Four-Day International Art Fair Returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale This Spring With 120 Galleries From 15 Countries. With galleries from across the country and around the world converging and a slate of esteemed honorees ready to step into the spotlight, Scottsdale Art Week presented by Scottsdale Ferrari returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale March 19 – 22, 2026. It all kicks off with an Opening Night Vernissage Thursday, March 19, giving guests a glimpse of the art, awards, entertainment and cultural offerings awaiting them throughout the remaining three days of festivities.

Set for 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2026, the Opening Night Vernissage sponsored by Gila River Resorts & Casinos will serve as the capstone of the second edition of Scottsdale Art Week. The 2025 inaugural event welcomed 106 galleries and 14,000 attendees while generating millions of dollars in sales. In addition to getting a sneak peek of participating galleries and live musical performances by Lunar Calendar, known for merging classical chamber music with contemporary sounds and captivating visuals, Opening Night guests will see Indigenous artist and photographer Cara Romero receive Scottsdale Art Week’s first-ever Indigenous Artist of the Year Award, which recognizes artistic talents whose works highlight Indigenous identity and spotlight Native life today.

The 2026 Scottsdale Art Week Lifetime Achievement Award will be proudly presented to James Ballinger, Director Emeritus of the Phoenix Art Museum, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to advancing the arts in Arizona. Under his visionary leadership, the Museum achieved national prominence, expanded its collections and programs, and strengthened its role as a cornerstone of the Southwest’s cultural life.

“James Ballinger’s influence on the cultural fabric of Arizona cannot be overstated,” says Scottsdale Art Week Fair Director Amy Gause. “Through forty years of dedication, he elevated Phoenix Art Museum’s profile while fostering a deep sense of community engagement with the arts. It is a true honor to recognize him on Opening Night, and his legacy is reflected not only in the institution he strengthened, but in the vibrant arts community he helped build.”

In addition, Scottsdale Art Week will introduce its inaugural Philanthropist of the Year Award, honoring Francis Najafi, Founder and CEO of Pivotal Group. A transformative force in real estate development and civic engagement, Najafi is recognized for his exceptional philanthropy and unwavering support of arts, education and community-building initiatives. Together, these honors reflect Scottsdale Art Week’s commitment to celebrating leadership that shapes culture, fosters creativity and invests in the future of the arts.

Slated to draw 120 galleries, Scottsdale Art Week continues to make its mark on the global arts scene and takes place during one of Arizona’s best travel seasons, with Major League Baseball’s Spring Training, sunny skies and ideal temperatures drawing visitors to the Valley from across the nation and around the world. This global interest also reflects Scottsdale’s status as the fastest-growing city for millionaires, with its expanding collector base drawing strong exhibitor demand, evidenced by four-fifths of exhibitor booths selling out four months ahead of the celebration.

The 2026 Opening Night Vernissage benefits Phoenix Art Museum, widely recognized as the preeminent and largest art museum in the Southwestern United States. The evening offers guests exclusive early access to view and acquire works on show ahead of the general public and will feature a fashion presentation of wearable art curated by Galina Mihaleva of Arizona State University’s FIDM.

Opening Night guests will also enjoy bars and pop-up restaurants in all four corners of the 120,000 square-foot North Hall of WestWorld, famous for annually hosting the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. They can also visit a Veuve Clicquot Restaurant & Bubble Bar and access a Stella Artois Sculpture Garden, the latter of which is available to Opening Night Vernissage attendees, exclusively.

Emceeing the Opening Night event are interior designer and architect Oscar De las salas and his husband, Gary Jackson, with the pair steering the evening’s award presentations and programming.

“Scottsdale Art Week has emerged as a vital platform where artists, galleries and collectors converge to celebrate creativity and build meaningful connections across the national and international art world,” said Scottsdale Art Week Fair Director Amy Gause. “The Opening Night Vernissage has quickly become a must-attend moment for serious collectors, presenting an elegant, high-energy evening that sets the tone for the entire fair. It signals a new chapter for the Southwest, positioning Arizona as a significant destination on the global art calendar.”

Early Bird Opening Night Vernissage tickets are available for $150 for a limited time before increasing to $200, with the price including Friday, Saturday and Sunday entry into the fair.