About the Festival

City Arts Fest is an all-access pass to dozens of curated shows in downtown Seattle. Attendees flock to iconic venues, off-the-beaten-path warehouses, galleries, theaters and rock clubs for performances by world-renowned musicians and cutting-edge artists. Inspired by proven festivals like SXSW in Austin and MusicfestNW in Portland, City Arts Fest has staked its claim as Seattle’s premiere fall event with top-notch concerts and innovative arts programming.

“City Arts Fest has the potential to become a very big deal. The timing is terrific: it’s booked for the fall and not piled onto a ridiculously overcrowded summer.”-Seattle Times

Music

Performers have included Belle and Sebastian and Ryan Adams at Benaroya Symphony Hall, international pop star Robyn at the Paramount, She & Him and Cat Power at the historic 5^th Avenue Theatre, Northwest icons Built to Spill at the Moore, Crystal Castles, Big Boi and Ozomatli at Showbox SoDo, Long Winters and Blackalicious at iconic Showbox at the Market, Man Man and Helio Sequence performing live at the Laserdome, as well as career-catapulting shows by rising stars The Head and the Heart, Macklemore and Allen Stone.

Arts

Arts programming is anchored by Culture Club, a multi-faceted arts and music venue that acts as the festival hub. Culture Club events include visual arts installations, parties, symposiums and panels, happy hours, a pop-up art market and more. Artists from around the country have made Northwest premieres at venues throughout the city. City Arts Fest is known or genre-bending collaborations by dancers, sculptors, painters, chefs, poets and musicians. Additional programming highlights include fashion, food, film and readings by preeminent authors.