SAN ANTONIO – Luminaria is set to bring more than 200 artists to downtown San Antonio this fall as the nonprofit announced its featured lineup and partner activations for the 2026 Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival.

Luminaria said the free, nighttime, outdoor festival will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6 p.m. to midnight on Houston Street at the intersection of Downtown West and Zona Cultural. The event is expected to span multiple anchor locations, including the Centro/Art Everywhere Project, Texas Public Radio, San Pedro Creek, Alameda Theater, Paseo on Houston and the UT San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures.

In a press release dated Oct. 23, 2026, Luminaria announced 45 featured artists and groups “comprised of over 200 individual artists” who will perform and display work across genres including live music, film, digital art, poetry, theater, fine art, large-scale installations and dance.

“The tremendous amount of artists represented at this year’s festival showcases the vast array of talent we have in San Antonio,” said Yadhira Lozano, Luminaria executive director. “Together with our art partners, Luminaria fulfills its mission to showcases artists and support the arts sector especially during difficult economic times. We invite the public to come and be inspired for one festive night.”

Krystal Jones, director of the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture, said, “Festivals and public art have a unique power to activate shared spaces, spark curiosity, bring people together, and remind us of the stories that shape our city.”

Luminaria said the festival footprint will include streets and sidewalks filled with digital projections, sculptures, live music, poetry, food and art vendors. The organization also highlighted permanent public art between Houston and Commerce streets, including the St. James AME Church cornerstone structure, Presence of the Past and Culture Crossing Pavilion by artist Gordon Huether; Aqua by Rubio at San Pedro Creek; Creatures of the Creek: A Fragile Balance by Diana Kersey on Commerce; and Metro Radiance by Rhys Munro on Santa Rosa and Commerce.

Among the scheduled performances and activations, Luminaria listed live music by Los Texmaniacs, Yung Bambi, The Tiarras, Marcy Grace and Cadillac Muzik, along with dance and movement by Urban-15, Cirque Aria and Seme Jatib. Laser Spectacles is set to light up the Alameda Theater and the Rosa Verde Tower, which Luminaria said will be visible from Market Square and surrounding areas. The San Antonio River Foundation will activate the site of the St. James AMEC Culture Crossing, and Goodwill and fashion designer Agosto Cuellar will present a sustainable fashion show “in honor of the Alameda Theater,” according to the release.

The festival will also include an Art Parade, with Luminaria inviting the public to dress up and participate. “The Art Parade is a chance for the public to join in the activities in a lighthearted and fun atmosphere,” Lozano said. Luminaria said the parade will run down a block and a half of Houston Street, and participants can sign up as individuals or as a group.

While the festival is free, Luminaria said VIP tickets are available for patrons who want to support the event and watch from Texas Public Radio’s second-floor event space overlooking the festival and music stage. Luminaria said the VIP area will include live painting and performances by a selection of exclusive artists, including Luminaria’s artist in residence, Rubio, along with drinks, refreshments and silent auction items.

Festival partners listed by Luminaria include Texas Public Radio, Centro/Art Everywhere Project, Goodwill San Antonio, Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio River Foundation, San Antonio River Authority, The Carver Community and Cultural Center, Soujourn Trading Company, Majestic Theatre and Weston Urban. Luminaria said VIP tickets are on sale and directed the public to its LinkTree at LinkTree/LuminariaSATX for festival links.

A press conference tied to the announcement was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Texas Public Radio’s Malú and Carlos Alvarez Theater, 321 W. Commerce St., in San Antonio.

Locations and hours for partner activations listed by Luminaria include:

– Texas Public Radio, Irma & Emilio Nicolas Media Center, 321 W. Commerce St.: Guillermo Nicolas Art Collection; noon to 4:30 p.m. Verso Frontera Literature & Arts Festival (public); 6 to 10 p.m. Vero Frontera Poets (VIP).

– Centro/Art Everywhere Project, 337 W. Commerce St.: Hosting Luminaria fine art gallery artists and collectives; Spurs Murals; Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head by the Gao Brothers.

– UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, 111 W. Houston St.: 5 to 10 p.m. special museum hours for Luminaria with free admission; Puro Conjunto: Border(less) Sound exhibition; Puro Recuerdo: Artworks by Ruben Luna exhibition; Texas Tapestries: Patterns of Belonging mural by Sandra Gonzalez and Malachy McKinney (lobby); DJ Mars (lobby); outdoor film.

– St. James AMEC Culture Crossing, 715 Camaron St.: Presence of the Past and Culture Crossing Pavilion by Gordon Huether and Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson (2026); River Pulse by Scott Baumann/om.i.god (2026); The Glorious Ways They Move by Barbara Felix (2026); Estafiate Plant Sound Sculpture by Pamela Martinez/Teletextile (2024).

– Soujourn Trading Company, 244 W. Houston St.: 8 to 11 p.m. Rat King Cole.

– Centro de Artes Gallery at Market Square, 101 S. Santa Rosa Ave.: noon to 5 p.m. 10th Anniversary Family Day; 5 to 9 p.m. extended hours for Luminaria.

– Main Plaza, 115 N. Main St.: 6 to 9 p.m. Main Plaza Second Saturday; 9 p.m. The Saga by Xavier de Richemont at San Fernando Cathedral.

For mapping, Luminaria provided physical addresses including the UT San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures at 111 W. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205, and The Centro/Art Everywhere Project at 337 W. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78205.