There will be murals, murals and more murals come early 2026, all for a good cause.
Credit: Jesse Scott
Fort Lauderdale’s arts scene is getting a bold, community-powered boost come early 2026. The inaugural Art Walls Mural Fest is set to turn a nook of downtown into a living gallery, pairing local artists with local nonprofits for a weekend that blends public art, storytelling and civic pride in the best Broward way possible.
Hosted by Business for the Arts Broward in partnership with the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, the free, two-day festival runs Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at History Fort Lauderdale in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Over the course of the weekend, 12 established and emerging local artists will each create an 8-foot-by-8-foot mural inspired by the mission of a paired nonprofit, transforming purpose into large-scale public art.
This is not just a watch-from-the-sidelines kind of event. Youth from the participating nonprofits will also paint their own murals, making the festival interactive and hands-on while spotlighting the next generation of creative voices. Visitors can walk the site, watch the murals take shape in real time, meet artists and nonprofit teams, and learn how to get involved as volunteers or supporters.
The artist and nonprofit pairings span Broward’s cultural ecosystem, from the Art and Culture Center/Hollywood with Surge, Florida Children’s Theatre with BK Foxx, and Stonewall National Museum & Archives with Nate D, to the Museum of Discovery and Science with Stephanie McMillan and South Florida Pride Band with Mongo Art. The result is a snapshot of the causes, creativity and collaborations shaping the county right now.
The celebration officially kicks off a few days earlier with BFA Art & Spirits on Thursday, February 26 at BBX Capital Gallery, offering a preview of participating artists alongside a liquor tasting and exhibition experience.
For full event details and updates, visit bfabroward.org.
