Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
Downtown Mobile lands its first large-scale mural festival this September
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The Mobile Arts Council (MAC) announced the inaugural MobTown Mural Festival, a two-day public art celebration set to take place Sept. 12–13, 2026.
As the city’s first large-scale mural festival, the event aims to transform Mobile into a living gallery by bringing local and regional artists together to paint live in front of the community.
Mobile Arts Council coordinates with local artist Hannah Legg
The idea for the festival started with a spark from a local creator. Hannah Legg, a muralist out of Fairhope, approached the Mobile Arts Council after attending a national mural conference.
“She’s a friend of the arts council, so she came in, and she was like, ‘I think this is something that really needs to happen in Mobile.’ We did some research on it and decided it’s something that this is something we want to do this year.”
Angela Montgomery, Mobile Arts Council executive director
The council has a proven track record of bringing art to Mobile’s sidewalks, having previously partnered with the Downtown Mobile Alliance to head up the painted utility boxes seen across downtown.
Live painting + 3D cubes coming to downtown Mobile
Over the two-day festival, a curated, juried selection of both established and emerging artists will create a mix of permanent wall murals and mobile public artworks across key corridors.
Instead of relying solely on traditional brick-and-mortar walls, the festival will use three-dimensional, 4′ x 4′ movable wooden mural canvases. These structures will be strategically placed throughout downtown, including locations at:
- Cooper Riverside Park
- The Maritime Museum of the Gulf
The festival is deliberately scheduled to align with the grand opening of the new Jimmy Buffett Exhibition and the Son of a Sailor Fest at the Maritime Museum. The pairing allows organizers to bridge activities across downtown, creating a continuous path of live art activations where attendees can walk around, meet the muralists and experience the creative process firsthand.
“Mobile has never done anything like this, and I know Mobile’s crazy about public art, so I think it’s going to be a success. I know it’s going to be a success.”
Mobile Arts Council Executive Director Angela Montgomery
There will also be public participation walls, giving community members a chance to pick up a brush.
Apply for muralist opportunities or view corporate sponsor tiers
The Mobile Arts Council has opened the application process for artists who want to participate. A committee will review the submissions to pair selected artists with available wall spaces and movable structures.
Launching a new visual arts event is a massive undertaking, and MAC is actively seeking support from local business owners, tourism leaders and civic partners. Multiple sponsorship tiers are available for those looking to back the initiative. Tap here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
