BLINK is officially coming back to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky next year as organizers announce the dates for the festival and put out a call to artists.
The nation’s biggest immersive light and art event will return in 2026, running from Oct. 8-11. Spanning more than 30 city blocks, BLINK features an array of public art displays, from murals and sculptures to projection mapping, light-based art installations and more.
And with the official announcement comes an official call to creators across the globe to submit their ideas for the next iteration of BLINK.
“BLINK has always been about pushing creative boundaries and bringing people together through awe and wonder,” Leslie Mooney, executive director of BLINK, said in a press release. “As we open the Call to Artists for 2026, we’re looking to collaborate with visionaries locally and globally who want to help us tell bold, unexpected and meaningful stories through light, art and immersive experiences. Our goal is to continue building something that reflects the heart of our region and resonates on a global scale.”
The 2024 event garnered 944 applications from artists in 65 different countries. Among those applications, 37 projection mapping projects, 31 light-based installations and 19 permanent murals were chosen to be featured throughout Over-the-Rhine, downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Newport, making it one of the most ambitious and inclusive creative showcases ever, say organizers. Eighty-four percent of those artists had never applied for BLINK before, and 88% of the artists whose work was featured had not shown their work at previous BLINK festivals.
The call to artists is open to all local, national and international artists across mediums, including projection mapping, light-based sculpture, interactive installations and mural work. It’s free to apply, and BLINK helps support chosen artists with financial resources, consultative services, project feedback and production support from idea to finished concept.
“What makes BLINK so special is the artists who bring it to life each year. We welcome artists from all walks of life — with a variety of ideas and creative visions — to embark with us on a life-changing journey. We are committed to showcasing works from emerging artists who are on the rise in their careers as well as to those who are well established,” Mooney said.
Artists can find submission guidelines and application details here. The deadline to apply is Oct. 8, 2025.
“BLINK is not just an event—it’s a platform where artists, communities, and the public come together to ignite imagination and transform our city,” said Andrew Salzbrun, a co-founder of experiential agency AGAR and an original creator of BLINK. “We’re excited to see where the creative community will take us in 2026.”
Learn more about BLINK at blinkcincinnati.com.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 8, 2025.
