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A FREE CITYWIDE CELEBRATION OF ART, PRODUCED BY

A FREE CITYWIDE
CELEBRATION OF ART

Celebrating 24 years

November 14–15 & 21–22, 2026

11am–5pm Daily

Texas' Biggest Art Event

Our team at Almost Real Things couldn’t be happier to be back hosting and producing The Austin Studio Tour, now celebrating its 24th year!

Last year, we were entrusted with the reins of our favorite Austin cornerstone event, as the torch was passed down from Big Medium. We are proud to report that our 2025 production was largest, most comprehensive Tour yet, with 723 participants across 317 locations across Austin.

This year, we continue to prioritize sustainability for the Tour as an economic powerhouse for artists and proof of the amazing density and diversity of creators in our city. We invite you to join in, participate and attend as we collectively solidify the Tour’s legacy as an essential part of Austin’s culture.

With love,

Natalie Earhart & Zachary Zulch
Founders of Almost Real Things, producer of the Austin Studio Tour

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WHAT IS THE AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR?

It’s a free citywide event that invites the public into working artists’ studios, galleries and creative spaces.

It’s a wonderful way for the community to come together, support one another and show the creative spirit that makes Austin special. The 2026 Tour will take place over two weekends in November:

Weekend 1: Sat & Sun, November 14–15
Weekend 2: Sat & Sun, November 21–22
Hours: 11am–5pm daily

Attendees can browse profiles online and in our printed Guidebook to find unique locations to visit, purchase art, learn about the creative process and meet Austin’s most talented artists.

For artists, the Austin Studio Tour is a chance to give people a behind the scenes look at their space and their process, building lasting support for contributions to Austin’s culture. All artists, musicians and creative organizations within Austin, Austin ETJ, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood and Sunset Valley are encouraged to apply.

Have questions? Read our FAQ!

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED for Artists, Art Groups & Hosts.
Partner applications remain open!

Application At-A-Glance

This year’s application takes five minutes! We’ll collect basic information about you and your practice:

  • Artist Name
  • Website and social links
  • Mediums
  • Two-sentence blurb about yourself and your work
  • Upload two photos that best represent your art and/or space

Things to keep in mind:

  • You do not need a confirmed location to apply.
  • Please use an email address that you check frequently and and add events@almostrealthings.com to your contacts to ensure you receive important information (we don’t want your celebratory approval email ending up in the spam folder).
  • You will create a password associated with your email address to log in.
    • After submitting your application with payment, you can edit it for 72 hours.
    • After approval, you’ll fill out your Profile Details.
  • You must complete payment on the last page of the application in order for us to receive your submission.

Application DETAILS

All artists, art groups, musicians, art & music organizations, nonprofits and host locations are encouraged to participate.

  • You must be exhibiting within Austin, Austin ETJ, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood or Sunset Valley for the duration of the Tour.
  • Applicants must be over 18 years old
    • Parents and guardians may apply on behalf of artists under 18 years old, and must be listed as the primary contact.

If you are approved, you will have access to log in to complete your Profile Details:

  • Location where you will exhibit during the Tour
  • About you and your space
  • What attendees can expect to experience
  • Images of your space
  • For Hosts: who/what you will be hosting and images of your location
  • Images of your art
  • ADA accessibility details

You are responsible for securing your own exhibition space.

  • Exhibition locations must be within Austin, Austin ETJ, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood or Sunset Valley.
  • Our Host Directory is available for Individuals and Art Groups to find exhibition locations.
    • Hosts have the option to be listed in our Host Directory to offer space for Individual Artists and Art Groups.
    • We will not be involved in coordination beyond supplying contact information for Hosts in the directory.
  • After approval, you must add your confirmed location to your Profile Details by Sun, August 30th for it to appear in the printed Guidebook.
  • If you are exhibiting at multiple locations, you will be able to list each in your Profile Details after application approval.

Participation fees make the Austin Studio Tour possible. See the list of deliverables in our Ways to Participate section below.

  • Students with a currently valid student ID may apply for a discounted Individual Artist profile.
  • Pay via Klarna or Affirm for the option to make four, equal, interest-free payments (one every 2 weeks).
  • Participation fees are only refundable if your application is not approved.

