Newport Classical Launches 2026 Music Festival Poster Competition – Submit by April 1
Newport Classical Launches 2026 Music Festival Poster Competition
More Information: newportclassical.org/2026-poster-competition
Newport, RI – Newport Classical is thrilled to launch its first-annual 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival Poster Competition. Artists, designers, and creatives of all backgrounds are invited to submit original art for a future poster that will become a part of Newport Classical’s story and be seen by audiences from around the world. One winning design will become the official poster for the 2026 Newport Classical Summer Music festival. The poster will be placed around town to promote Newport Classical’s Summer festival, it will be featured on Newport Classical’s social media, and will be shown at Newport Classical’s festival concerts in July.
For over 56 years, Newport Classical has brought world-class musicians to some of the most iconic venues in Newport, Rhode Island — from gilded-age mansions to seaside outdoor venues, celebrating the living art of classical music.
Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from Newport Classical’s venues, the Newport area, and the live performing arts but also to leave plenty of room for unique artistic expression.
Submissions are due April 1, 2026. The winning design will be announced on May 5, 2026. All submissions should be emailed to info@newportclassical.org with the subject line “Poster Competition Submission.” The winner will be compensated $500.00 USD.
Please provide a brief description of submitted work and any inspiration to explain the piece. All submissions must be in .PNG or .JPG file format and sized to 6.5" × 9" (3900 × 5400 px).
The 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 2-19, 2026.
Schedule and line-up to be announced March 24, 2026.
About Newport Classical
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc., Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In the 56 years since, Newport Classical has become the most active year-round presenter of live performing arts on Aquidneck Island, and an essential pillar of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, welcoming thousands of patrons all year long.
Newport Classical invests in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form through its four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Enrichment and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools and community organizations to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow. These programs illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. To date, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, Curtis Stewart, Clarice Assad, and Cris Derksen.
After a year-long community-driven process, and rooted in the organization’s mission “to celebrate the living art form of classical music in intimate and iconic locations,” Newport Classical released its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, presenting a clear roadmap to become a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant organization that enhances its programs and community engagement, promotes responsible financial growth and sustainability, and centers artistic excellence in every decision, as the organization aspires to open its doors even wider.