The 10 most renowned Street Art Festivals around the world

Urban Art has become a powerful form of cultural expression and a source of creative inspiration. Across the globe, street art festivals transform cities into open-air museums, showcasing the talent of local and international street artists through breathtaking XXL murals. These festivals not only draw street art enthusiasts but also foster a unique form of tourism, turning cities into sought-after street art destinations. One of the pioneering events in this global movement is the Nuart Festival in Stavanger, Norway. This groundbreaking festival, founded in 2001, holds the distinction of being the world's very first street art festival. Starting as a music event, Nuart emerged as a way to encourage artists to gather, exchange ideas, and celebrate the vibrant world of Street Art.

From Festivals to Open-Air Museums

Since its inception, Nuart has paved the way for countless other street art festivals worldwide. In this article, we explore the best and most historically significant street art festivals, each contributing to the global tapestry of Urban Art and muralism. Join us on this journey as we delve into the stories behind the world’s most renowned street art festivals, highlighting their specificity and what makes them unique.

Nuart Festival | Stavanger (Norway) and Aberdeen (Scotland)

The Nuart Festival was established in 2001 by the artist and curator Martyn Reed and, over the years, has grown into a platform for artists, academics, and critical thinkers to reclaim public spaces. Nurturing the creation of thought-provoking Street Art, meaningful murals, and, above all, facilitating the exchange of ideas, the Nuart Festival has ascended to become a prominent fixture in the global street art scene. The festival's core mission is to champion Street Art as a powerful form of artistic expression accessible to all while stimulating public discourse on matters relating to art, culture, and societal issues.

Originally born in Stavanger, Norway, the Nuart Festival expanded its activity in 2017 when it found a second home in Aberdeen, Scotland. Today, the event continues to thrive in Aberdeen in its original festival format, featuring a roster of exceptional artists and a diverse array of activities, including street art tours, panel discussions involving renowned academics, and the production of an annual research journal. Meanwhile, Martyn Reed continues to contribute to his hometown of Stavanger by creating remarkable murals over the year.

Discover more by visiting the website of the Nuart Festival

Upfest | Bristol (England)

Banksy's hometown couldn't resist having its very own festival! Upfest made its debut in 2008 and has steadily expanded both in size and popularity over the years. This vibrant event primarily unfolds in the Bedminster area of the city, drawing talented street artists and muralists from across the globe. A significant feature of Upfest is its annual mural transformations, ensuring the neighborhood's appearance is ever-evolving. This constant change continues to captivate visitors year after year, igniting the curiosity of street art enthusiasts. The festival garners substantial participation, with over 350 artists taking part each year, creating a neighborhood-wide celebration that appeals to people of all ages. In doing so, it not only promotes Street Art as a valid form of artistic expression but also nurtures a sense of community and creativity between people.

Discover more by visiting the website of the Upfest Festival

Wynwood Walls | Miami (USA)

Every December, Miami hosts the world's most highly attended Street Art gathering, known as Wynwood Walls. Founded by Tony Goldman in 2009, this renowned street art event was initiated by the visionary real estate developer who transformed a once gritty warehouse district just north of downtown Miami into a vibrant cultural epicenter. While not a conventional festival, Wynwood Walls serves as an open-air art park, showcasing an ever-changing assortment of eye-catching murals and Urban Art masterpieces crafted by international artists. The area bursts with creativity, and even more particularly during the initial weeks of December, coinciding with the contemporary art fair Art Basel Miami Beach and the fair Scope Art.

Discover more by visiting the website of Wynwood Walls

MURAL Festival | Montréal (Canada)

Established in 2012, the MURAL Festival is an annual celebration of Urban Art and muralism held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This vibrant event typically takes place alongside Montreal's bustling Saint-Laurent Boulevard each June. The festival serves as a dynamic platform that unites local and international street artists and muralists, empowering them to craft expansive public artworks on the city's building facades. Beyond the mural masterpieces, the festival presents a diverse array of activities and events, including live music performances. Over the years, music concerts have gained increasing prominence, with various stages strategically scattered throughout the festival grounds. These performances, encompassing both free and ticketed shows, have effectively transformed the MURAL Festival into a citywide celebration of diverse urban artistic expressions.

Discover more by visiting the website of the MURAL Festival

Street Art Fest | Grenoble (France)

The Street Art Fest of Grenoble has been a yearly occurrence since 2015. Curated by Jérôme Catz and his art space Spacejunk Grenoble, this festival is a vibrant celebration of creativity and culture unfolding within a dynamic urban setting adorned with vivid colors, bold shapes, and inspiring messages. The Street Art Fest of Grenoble holds two primary objectives: the creation of artistic works that are accessible to all and fostering interactions between artists and the public. These interactions are made possible through continuous mediation and the implementation of numerous educational satellite projects, which thus breathe life into the city during the entire month of June. Probably the best street art festival in France!

