Quick look: More than 330 student-created artworks and film projects representing schools across Orange County will be featured in the 2026 Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibit in Laguna Beach. The annual showcase includes works selected through OCArts4All and the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival, highlighting student creativity and the value of arts education.
More than 330 works created by Orange County students will be featured in the 2026 Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibit, which opens July 7 and runs through Sept. 3 in Laguna Beach.
Presented in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, the exhibit has been a signature component of the Festival of Arts since 1947. Each year, it showcases artwork created by students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, providing young artists with an opportunity to display their work alongside professional pieces featured in the summer festival.
Nearly 1,800 student entries were submitted through OCDE’s OCArts4All Student Art Showcase. A panel of jurors selected 296 artworks and 13 film and animation projects for inclusion in the exhibit. The selected works include 251 two-dimensional pieces and 32 three-dimensional artworks created by more than 300 students representing 117 public, private, charter and home schools across Orange County.
Expanding access through the arts
In addition, 21 works originally submitted to the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival were selected for display as part of the Junior Art Exhibit, continuing a longstanding commitment to inclusive arts programming and representation.
“Celebrating student voice through events like this is critical to student well-being and their sense of connectedness to the community,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, visual and performing arts coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education.
“The OCArts4All Student Art Showcase is a great opportunity to provide space for building relationships between teachers at TK-12 schools and colleges and professional arts organizations in OCDE’s vision that Orange County students will lead the nation in college and career readiness and success.”
“We are grateful for continuing this partnership with the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts and for their inclusion of artwork by students with disabilities,” said Marleena Barber, director of Orange County Arts and Disability and a visual and performing arts consultant for OCDE. “Their pieces are seamlessly integrated into the overall Junior Art Exhibit. This is a true example of inclusion.”
The exhibit will also feature student-created films and animations, reflecting the growing role of digital media and visual storytelling in arts education. A digital showcase of the selected film and animation projects will be available through the Festival of Arts.
The Junior Art Award Ceremony will take place July 12 at 11 a.m., recognizing first-, second- and third-place student artists from across Orange County. Family Art Day will follow from noon to 3 p.m., offering hands-on activities, live performances and family-friendly arts experiences.
The Junior Art Exhibit is one of several venues showcasing student artwork selected through OCDE’s arts programs. This year, 21 additional pieces created by students with disabilities will be featured at Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach from June 26 through Sept. 6, while “Arts on the Move,” a traveling exhibit featuring works from the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival, will be displayed at the Bowers Museum from July 10 through July 22 in recognition of Disability Pride Month.
More information about the Junior Art Exhibit, including a digital flipbook of selected student artwork, is available at foapom.com.