SWFL MuralFest 2026 – Sign Up Now!

The dates are coming soon, but it’s time to sign up now for SWFL MuralFest 2026! If you want your own wall, you’ll have to earn it. The winners of the Battle of the Arts will get the walls. The official dates will be Dec 19th & Jan 16th, including the two Battle of the Arts events—Both events will be held at Music Fest Downtown at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. 

With this event, we want to create a stage for local artists of any age to show their talent to the community, build new connections, and give our community a place to support our artists.

SWFL MuralFest began as a way to give back to our community after Hurricane Ian, which brought our local art community together to shine light, attention, and love on Fort Myers. Through the support of the community and local business owners, MuralFest has grown into a movement that is turning downtown Fort Myers into its first art district.

Our Journey So Far

• 2022 – The very first MuralFest. All the art reflected what our community went through during Hurricane Ian, showing resilience, hope, and unity.

• 2023 – We secured our first building at All Out Bail Bonds, which also became our creative workspace warehouse, built with lots of love and support from Maria Paterno. That year, the mayor cut the ribbon, officially marking the beginning of downtown Fort Myers’ first art district and proving that SWFL MuralFest is here to stay.

• 2024 – We hosted The Elements of Life mural series, celebrating nature, balance, and creativity. We also unveiled the first permanent murals on the All Out Bail Bonds building with a huge reveal event full of live painting, music, and community spirit.

• 2025 – We expanded the vision with the theme Florida Environments—Ocean, Swamp, Forest, and City. Four team captains were selected through the Battle of the Arts, each leading their own teams to create large-scale murals across downtown.

• 2026 – We’re preparing for our biggest year ever!

Artsemble works hard to receive grants that allow artists to showcase their art and help continue building downtown Fort Myers’ first official art district. This year, you’ll have to go through the battles, with four major artists winning and then picking their own teams of artists.

Battle of the Arts Rules

Rule #1: The battle runs from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. No excuses.
Rule #2: Artists must bring their own supplies (drop cloth, paint, easel, tent if needed).
Rule #3: Canvas size is 4 ft high × 8 ft wide. Board is provided, primed with one color, and must remain blank before the battle begins.
Rule #4: No printed materials allowed. Painting must be done with paint only (stencils, pencils, paint pens are allowed).
Rule #5: No paint splatter on the floor.
Rule #6: No loud music.
Rule #7: Keep your space clean—mess = disqualification.
Rule #8: Promote it! Talk about it, invite artist friends, and bring supporters.
Rule #9: Nothing left behind—you must take everything with you.
Rule #10: Have fun!

Now, in 2026, we’re taking it to the next level. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

Sign up now and we’ll notify you as soon as the official dates are set!

Suggested Tagline for Website/Flyers/Social Media:
“From Hurricane Ian to Downtown Fort Myers’ First Art District — SWFL MuralFest is here to stay!”

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🎨 Join the Artsemble Collective! 🎨

We’re looking for talented artists to be part of our growing community. If you’re interested, please email artsemblecollective@gmail.com with the following:

1. Why you want to be part of this collective

2. What you can offer as a leading artist or as part of a crew

3. 5 pieces of your artwork to showcase your style and skill

Please note: not everyone who applies will be selected, so make sure your submission is thoughtful and represents your best work.

We can’t wait to see your creativity!