Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show

09/07/2026

70 years of celebrating art and artists! We’ll see you at the 70th Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show presented by Atlantic Union Bank. 🏖️

As one of the longest-running art shows on the East Coast, this year's art festival will take place from Oct. 9-11 along the Virginia Beach oceanfront on the boardwalk from 23rd to 33rd Street. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/70th-annual-boardwalk-art-show-sponsered-by-atlantic-union-bank/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WAVY_TV_10

Photos courtesy: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.

09/03/2026

Longtime Virginia Beach educator, coach, mentor, and artist Mark Butts is the featured artist of the 70th Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show presented by Atlantic Union Bank!

Butts’ painting “Boardwalk Seventy” will be featured on this year’s commemorative poster and T-shirt.

Having Butts as the featured artist represents a full-circle moment for Butts and Virginia MOCA. Butts earned his Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Virginia Wesleyan University in 1979. Today, Virginia MOCA is located on the same campus, now Batten University.

“In being selected as the Featured Artist of the Boardwalk Art Show, my artistic life has come full circle,” Butts says. The Boardwalk Art Show was the first event where Butts displayed his artwork after graduating from Virginia Wesleyan. Once he started teaching high school art, he would attend the Boardwalk Art Show with his students to practice critiquing artwork. Now retired from teaching, Butts is exhibiting yearly. “I am thrilled and honored to have been chosen as the Featured Artist,” he says. “Being born and raised in Virginia Beach makes it extremely special.”

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE:

Featured Artist Talk with Mark Butts
September 30 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Registration is free

Join us at the Museum for an evening with Butts and learn more about his life, career, artistic practice, and the inspiration behind Boardwalk Seventy. The event will kick off the countdown to the 70th Annual Boardwalk Art Show, taking place October 9–11.

RSVP: https://virginiamoca.org/event/featured-artist-talk-with-mark-butts/

09/02/2026

Our legacy show turns 70 this year and we’re proud to have Atlantic Union Bank back as the presenting sponsor!

For seven decades, the Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show has brought artists, collectors, residents, and visitors together on the Virginia Beach oceanfront for a celebration of art, artists, and coastal culture.

Join us October 9–11 to discover over 160 incredible artists, collect new work, and spend a weekend on the boardwalk surrounded by art. Whether you’ve been coming for decades or this is your first show, there’s always something new to see.

We’re grateful to Atlantic Union Bank for continuing to support this iconic Virginia Beach tradition and helping us bring the 70th Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show presented by Atlantic Union Bank to life.

07/02/2026

Virginia MOCA has championed artists for over 70 years through our annual Boardwalk Art Show!

Save the date and join us to celebrate with us October 9–11, 2026 at our 70th Annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show presented by Atlantic Union Bank!

📸: 1978 Boardwalk Art Show Best in Show award-winning artist Peyton Campbell

05/08/2026

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! Apply to the 70th annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show by May 31 for the chance to showcase and sell your work on the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk this October 9–11.

Accepted fine art mediums include jewelry, ceramics, drawing, photography, printmaking, glass, fiber, mixed media, metalwork, painting, sculpture, wood, and digital art.

💫 Thousands of visitors, including serious art collectors
💫 Strong art sales potential
💫 Over $30k in artist awards
💫 Booth sitters, overnight security, and artist amenities

This year we’re celebrating 70 years of the event that started the story of Virginia MOCA. Be part of it!

Find the application linked below in the comments.

04/28/2026

…and the Boardwalk Art Show is what started it all. 🩵

Virginia MOCA has reopened in Virginia Beach with a new building on the Virginia Wesleyan campus. Featuring Seamless: Art and Design and Nina Chanel Abney’s The Pursuit of Happiness, the museum signals a renewed focus on contemporary culture, design, and community engagement in one of Virginia’s...