35th Annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival (VA)

May 16-17, 2026
Early Bird Deadline 10/22/25

Application Deadline 1/2/26

Late Application Deadline 1/6/26

Call to Artists

WHAT: 35th Annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival

WHERE: Reston, Virginia

WHEN: May 16-17, 2026 | Saturday 10am - 6pm | Sunday 11am - 5pm

NOTEWORTHY AMENITIES:

  • 40,000+ attendees
  • Prior day set-up (Friday, May 15)
  • Convenient and coordinated load-in and load-out
  • FREE parking Fri - Sun in on-site garages for passenger vehicles
  • Reduced hotel room rate for the Hyatt Regency Hotel on-site
  • 24/7 site security (artists are responsible for securing their booths)
  • Optional tent rentals - set up and break down included (on a first come-first served basis) for artists that do not have event infrastructure or prefer not to set up the tent themselves.
  • Artist hospitality and Artist Lounge
  • Ample artist support with booth-sitters
  • Convenient and profitable selling hours for the Festival period
  • $5,000 in cash awards, plus a new Judith Forst People's Choice Award, and an Evolving Craft at 250 Award
  • New this year: Evolving Craft at 250 category
  • Complimentary tickets to the Festival Award Breakfast for artists plus one guest, which includes hot breakfast and mimosas
  • Year-round promotion on the Tephra ICA website, including accompanying artwork images, booth numbers, email contact, and links to personal website

FESTIVAL COSTS:

Application Fees (non-refundable):

$45 until 10/22/25 | $55 until 1/2/26 | $65 until 1/6/26


Booth Fees:

10' x 10' in line - $525

10' x 10' end cap - $787.50
(standard space with 5 additional feet of display area on one exterior side)

10’ x 20’ in line - $1,050

10’ x 20’ with one end cap - $1,312.50
(standard space with 5 additional feet of display area on one exterior side)

10’ x 20’ with two end caps - $1,575
(includes 5 additional feet of display area on both exterior sides)


Refund Policy:

The last day for artists to request a refund in writing is March 27, 2026. The Festival will retain a $50 administrative fee for any cancellation.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS on ZAPP

Application Deadline: January 2, 2026

Late Application Deadline: January 6, 2026

Artist Notification: February 11, 2026

Booth Fee Due: March 2, 2026

Refund Request Final Day: March 27, 2026

 

Questions? Please contact Hannah Barco, Festival Director

hbarco@tephraica.org or call (571) 926-8781

The Tephra ICA Arts Festival is celebrating 35 years! 


The annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival is a competitive, juried event that is consistently rated as one of the best outdoor art festivals in the country, both for the quality of the artwork presented and for its exceptional artist hospitality. This year we are celebrating 35 years presenting the Festival in Reston Town Center. To mark this milestone, we've added a new People's Choice Award in honor of Festival Founder, Judith Forst, and will also be recognizing American craft traditions as part of the 250th Anniversary of the United States.


These additions will further amplify our long-standing reputation for presenting high-quality, one-of-a-kind artwork in the dynamic, open-air setting of the Reston Town Center. Known colloquially as “the Reston Show,” the Festival attracts patrons and knowledgeable collectors from the Washington, DC metropolitan region and beyond. In 2025 the Festival saw a 40% increase in visitors for a record 40,000+ attendees.


Visit Tephra ICA Arts Festival for more information

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