CA Arts & Culture Summit 2026

CA for the Arts is excited to announce its flagship ACCM event: the 4th Annual CA Arts & Culture Summit. The Summit will take place on April 19 - 20, 2026, in Sacramento, at both the Memorial Auditorium and the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.

Cover: CA Arts & Culture Summit 2025, photo by Doug Cupid

THE CA ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT IS SOLD OUT!

There are limited spaces remaining in some Pre-Summit Sessions and for Advocacy Day Meeting Waitlists. Be sure to join us next year!

ABOUT THE
CA ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT

The CA Arts & Culture Summit will be guided by the theme Boundless Culture & Creativity: The Essence of Freedom, with the sub-theme Building Joy, Action + Power.

At its heart, creativity is freedom itself, the boundless capacity to imagine without limits, shape culture, and drive change. Culture and creativity together embody resilience, resistance, and renewal, fueling the movements that transform our communities.  

Through summit programming, we will explore how boundless imagination and cultural practice translate into tangible results: Joy (healing and thriving), Action (advocacy and organizing), and Power (collective voice and influence). From experiential sessions that embody creativity without limits to convenings that highlight knowledge sharing, coalition building, campaigns, and cultural organizing, the summit will showcase arts in action as a force for civic engagement, movement building, and community transformation.

As a pivotal election year unfolds, our focus is on highlighting how advocating for arts and culture safeguards the future, solidifying its recognition as essential work that everyone should champion. From the spontaneous expressions of street art to the meticulously crafted works of literature and music, every act of creation contributes to the rich tapestry of human experience, inspiring collective action and fostering a deeper sense of connection and shared purpose.

CAC 50TH ANNIVERSARY AWARDS CEREMONY

The California Arts Council (CAC) will commemorate 50 Years of Creative Impact in 2026 through a coordinated statewide initiative designed to elevate the enduring value of public arts investment.


CA for the Arts is pleased to oversee production of the 50th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, a free event honoring distinguished artists, cultural leaders, and institutions whose work has shaped California’s cultural and civic identity for half a century. This awards ceremony will happen after the CA Arts & Culture Summit at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.⁠ Please RSVP to register.

This event is made possible with the generous support of the California Community Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, Creative West as well as current and former Council members and friends of the California Arts Council.
⁠

PRE-SUMMIT

CA for the Arts is excited to launch our first-ever Pre-Summit Convening on April 19th, a full-day gathering designed to create space for deeper dialogue, strategy-building, and relationship-rooted learning ahead of the Arts & Culture Summit.

This curated day will convene artists, culture bearers, advocates, organizers, and cross-sector leaders for focused conversations on the most pressing issues shaping California’s arts and culture field today, including Arts Education, the Creative Economy, and Public Policy. The Pre-Summit Convening will feature a mix of closed-door sessions and public sessions.

Whether you are looking to engage in high-trust conversations, sharpen your advocacy lens, or connect more deeply with peers shaping the future of arts and culture in California, the Pre-Summit Convening offers a meaningful entry point into the week ahead.

Watch Last Year's Summit Trailer

 

Ticketing

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

EARLY BIRD HAS CLOSED

  • Member: $275
  • General Admission: $325
  • Champion*: $550
  • Artist & Student**: $190

REGULAR REGISTRATION

REGULAR PRICING HAS CLOSED

  • Member: $325
  • General Admission: $375
  • Champion: $600
  • Artist & Student: $190

LATE REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Registrations submitted after April 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM will incur a $50 late registration fee to help cover additional administrative and event costs.

*Champion: This ticket level supports production of the CA Arts & Culture Summit and allows us to offer our Artist Worker ticket pricing. A portion of this ticket level is tax deductible.

**Artist & Student: Are you an artist, creative worker, culture bearer or a student? This ticket level is designed to reduce barriers to entry for this event, so that anyone who would like to attend the CA Arts & Culture Summit is not prohibited by cost. Please help us keep this cost available for those who need it most; if you are able to purchase a full-price ticket, please do so.

Captains Discount: Advocacy Day Captains receive a discount code for $50 off registration price upon approval of their application.

We have CA Arts & Culture Summit Opportunities Available! If you are interested in:

  • Summit Scholarships (SACRAMENTO and SAN DIEGO ONLY)
  • Volunteering
  • Tabling at the Summit

Please visit our opportunities page for more information! 

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS & PRICING

 

Before registering, check whether you or your organization is a member of California for the Arts or California Arts Advocates. Members are eligible for discounted Summit tickets. To confirm your membership, individuals can check this page, or you can email membership@caforthearts.org.

Not a member? Join today.

Available by discount code or with staff assistance.

  • Members contributing $500–$999: 2 tickets at the member rate
  • Members contributing $1,000–$2,499: 4 tickets at the member rate
  • Members contributing $2,500 and above: 10 tickets at the member rate

GROUP DISCOUNT

 

  • Enter the discount code "Group10+" below. After you enter the first registration, you will add additional guests. The discount price will apply after you enter your 9th additional guest.
  • You will be required to add name and email for guests. They will be able to modify the rest of their registration later.  If you have a large group and need assistance entering the names and emails contact Teri at the email below.

REGISTRATION POLICIES

 

  • All sales are final. No refunds are available after purchase.
  • If you are unable to attend, you may donate your ticket or transfer your registration to another attendee.

 

For assistance with discounted, group, or donations registrations, please contact Teri@caforthearts.org.

ABOUT THE
LOCATIONS

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Experience the latest in music and arts in a historical setting. The renovated Memorial Auditorium combines timeless surroundings with state-of-the-art capabilities to provide the perfect backdrop for a wide range of shows.

1515 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

From Broadway hits to indie up-and-comers. From hole-in-the-wall treasures to culinary icons. The epicenter of Sacramento is the SAFE Credit Union Convention & Performing Arts District.

1401 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Learn more about their accessibility features here.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Sponsor ACCM

Interested in supporting ACCM? Our Sponsorship Package outlines all the ways you or your organization can help support this statewide celebration of arts, culture, and community. With flexible sponsorship opportunities to match every level of giving, there’s a place for everyone to contribute and make an impact in the arts.

For more information, please contact NeFesha Yisra'el, Director of Programs, at nefesha@caforthearts.org.