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Expect a response within 48 hours after your 72-hour application editing period.
  • Please use an email address that you check frequently and and add events@almostrealthings.com to your contacts to ensure you receive important information (we don’t want your celebratory approval email ending up in the spam folder).
  • If your application is not approved, your participation fee will be refunded.
  • The Host Directory is still available!
  • Fri, August 21st at 11:59pm was the final application deadline for Artists, Art Groups & Hosts
  • Partner sign-ups are ongoing: inquire here
  • Tue, September 15th at 11:59pm: last day to sign up to participate in the 2″ x 4″ Group Exhibition (click the button on your Profile Details page)
  • Late September: Event Calendar begins accepting submissions for special programming during and beyond Tour hours
  • By Wed, October 7th: Online Explore page goes live—you can make your profile(s) public
  • Fri, October 30th at 11:59pm: Profile Details editing period closes
PARTNER WITH US! CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A 15-MINUTE CALL

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Business Partner

Schedule a call to chat

For businesses or organizations interested talking about the many opportunities to support the Tour! Think brand partnerships, experiential activations, print and online advertising and more. Fill out our 2-minute Partner form.

Schedule a 15-minute call!

Individual Artist

Apply for a single artist profile

For solo creators showing in their dedicated studio, home or other space.

These fees make the Austin Studio Tour possible. Prices shown include the $50 fee for expedited review.

$250 standard
$150 for active students—valid ID required

  • Participation in both weekends of the 2026 Austin Studio Tour
  • 1 profile on the official website
  • 1 location on the official digital map
  • 1 profile in the official printed Guidebook
  • 2 official printed Guidebooks
  • 1 official printed Tour wayfinding sign, 24″w x 18″h
  • Graphics package for print and digital marketing
  • Guides on best practices for marketing & promotion

Art Group

Apply for a single organization, collective or nonprofit profile

For multiple artists who create under a single name, showing in a dedicated studio, home or other space.

These fees make the Austin Studio Tour possible. Prices shown include the $50 fee for expedited review.

$250 standard

  • Participation in both weekends of the 2026 Austin Studio Tour
  • 1 profile on the official website
  • 1 location on the official digital map
  • 1 profile in the official printed Guidebook
  • 2 official printed Guidebooks
  • 1 official printed Tour wayfinding sign, 24″w x 18″h
  • Graphics package for print and digital marketing
  • Guides on best practices for marketing & promotion

Host

Apply for a profile for your location, bundled with one additional Individual Artist or Art Group profile for a single fee

For permanent galleries, museums, schools, cultural centers, as well as those hosting temporary programming during the Tour. Your location’s information and programming will be listed under one profile, with links to each associated Individual Artist or Art Group profile hosted at your location.

These fees make the Austin Studio Tour possible. Prices shown include the $50 fee for expedited review.

$350 bundle

  • Participation in both weekends of the 2026 Austin Studio Tour
  • 2 profiles on the official website
    • 1 Host profile + 1 Individual Artist or Art Group profile
  • 1 location on the official digital map
  • 2 profiles in the official printed Guidebook
    • 1 Host profile + 1 Individual Artist or Art Group profile
  • 4 official printed Guidebooks
  • 2 official printed Tour wayfinding signs, 24″w x 18″h
    • 1 for your Host profile + 1 for your Individual Artist or Art Group profile
  • Graphics package for print and digital marketing
  • Guides on best practices for marketing & promotion

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Participant FAQ

  • The online Application to Participate opened on Monday, July 6th and closed on Fri, Aug 21st at 11:59pm.
  • If your application is approved, you will be invited to fill out your Profile Details, featuring your bio, images, what attendees can expect at your location and more. Your details must be finalized by 11:59pm on Sun, August 30th to meet our Guidebook printing deadline. Further edits can be made to your online profile through Fri, Oct 30th.

Application review has begun + Host Directory is available!

  • Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Expect to hear back from us within 48 hours after your 72-hour application editing period.
  • All artists, art groups, musicians, art & music organizations, nonprofits and host locations are encouraged to participate.
  • Your location for the Tour must be within Austin, Austin ETJ, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood or Sunset Valley.
  • You must be at least 18 years old, or represented by someone at least 18 years old.
  • Still have questions about your eligibility? Email info@almostrealthings.com and we’ll help.
  • No, you are responsible for securing your own exhibition location for the Austin Studio Tour.
  • If you are an Individual Artist or Art Group looking for a space, check out our Host Directory.
    • We will not be involved in coordination beyond supplying contact information for the Hosts.
  • If you select a Host location as your address, your Individual Artist or Art Group profile will also be visible when people look up or click into that Host’s profile.
  • Yes! Apply as a Host to be granted the ability to create both a Host profile, as well as an additional Individual Artist or Art Group profile. You will be able to host others and can be listed on our Host Directory.
  • This is a great way to expand your marketing reach and provide more for attendees who visit your space.
  • Each hosted Individual Artist or Art Group is encouraged to apply to get their own dedicated profile, visible during the Tour and year-round.
  • Yes, you may travel to Austin to participate in the Tour.
  • Your location for the Tour must be within Austin, Austin ETJ, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood or Sunset Valley.
  • Yes, our participation fee makes the Austin Studio Tour possible.
  • Individual Artist: $250 standard, $150 for active students—valid ID required
  • Art Group: $250
  • Host: $350 bundle for two profiles (includes an additional Individual Artist / Art Group profile)
  • NOTE: Late applications submitted after Mon, August 10th have an additional $50 fee applied for expedited review. Prices shown include the $50 fee.
  • We highly encourage participation during both Tour weekends.
  • If that is not possible, you will have the option to input your open dates in your Profile Details after your application is approved.
  • We highly encourage participating during the full Tour hours.
  • If that is not possible, you will have the option to input your specific open times in your Profile Details after your application is approved.
  • There will also be a calendar for events that occur outside of the regular Tour hours.
  • No, selling your artwork is not a requirement to participate.
  • There are many other benefits to participating during the Austin Studio Tour and having a Profile in the year-round Artist Directory.
  • No, this year’s tour is citywide during both weekends.
  • We encourage participation during all four days but it is not required.
  • Absolutely!
  • We’ve always been passionate about bringing people together and building community around creativity.
  • The Austin Studio Tour is such a powerful tool for connection and we’re building on last year’s momentum to make 2026 the best year yet!

General FAQ

  • The Austin Studio Tour is free to attend!
  • Some locations may have a fee associated with special events or programming, which will be listed online and in the official Guidebook.
  • Yes, so many! Please email info@almostrealthings.com and we’ll add you to our roster and provide a list of super helpful roles.
  • You’ll meet the artists and get thank-you perks like free Guidebooks, vintage 2025 and new 2026 official swag and more.
  • 2026 Guidebooks will be available for purchase in October, and at our Austin Studio Tour Hubs and Austin Public Libraries before and during the Tour.
  • 2025 Guidebooks are still available for purchase online. They’re gorgeous and perfect as a year-round Austin Artist Directory.
  • This Tour means a lot to us, the artists and the Austin community—we appreciate you so much.
  • You can donate to our tax-deductible nonprofit campaign at atxstudiotour.com/give. Thank you!
  • You or your business can schedule a 15-minute call to chat about the many exciting opportunities to support the Tour and advertise in the official Austin Studio Tour Guidebook and online. You can also email partners@almostrealthings.com to get involved.

Partner & Press FAQ

  • Yes! We’d love to chat about the many exciting opportunities for artists and businesses to sponsor the Tour and advertise in the official Austin Studio Tour Guidebook and online.
  • Schedule a 15-minute call here, or email partners@almostrealthings.com and we’ll set up a time to talk. Thank you!

Application & Technical Assistance FAQ

  • Yes! We recommend applying ASAP since applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • It takes less than 5 minutes to apply and you will be able to add your location in your Profile Details after your application is approved.
  • You can also refer to our Host Directory to contact spaces that may be able to host you.
  • Our Host Directory is now open!
  • Contact spaces that may be able to host you.
    • We will not be involved in coordination beyond supplying contact information for the Hosts.
  • This list will be updated daily.
  • The website assigns you a user role based on what you click when you start your application but we can change it for you.
  • If you’ve already submitted your application as an Artist or Art Group but you’d like to become a Host, we can help with that as well!
  • Please email tech@almostrealthings.com and we will change your user role on the backend.
  • Hosts receive two profiles:
    • one for the location under the name of the space/event
    • one for an Individual Artist or Art Group—usually the primary contact or organizer for that space/event
  • Art Groups receive one profile for the group itself.
  • If you will be hosted, we recommend also applying as Individual Artists and Art Groups to receive your own year-round profile, which will be visible when people look up or click into your Host’s profile.

