Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Scottsdale Art Week, presented by Scottsdale Ferrari, will return to WestWorld of Scottsdale from Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22, 2026.
The event begins with an Opening Night Vernissage on Thursday, March 19, offering guests an early look at the art, awards, entertainment and cultural programming planned for the remaining three days.
Set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 19, the Opening Night Vernissage, sponsored by Gila River Resorts & Casinos, will serve as the capstone of the second edition of Scottsdale Art Week. According to a press release, the 2025 inaugural event featured 106 galleries and drew 14,000 attendees.
Opening Night will include previews of participating galleries and live music by Lunar Calendar, a group known for blending classical chamber music with contemporary sounds and visual elements. Indigenous artist and photographer Cara Romero will receive Scottsdale Art Week’s first Indigenous Artist of the Year Award, which honors artists whose work highlights Indigenous identity and contemporary Native life.
The 2026 Scottsdale Art Week Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to James Ballinger, director emeritus of Phoenix Art Museum, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to advancing the arts in Arizona.
“James Ballinger’s influence on the cultural fabric of Arizona cannot be overstated,” said Scottsdale Art Week Fair Director Amy Gause. “Through forty years of dedication, he elevated Phoenix Art Museum’s profile while fostering a deep sense of community engagement with the arts. It is a true honor to recognize him on Opening Night, and his legacy is reflected not only in the institution he strengthened, but in the vibrant arts community he helped build.”
Scottsdale Art Week will also introduce its Philanthropist of the Year Award, honoring Francis Najafi, founder and CEO of Pivotal Group, for his support of arts, education and community initiatives.
The event is expected to feature 120 galleries and coincides with Arizona’s spring travel season, which includes Major League Baseball’s Spring Training. Organizers report strong exhibitor demand, with most booths sold out months in advance.
Proceeds from the Opening Night Vernissage will benefit Phoenix Art Museum. The evening will include early access to works on display and a fashion presentation of wearable art curated by Galina Mihaleva of Arizona State University’s FIDM.
Guests can also visit bars and pop-up restaurants throughout the 120,000-square-foot North Hall of WestWorld, as well as a Veuve Clicquot Restaurant & Bubble Bar and a Stella Artois Sculpture Garden, the latter exclusive to Opening Night attendees.
Interior designer and architect Oscar De las salas and his husband, Gary Jackson, will emcee the event and lead award presentations.
“Scottsdale Art Week has emerged as a vital platform where artists, galleries and collectors converge to celebrate creativity and build meaningful connections across the national and international art world,” Ms. Gause said. “The Opening Night Vernissage has quickly become a must-attend moment for serious collectors, presenting an elegant, high-energy evening that sets the tone for the entire fair. It signals a new chapter for the Southwest, positioning Arizona as a significant destination on the global art calendar.”
