Article By: Zak Lodhi
106 galleries. 14,000 attendees. Four days that redefine the Southwest art scene.
Four-Day International Art Fair Returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale This Spring With 120 Galleries From 15 Countries March 19–22, 2026.
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – With galleries from across the country and around the world converging and a slate of esteemed honorees ready to step into the spotlight, Scottsdale Art Week presented by Scottsdale Ferrari returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale March 19–22, 2026. It all kicks off with an Opening Night Vernissage on Thursday, March 19, giving guests a glimpse of the art, awards, entertainment, and cultural offerings awaiting them throughout the remaining three days of festivities.
Set for 6 p.m.–9 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the Opening Night Vernissage, sponsored by Gila River Resorts & Casinos, will serve as the capstone of the second edition of Scottsdale Art Week. The 2025 inaugural event welcomed 106 galleries and 14,000 attendees while generating millions of dollars in sales. In addition to getting a sneak peek of participating galleries and live musical performances by Lunar Calendar, known for merging classical chamber music with contemporary sounds and captivating visuals, Opening Night guests will see Indigenous artist and photographer Cara Romero receive Scottsdale Art Week’s first-ever Indigenous Artist of the Year Award.
In addition, Scottsdale Art Week will introduce its inaugural Philanthropist of the Year Award, honoring Francis Najafi, Founder and CEO of Pivotal Group. A transformative force in real estate development and civic engagement, Najafi is recognized for his exceptional philanthropy and unwavering support of arts, education, and community-building initiatives. Together, these honors reflect Scottsdale Art Week’s commitment to celebrating leadership that shapes culture, fosters creativity, and invests in the future of the arts.
Slated to draw 120 galleries, Scottsdale Art Week continues to make its mark on the global arts scene and takes place during one of Arizona’s best travel seasons, with Major League Baseball’s Spring Training, sunny skies, and ideal temperatures drawing visitors to the Valley from across the nation and around the world.
The 2026 Opening Night Vernissage benefits Phoenix Art Museum, widely recognized as the preeminent and largest art museum in the Southwestern United States. The evening offers guests exclusive early access to view and acquire works on show ahead of the general public and will feature a fashion presentation of wearable art curated by Galina Mihaleva of Arizona State University’s FIDM.
Opening Night guests will also enjoy bars and pop-up restaurants in all four corners of the 120,000 square-foot North Hall of WestWorld, famous for annually hosting the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. They can also visit a Veuve Clicquot Restaurant & Bubble Bar and access a Stella Artois Sculpture Garden, the latter available exclusively to Opening Night Vernissage attendees.
“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,” said Scottsdale Art Week Fair Director Amy Gause. “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.”