Yes! Let’s use us as an example:

  • Our organization “Almost Real Things” usually hosts a vendor market and a group gallery exhibition with multiple artists who are not directly associated with our brand, so we are listed as a Host to receive one profile for our Host location (our gallery) to describe the venue and programming, as well as an Art Group profile about our organization.
    • Artists/groups that we invite to show with us should apply for their own Individual Artist or Art Group profiles to describe themselves and their art in our printed Guidebook and online Artist Directory during the Tour and year-round.
  • Now, if we just wanted to sell our Almost Real Things branded products without inviting anyone else to pop up with us, we would be considered an Art Group, since there are multiple artists represented under our one brand name.
    • If someone invited us to have a vendor booth within their space, they would be considered a Host and our profile would have a link to them as our hosted location.
  • Online profiles include the following fields. Due to size constraints, profiles in our printed Guidebook will be shortened.
  • Partner Profile
    • Partners can create any of the profile types below, or a business profile with Partner name, Industry, Mission Statement or Description, Links, Business Location, Bio or Offerings, Headshot or Logo, Business Images
  • Host Profile
    • Host Name, Profile Picture, Location Number, Location Name, Location Category, Location Address, Location Image, Experience Images, Artist Bio, Description of “What to Expect” for Attendees, Participating Days & Hours, Accessibility Information, Links, Family-friendly/Adult Themes, Additional Mediums, Experience Activities, Highlighted Communities
  • Art Group Profile
    • Art Group Name, Primary Medium, Profile Picture, Location Number, Location Category, Location Address, Location Image, Art Images, Art Group Description, Description of “What to Expect” for Attendees, Participating Days & Hours, Accessibility Information, Links, Family-friendly/Adult Themes, Additional Mediums, Experience Activities, Highlighted Communities
  • Individual Artist Profile
    • Individual Artist Name, Primary Medium, Profile Picture, Location Number, Location Category, Location Address, Location Image, Art Images, Artist Bio, Description of “What to Expect” for Attendees, Participating Days & Hours, Accessibility Information, Links, Family-friendly/Adult Themes, Additional Mediums, Experience Activities, Highlighted Communities
  • You are not required to submit a confirmed location in your initial application.
  • If you already know your locations, add the first/primary location in your application.
  • After your application is approved, you will be able to add multiple locations within your Profile Details.
  • After your application is approved, you can specify the dates and times you are participating in your Profile Details. 
  • We need a residential or business address for mailing purposes, since UPS, FedEx, etc. cannot deliver to PO boxes. This address will not be shared publicly.
  • No. We require this info for internal communications only.
  • We do not have a fellowship program this year but we are actively searching for a sponsor to help with discounted fellowships in the future.
  • A 50% discount is available for students, with proof of currently valid student ID.
  • If your application is not approved, we will issue a full refund, minus Stripe’s 3% fee.
  • Fees are not otherwise refundable.
PARTNER WITH US! CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A 15-MINUTE CALL

About The Producers

We’re Almost Real Things (ART), an arts organization founded by Natalie Earhart and Zachary Zulch in 2015.

We started as a free magazine promoting passionate creators—now we do that at a larger scale through events, affordable studios & rentals, mentorship and producing the Austin Studio Tour.

We’re excited to continue building a sustainable foundation for this cornerstone event during our second year as producer. We’re artists ourselves and have been participating in AST since 2016—so we understand the nuances of what it takes to make this happen correctly. We put our heart into last year’s event and now we’re doubling down to make this year even better!

@almostrealthings + @austinstudiotour

Thank you to our wonderful partners who invest in us to make the Austin Studio Tour possible.

Visit our BetterUnite Page to support and invest in the future of Austin’s art community.

EXPLORE THE 2025 AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR

Explore our 2025 website to find profiles for each 2025 participant—helpful as a year-round directory of Austin creators.

Profiles
Map

Get our beautiful 338-page Austin Studio Tour Guidebook, filled with profiles for each 2025 participant.

Order one to your door!