Seattle is about to shine brighter than ever. Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience returns October 15–18, 2026 for its eighth annual celebration, and this year’s edition is bigger, bolder, and more sparkling than any before.
Presented by Visit Seattle and Chihuly Garden and Glass together with more than 60 Pacific Northwest arts organizations, the citywide festival is now the nation’s premier showcase of glass art. A new 2025 study by the Glass Art Society and Chihuly Garden and Glass ranked Seattle as America’s leading hub for the art form, and Refract is the perfect reason to see why.
This year marks a wave of milestones: the 30th anniversary of Chihuly Over Venice, the 35th anniversary of Seattle Glassblowing Studio, and the 50th anniversary of Pratt Fine Arts Center, the beloved nonprofit school that has shaped generations of artists.
More than 80 events across Seattle and neighboring cities — Everett, Bainbridge Island, Issaquah, and Tacoma — will feature the works of over 50 artists. Highlights include live glassblowing demonstrations, exclusive studio tours, the opening party “Gather” at Chihuly Garden and Glass, a glassblowing film festival at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and hands-on workshops where visitors can try glassblowing themselves.
For the first time, a citywide scavenger hunt hides eight limited-edition medallions with prizes for those who find them. Best of all, much of the programming remains free, making the festival open to every art lover.
Full details and the complete lineup are available at refractseattle.org. Get ready to watch Seattle turn to glass.
Photo: Visit Seattle
