Lakefront Festival of Art Returns June 12–14 with 145 Artists, Live Music, Local Food, and New Extended Evening Hours
Milwaukee’s favorite summer art festival transforms the Milwaukee Art Museum campus into a vibrant lakeside celebration of creativity and community.
MILWAUKEE, WI—May 13, 2026—One of Milwaukee’s most beloved summer traditions returns bigger, brighter, and more social this June as Lakefront Festival of Art comes back to the Milwaukee Art Museum campus June 12–14, 2026. Presented by Bank of America, the three-day event features 145 juried artists from Milwaukee and across the country, and invites visitors to shop one-of-a-kind artwork, enjoy live music, savor local food and drinks, and experience the city’s lakefront in full color.
New this year, the festival and the Milwaukee Art Museum introduce extended evening hours on Friday and Saturday until 7 p.m., giving visitors even more time to enjoy after-work outings, date nights, and golden-hour views along the lakefront, and extra time to explore the Museum’s galleries.
“Each year, Lakefront Festival of Art reflects the energy and creativity that defines Milwaukee in the summer,” said Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “From meeting artists and exploring the galleries to enjoying music and the lakefront at sunset, there is something inspiring around every corner.”
The outdoor event features a dynamic lineup of live music, including The Belle Weather, Field Report, and Brett Newski. The weekend begins Friday morning, June 12, with a high-energy set from Wisconsin-based artist DJ AKStan.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy hands-on artmaking at Kohl’s Art Studio and enjoy local favorites from vendors including BelAir Cantina, Hue Vietnamese, and Pete’s Pops. Collectors can also discover unique works at the Silent Auction Tent, featuring unique works donated by participating artists, including this year’s commemorative artwork, Setting Out by Toril Fisher.
Lakefront Festival of Art is an annual fundraiser organized by Friends of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s longest-running volunteer support group. Through events like LFOA, Friends of Art has helped the Museum acquire beloved works for the collection and support exhibitions and programs.
Tickets are available now through Sunday, June 14, and include access to both the festival and the Museum, where visitors can explore the galleries throughout the weekend.
Tickets and full event details are available at mam.org/lfoa.
LFOA Hours
Friday, June 12: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday, June 13: 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 14: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.
LFOA Admissions
General admission: $27/$22 online in advance
Members: $10
Member kids under 18: Free
Seniors (65+), students, military: $20
3-Day pass: $45/$40 online in advance
Kids 12 and under: Free, thanks to an anonymous donor
WI K–12 teachers: Free, with valid school ID or paystub
Sponsors
Presenting sponsor
Bank of America
Contributing sponsor
Morgan Stanley
Media sponsor
MKE Lifestyle
Beer sponsor
Beechwood Sales and Service / Stella Artois
Special festival friends
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling
About the Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum is an essential destination for art and architecture and a vital cultural resource that connects visitors to dynamic art experiences and one another. Housed in iconic buildings by Santiago Calatrava, Eero Saarinen, and David Kahler on a 24-acre lakefront campus, the Museum is Wisconsin’s largest art institution and home to both broad and deep collections, with exceptional holdings in American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; European art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design; folk and self-taught art; and twentieth-century Haitian art. A bold symbol of Milwaukee’s ambition and forward-thinking vision, the Museum is a place for community building, education, and celebration that fosters creativity, free speech, and critical discourse for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mam.org.
Media Contact
For more information or to request hi-res images, please contact:
Cortney Heimerl
Milwaukee Art Museum
communications@mam.org
414-940-0490
Image: Photo by Front Room Studios, courtesy of the Milwaukee Art Museum
