Mural Arts Transforms Philly With an Epic Lineup for 2026

What can I expect to see? 

Expect to see our stunning city increase its public art drastically over the next year. Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

Printmaking by the People: Citywide Voices of 2026

After two years leading more than 50 workshops throughout all corners of the city, it’s time for the big reveal of the massive citywide printmaking project. Everyday artists were tasked with answering the question: “What does freedom require today?” Together with local community-based printmaking organizations, Mural Arts captured countless conversations and participant-designed prints from these workshops to use as inspiration for an upcoming exhibition and major mural. While specific details remain under wraps, Mural Arts plans to reveal hundreds of community-created prints this April in an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Then, in June, expect an unveiling of a major new mural inspired by the workshops, creating a “citywide portrait” of what Philadelphians think about democracy at this moment in time.

  — Photo courtesy Mural Arts Philadelphia

Vámonos pa’l monte (Let’s Go to the Mountains)

In October, interdisciplinary artist Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz leads a parade of revelers and community members on a four-mile walk through Philadelphia from City Hall to the historically Puerto Rican community of Norris Square. The vibrant public performance reflects on Puerto Rican heritage and inheritance, while paying tribute to the island’s ecology and landscapes, and honoring the endurance of community identity. The participatory performance becomes a living work of art with stops and gathering points along the way, as new people and objects journey to the symbolic mountain.

New Murals

Of course, there are murals! Look out for new ones celebrating: iconic R&B group Boyz II Men coming to South Philadelphia in May; musician Questlove at West Philadelphia High School in October; and LGBTQ+ trailblazer Gloria Casarez coming back to the Gayborhood after development removed a prior mural.

Philadelphia Gateways

In 2026, brand-new “gateways” begin to greet people from across the globe as they enter Philadelphia for America’s birthday. Through public art and “colorway” corridors, Mural Arts spruces up our city as only it knows how. Keep your eyes peeled for these welcoming spots.

Heart of Kensington Creates

Mural Arts is launching a 15-month project to create a new cultural corridor throughout the Frankford community, featuring six new murals in addition to six new temporary installations. Stay tuned for more info as the project gets underway.

  — Photo courtesy Mural Arts

FloatLab at Bartram’s Garden

Set to open in April, the highly anticipated interactive showpiece FloatLab brings a giant, floating classroom to the Schuylkill River, inviting visitors aboard the 75-foot-wide art installation anchored near the southern shoreline of Bartram’s Garden in Kingsessing. FloatLab’s ADA-compliant platform gives visitors a constant eye-level river view, as the system of ballast chambers allows the platform to ebb and flow, as the tide comes in and out.

  — Rendering courtesy Mural Arts Philadelphia

Bookmark this page and check back for more details as they become available, and check out other Mural Arts 2026 collaborations like Bells Across PA and 52 Weeks of Firsts.