Art in the Loop 2026
Calling All Artists – Showcase your art during Kansas City’s World Cup Summer!
The Art in the Loop Foundation (AILF), in partnership with the KC Streetcar Authority, is now accepting applications from visual and performance artists for the 13th Annual Art in the Loop Project. Through a competitive open-call process, each year AILF selects local artists to exhibit, install, and perform original works along and near the KC Streetcar route and at key Downtown and Midtown locations from May through October.
In 2026, Art in the Loop coincides with World Cup summer in Kansas City, offering participating artists a rare opportunity to have their work seen and experienced by hundreds of thousands of residents and global visitors traveling through the heart of Kansas City. With the streetcar serving as a central spine connecting the River Market, Downtown, Midtown, and the Country Club Plaza, selected artists will be showcased in one of the city’s most visible and heavily traveled public spaces.
2026 Art in the Loop Theme: Home
This year’s theme, Home, invites artists to explore the places, people, and experiences that ground us and shape who we are. A familiar sight, smell, sound, taste, or touch—these are the elements that feel like home. Home can represent refuge, comfort, and belonging, or more complex emotions tied to memory, growth, and transformation. Whether you are a Kansas City native, or someone planting new roots, artists are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on what home means to them.
Application Process
The application requires a written description of your proposal, a concept, and a short narrative about your goals for public engagement. Selected Artist Stipends range from $750-$2,500, depending on the category. Applications must be made online via the application portals.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 16, 11:59 p.m. CST.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO THE 2026 ART IN THE LOOP PROJECT
Visual Artists
Selected visual art will be posted along and near the KC Streetcar route in Midtown and Downtown Kansas City. Your artwork will be viewed by thousands of KC Streetcar riders daily, including hundreds of thousands of visitors in Kansas City during the World Cup! Selected artists will receive funds and project support to bring their artwork alive for a 6-month outdoor program. Click here for the call for visual artists.
Visual artists may submit proposals in 6 categories:
- KC Streetcar Wrap
- KC Streetcar Shelter (Within the Frame)
- KC Streetcar Shelter Mural
- Oppenstein Park Mural
- Oppenstein Park 3D Art Installation
- Curated Film/Animation Screening
Performance Artists
This performance series will feature multi-sensory performances such as spoken word, dance, music, improv, social practice, etc., while also highlighting the visual artworks installed along the KC Streetcar route. Click here for the call for performance artists.
Artists will receive a stipend for their work and selected artists will perform at one of five Art in the Loop events including:
- Kick-off Ceremony at the Central Library
- Evening Concert at Oppenstein Park
- 816 Day at City Market
- Onboard KC Streetcar
- Closing Reception at the Kansas City Public Library Central Library
Artist Informational Sessions
- Zhou B Art Center: Saturday January 31, 1:00 -2:00 p.m.
- Virtual: Wednesday, February 4, 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
- InterUrban Arthouse: Thursday, February 5, 6:30 – 7:30pm
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: Wednesday, February 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
For information about eligibility, the selection process, evaluation criteria, and important dates, review the application guidelines. Applicants are also encouraged to learn about artist projects from previous years. Annual catalogs from past years’ programs can be found here. For more information about the project and how to apply, visit www.artintheloop.com, www.facebook.com/artintheloop, or www.instagram.com/artintheloop.
