around the county.
North County
All across North County, spanning from the Santa Cruz Harbor up the North Coast into the Santa Cruz Mountains, there are 210 fabulous studios to visit, including 36 new participants. If you’re looking for the biggest bang for your buck in a centralized location definitely check out the Tannery Arts Center and the Mission Street Extension studios. This year there are thirteen artists located within the Tannery Art Studios. Visitors to the Tannery can see the studios of Gazelle Parsons, Margaret Niven, Anna Cummins, and more. The Mission Street Extension studios will have eleven artists in the area near the old Wrigley building. Downtown will host 11 artists and be sure to stop by Santa Cruz Clay on Delaware on the Westside to discover another cluster of creatives.
These pockets of artists make it easy to enjoy a variety of artists without having to relocate to another area.
Whether you visit a hundred studios over the three weekends or just a single artist, the opportunity to unite the community with their local creators is what makes the Open Studios Art Tour so special. To learn more about the in-depth experience of what it is like to go to Open Studios check out this Guide to Open Studios. So get out and explore and support the creative worlds of local Santa Cruz County artists this October!
Header image by Ben Ingram; Last image by Liz Birnbaum, The Curated Feast; All other images by Monica Multer