SAF Mural Slam 2026 - 10th Anniversary!

The City of Salem's Public Art Commission and the Salem Arts Festival are teaming up to present the 10th annual SAF Mural Slam - a milestone celebration of live painting, creative energy, and community connection!

This dynamic live painting event engages the public with creative producers and contributes to downtown Salem's cultural vitality. This year's Mural Slam is part of the 18th annual Salem Arts Festival's special "Salem 400+" edition, celebrating four centuries of Salem's creative heritage.

The Canvas: Artists' Row

The site for the 2026 SAF Mural Slam is Artists' Row - a historic marketplace that has evolved into a vibrant corridor of galleries and public art at the heart of downtown Salem, located at 24 New Derby Street.

Selected SAF Mural Slam artists will have the opportunity to present their work alongside the skilled artisans of Artists' Row and will benefit from exposure to Salem's million+ annual tourists. In the interest of visually enlivening this creative hub for residents and visitors alike, the City of Salem and Salem Arts Festival are inviting artists to contribute to making Artists' Row and downtown Salem a destination for world-class, inspiring, and engaging public art.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm

• Notification of Selection: Late April 2026

• Mural Slam Event: June 6-7, 2026

People's Choice Award

Festival attendees will vote for their favorite mural via QR code at the event. The winning mural will be displayed prominently in downtown Salem for up to one year!

Salem Arts Festival is a project of Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective.

The Mural Slam is sponsored by the City of Salem Public Art Commission.