Maui Open Studios 2026

Maui Open Studios 2026 is a free, self-guided island-wide art event where visitors can tour working studios and exhibition spaces across three weekends: February 14 to 15, February 21 to 22, and February 28 to March 1, 2026. It’s one of the best ways to experience Maui beyond beaches, meeting artists in Upcountry workshops, coastal studios, and creative spaces where island life directly shapes the work.

Maui Open Studios 2026: what it is and why it’s special

Maui Open Studios is built around a simple idea: for three weekends, artists open their studios and exhibition spaces to the public for free, turning the island into a moving, choose-your-own art tour. The event is designed to be self-guided, which means visitors can explore at their own pace, map a route by region, and spend extra time in studios that resonate. For travelers seeking meaningful souvenirs, Maui Open Studios is a chance to buy art directly from the maker and learn the story behind it.

For 2026, the Maui Open Studios website announces a major organizational update: Art Maui will be the new host of Maui Open Studios. That continuity matters for visitors because it signals the event remains active and structured, with schedules and artist directories posted to support planning.

Confirmed 2026 dates and weekend structure

Maui Open Studios 2026 runs across three separate weekends, and multiple event listings confirm the date blocks as February 14 to 15, February 21 to 22, and February 28 to March 1, 2026. The official artist directory for Weekend 1 confirms that Weekend 1 is Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15, with open hours listed as 11 am to 6 pm. This weekend-based format is what makes the event so travel-friendly: visitors can plan around one weekend, or build a full island art holiday around all three.

Because each weekend often highlights different island regions, the best strategy is to choose your base and then “radiate out” by car, giving each day a clear geographic focus rather than zigzagging across the island. A separate Maui event guide also summarizes the timeframe as February 14 through March 1, 2026 and describes it as island-wide, reinforcing the multi-week scope.

The Maui art experience: what you’ll see and do

The heart of Maui Open Studios is access. Visitors are not just walking into a retail gallery; they’re stepping into the spaces where Maui art is made, where materials, light, island weather, and culture influence creative decisions. The Maui Open Studios schedule page explains that artists open studios and exhibition spaces to the public and that the event includes an Opening Celebration and Preview Exhibition designed to help visitors decide which artists to include in their self-guided tours.

Many travelers love Maui Open Studios because it is easy to personalize. Spend 15 minutes in one studio to get a quick overview, then linger for an hour in another learning about technique, inspiration, and process.

Opening Celebration and Preview Exhibition

The Maui Open Studios schedule describes an Opening Celebration and Preview Exhibition that draws hundreds of guests and allows artists to display preview works and portfolios, interact with visitors, and sell some pieces. The schedule page notes that printed guidebooks can be picked up at the Opening, which is helpful for travelers who prefer a physical map-style planning tool. Not every registered artist participates in the preview portion, but the schedule page indicates that typically about 60 artists opt in, making it a useful planning stop.

Island culture and local relevance

Maui’s creative scene is closely tied to place: ocean horizons, Upcountry farms, volcanic slopes, and the daily rhythms of island life. Maui Open Studios turns that local identity into an experience visitors can actually enter, not just observe. It also encourages slow travel, the kind that spreads visitor spending across multiple communities, including smaller areas where home studios and co-ops are located.

In addition, Maui Open Studios aligns well with the island’s broader arts ecosystem. Art Maui’s role as new host reinforces that local arts organizations are actively supporting artists and cultural experiences that are accessible to both residents and visitors.

How to plan your self-guided studio tours

Maui Open Studios is easiest with a rental car, especially if you want to visit multiple regions in a day. Use the online artist directories to build a route that makes sense geographically rather than trying to “catch everything,” because the joy of open studios comes from unhurried conversations and discovery. If traveling with family, plan short studio bursts with breaks in between, since open studio touring is fun but can be surprisingly tiring when you’re driving, browsing, and talking all day.

Practical tips that help:

• Start early within the 11 am to 6 pm window so you have buffer time for traffic and spontaneous stops.
• Choose a daily region theme, such as Upcountry one day and coastal studios another day, then cluster 4 to 7 stops.
• Bring a reusable bag or protective tube if you might purchase prints, and consider shipping options for larger pieces.

Pricing, entry, and what to budget for

Maui Open Studios is promoted as a free, self-guided tour experience, which means there is no general admission ticket required to visit participating studios. That said, travelers should budget for the real costs of participation: car rental, fuel, food, and any artwork purchases. Many visitors treat it like a Maui “gallery crawl,” combining studio visits with coffee stops, food trucks, and scenic drives that make the day feel like a full island experience.

Artwork pricing varies widely by artist and medium, so a helpful approach is to decide in advance whether you are browsing for inspiration, shopping for a small keepsake, or looking for a statement piece to ship home. Buying directly from the artist can also feel more meaningful because you get context and a personal connection to the work.

Best ways to pair Maui Open Studios with a Maui vacation

Because Maui Open Studios runs mid-February through early March 2026, it overlaps with peak winter travel and whale season, making it ideal for travelers who want both culture and nature. Plan mornings or alternate days for ocean activities, then dedicate one or two full days to art touring when you want something slower and grounded. If traveling as a couple, Maui Open Studios is also a strong date-style activity: scenic drives, studio conversations, and the option to bring home an artwork that becomes a long-term reminder of the island.

If staying in South Maui, you can structure studio touring as day trips and return for sunset and dinner. If staying in Central Maui, you’ll likely reduce drive time and make it easier to bounce between regions.

Make Maui Open Studios 2026 the highlight of your island trip

Maui Open Studios 2026 is more than an art event. It’s an invitation into the island’s creative heartbeat, spread across three weekends so visitors can explore at their own pace. Whether you’re collecting original art, meeting the people behind the work, or simply looking for an experience that feels authentically Maui, these open studio days deliver a rare kind of connection. Mark the February 14 to March 1 window on your calendar, map a studio route that fits your travel style, and spend a weekend discovering Maui through the artists who call the island home.

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Verified Information at glance

Event Name: Maui Open Studios 2026

Event Category: Art event, open studio tours (self-guided)

Host (2026): Art Maui (new host announced)

Format: Artists open studios and exhibition spaces to the public; self-guided tours

Confirmed Dates (2026): February 14 to 15, 2026; February 21 to 22, 2026; February 28 to March 1, 2026

Confirmed Weekend 1 Open Hours: 11 am to 6 pm (Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15)

Location: Island-wide, Maui, Hawaiʻi

Entry Fee: Free self-guided tours (general public access)

Planning Resource (confirmed): Online artist directories by weekend, including Weekend 1 directory page