Discover more by visiting the website of the Street Art Fest

Vision Art Festival | Crans-Montana (Switzerland)

Crans-Montana, a charming mountain village and famous ski resort nestled in the Swiss Alps, is renowned for its awe-inspiring alpine landscapes. This unique context within the breathtaking natural surroundings sets this festival apart from the typical urban-centric street art festivals. Here, Grégory Pages has been curating numerous urban art initiatives since 2015, among which the excellent Vision Art Festival, aiming at establishing an open-air mountain museum, sprawling across altitudes ranging from 1’200 to 3’000 meters. At the Vision Art Festival, artists draw inspiration from the panoramic beauty and the remarkable light that has been celebrated by novelists, writers, painters, and musicians since the 18th century.

Discover more by visiting the website of the Vision Art Festival

The Crystal Ship | Ostend (Belgium)

Named in homage to The Doors' iconic song, "The Crystal Ship" is an annual street art festival held in Ostend, a picturesque coastal city in Belgium. Launched in 2016, this festival has swiftly risen to prominence within the European street art scene. Under the curatorship of Bjørn Van Poucke, The Crystal Ship unites a diverse array of exceptionally skilled street artists and muralists from across the globe. These creative minds come together to craft large-scale outdoor artworks, encompassing murals, installations, and various urban art forms that embellish the cityscape of Ostend. The festival's core mission is to metamorphose the urban terrain into an expansive open-air gallery, rekindling the city's allure. Ostend, once a favored post-World War II tourist destination renowned for its captivating beaches, which even attracted royalty in the 19th century, now draws visitors back with its dynamic street art scene.

Discover more by visiting the website of The Crystal Ship

Brisbane Street Art Festival (BSAF) | Brisbane (Australia)

The Brisbane Street Art Festival (BSAF) is an annual event held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia since 2016. It features large-scale street art murals and installations throughout the city, bringing together artists from around the world for collaboration and cultural exchange. BSAF encourages public engagement with guided tours, workshops, exhibitions, and live performances, promoting Street Art as a legitimate form of expression. The festival aims to transform the urban landscape, with art appearing in various city locations, spanning from the central business district to the inner-city suburbs and various other areas across the city. BSAF's mural sites and event locations change each year as the festival continues to evolve.

Discover more by visiting the website of the BSAF

CVTà Street Fest | Civitacampomarano (Italy)

In 2014, renowned Italian street artist Alice Pasquini received a unique painting invitation that held particular significance, as Civitacampomarano was also her mother's hometown. However, upon her arrival to paint, Alice was met with a transformed Civitacampomarano, no longer resembling the village of her childhood summers. Youth and families had moved away, schools and essential services had closed permanently, and numerous houses stood abandoned. Alice’s newly painted artworks quickly attracted visitors, who flocked to Civitacampomarano to capture the essence of her Street Art. Over time, the locals began to dream of a revival for Civitacampomarano, a renaissance that gained momentum when the artist Alice Pasquini inaugurated the CVTà Street Fest in 2016.

Since then, CVTà Street Fest has been at the forefront of a movement in Southern Europe, where many villages face the threat of depopulation. From Portugal to Spain, countless rural communities now proudly feature murals and Street Art that draw visitors year-round, breathing life into these otherwise dwindling villages. Local and international artists have become storytellers who reinterpret local narratives, traditions and crafts through the medium of site-specific Urban Art. Once painted on the walls, these stories bring recognition to the host villages that were unknown and at risk of disappearing, all thanks to the viral spread of mural images across the globe.

Discover more by visiting the website of the CVTà Street Fest

International Public Art Festival (IPAF) | Cape Town (South Africa)

Established in 2017, IPAF stands as Africa's inaugural International Public Art Festival. Each year, a blend of international and local artists collaborates to craft compelling public artworks, shaped by the festival's ever-changing theme. IPAF is a platform for commissioning and showcasing site-specific public art pieces, seamlessly integrating with Cape Town's communal spaces. These creations not only reflect the city's diverse culture but also enrich its social fabric. The IPAF Festival is organized by the NGO Baz-Art, which has a core mission of creating a platform for African street artists to earn a living from their art and regulating the industry. A beautiful and great mission!

Discover more by visiting the website of the IPAF

A World Tour of XXL Murals and Open-Air Museums.

In just two decades, street art festivals have emerged as a dynamic force, breathing new life into our cities and urban spaces, enchanting street art enthusiasts worldwide with their XXL murals and street art interventions. As we've journeyed through the remarkable tales of ten iconic street festivals, from the groundbreaking Nuart Festival in Stavanger to the vibrant streets of Miami’s Wynwood Walls area, we have witnessed the transformative power of Urban Art.

Street art festivals have brought vibrant murals to our public spaces, adorning once-neglected walls with art and drawing visitors from around the globe. These festivals have evolved into a potent tool for boosting tourism and community engagement. Street art festivals have the ability to transform a city or region into an urban art destination, inviting tourists and residents alike to explore their streets in search of artistic treasures. The rise of street art tours, often promoted by local tourist offices, has further solidified the street art festival's role as a catalyst for urban rejuvenation.

As we conclude this exploration, we invite you to embark on your own journey through the world of street art festivals. Discover the magic of these open-air museums, witness the street artists at work, and feel the vibrant energy of Urban Art. With new festivals sprouting each year, there has never been a better time to embrace the beauty, stories, and energy that street art festivals bring to our cities.

Go further and discover our article on the best Street Art museums