Article Updated May 29, 2026
Each year, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust puts together a weekend showcase of the thriving arts and culture scene of Pittsburgh. At the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, community members can embrace art of all types, from paintings and sculptures to music and dance performances, all for free. This year the festival runs from June 5-7 and 11-14 at its new permanent home in the recently built Arts Landing, a green space Downtown featuring a stage and local artist exhibits.
The Three Rivers Arts Festival began in 1960 by the Women’s Committee of the Carnegie Museum of Art. In 2009, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust took over the celebration and expanded its reach. They’ve now helped feature over 10,000 visual and performing artists over the years.
Explore 2026’s Three Rivers Arts Festival
The Artist Market
One of the largest draws of the festival is the Artist Market, stretching along the lots of Pittsburgh’s Strip District. It contains more than 300 artists from around the nation who make handmade crafts, drawings, photographs, gifts, and much more. Though if you want to catch every vendor you’ll have to attend the festival multiple days as artists change out over the course of the weekend. Wonder your way through rows of vendor tents and even take home something to decorate your space or upgrade your closet. Find items like a bright yellow Yinzer plate displaying the word “Jagoff” from potter Blake Anthony. Or, a handmade necklace featuring a gorgeous, large labradorite stone from jeweler Claudia Carreon.
Family Friendly Activities
Besides shopping for handmade creativity, express your own with family activities, gallery viewings, and live artistic performances. The Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard is home to the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone, giving all ages a chance to show off their artistic talents for free.
Many organizations throughout the city will also have hands-on crafts to make and take home. Union Project Wheel Mobile brings a chance for anyone to make a small clay sculpture. Scouting America needs all the hands on deck to help create a community sculpture in the backyard. The University of Pittsburgh sets up a station for relaxing release featuring crochet, rock painting, and friendship bracelets. Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media lets little one try out artist clay, exploring how it smells, sounds, and feels. Pittsburgh Glass Center lets little ones make their own mosaics out of small pieces of glass. Plus, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks invites kids to make their own paper puppets and then act out a Shakespearean adventure.
Not to mention, performances from the interactive, multimedia, musical puppet show Squonk as well as a climbing, vertical dance show from Bandaloop take place near by to keep you entertained.
Exploring Galleries
At 820 Gallery on Liberty Avenue, a short distance from the festival, you’ll find a special selection of artists hand-picked by a guest panel in the Juried Visual Art Exhibition. Here you’ll find new art from regional artists within a 150-mile distance of the city in various mediums. The artists compete for five different awards including three Jurors’ Picks, one Best in Show, and one People’s Choice.
Live Performances
If you’re craving live entertainment, you’ll want to explore the star-studded lineup at the Dollar Bank Main Stage and at this year’s additional Acoustic Stage. Headlining this year’s festival across its many evenings are Spin Doctors, The Pharcyde, Trousdale, Buffalo Rose, The War and Treaty, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, and finally, closing out the festival, Joan Osborne. But, there are plenty of other musical acts to explore that include Pittsburgh natives, locals, and international acts expressing a variety of cultures. Throughout the festival you can catch other types of performers like an interactive Drum Circle or the TRAF Dance Battle so you won’t go a moment without excitement and inspiration!
There is a lot more to explore at the festival, so we recommend reviewing the Three Rivers Arts Festival website for a full list of entertainers, artists, and other features. You can even sign up to volunteer at the largest, free, community event of the summer.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo Courtesy of Three Rivers Arts Festival
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