The Napa Lighted Art Festival is a free, open-air festival with the nighttime backdrop of downtown Napa. Currently in its 8th edition, the festival supports innovative techniques using light and light technologies as a growing art medium.
The festival supports innovative techniques using light and light technologies as a growing art medium. Light itself in any form should be the actual artwork, and the festival requires that the role of light be essential to the concept. The festival also strongly encourages new technologies and innovative use of light. As well as new ideas for artworks, the festival is open to receiving proposals to exhibit existing works, provided they meet the festival themes and criteria. Artwork could include any of the following genres and/or technology: light sculptures, light art, video art, 3D video mapping projections, LED, fiber optics, custom gobo designs, interactive works, lasers etc.
Both artists and artist groups are encouraged to apply. For the 2026 Festival, the curatorial team will select approximately 10 installations.
Installation of the artwork will begin between 6 and 10 January 2026. Artists may participate and assist during the installation if available and will be arranged by the curatorial team in advance based on the production timeline.
All artists outside of the U.S. are required to provide a W-8BEN (or W-8BEN-E) which should include an international tax ID number provided by the IRS.
The organisers provide artist stipends of 2,000 USD to 10,000 USD (or negotiated). The technical lighting expenses are considered a separate expense that the Festival will pay for in order to display the artwork. Any costs for installing sculptures or physical artwork need to be included in the artist budget for production costs.
