Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational

What the Invitational is

The Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational is an annual event run by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, a nonprofit that LPAPA’s founding page dates to 1996. Plein air painters work outdoors, on location. LPAPA invites 30 award-winning painters from across the country to Laguna Beach each year, where they paint and compete. LPAPA ties the event to a century-old artistic legacy in Laguna Beach.

In 2026 the 28th Invitational ran from October 3 to 11. LPAPA says its painters spent nine days painting along the coast and in the canyons, and it announced the awards on October 16, 2026, naming Michael Obermeyer’s painting “The Approach” Best in Show.

2027 dates

LPAPA posted a save-the-date for the 29th Invitational: October 2 to 10, 2027. The Collectors Art Party falls on Saturday, October 9, 2027, at the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The Festival of Arts page describes the grounds.

LPAPA has not posted a 2027 events schedule. For 2026 it linked a printable schedule of Invitational events from its Invitational page, so check that page closer to the date. LPAPA says its members get discounts on every ticketed Invitational event, so some events carry a ticket. It does not list prices on the pages checked for this guide.

Judges and artists in 2026

LPAPA’s awards announcement names a Best in Show judging panel for 2026: Kathleen Dunphy, an LPAPA Signature Artist and 2026 Lifetime Achievement honoree, Kathryn Kanjo, director of the UCI Langson OC Museum, and James Irvine Swinden, co-founder of The Irvine Museum. LPAPA’s 2026 artists page lists the roster of invited painters, including Geoff Allen, Rebecca Arguello, Olena Babak, Suzie Baker, Carl Bretzke, Saim Caglayan and Don Demers. The 2027 roster is not posted.

Where to see the work

Painters work at outdoor spots around town during the Invitational, so use LPAPA’s schedule to find out where they will be. The LPAPA Gallery at 414 N. Coast Highway shows work year-round. It is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it stays open until 9 p.m. during the monthly First Thursdays Art Walk.

After the 2026 Invitational, the gallery is showing a post-Invitational exhibition from October 15 to November 30, 2026. It includes work the invited artists made during the event, plus work by LCAD and Laguna Beach Unified students. A reception takes place during the Art Walk on Thursday, November 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. LPAPA says sales benefit the participating artists and the association.

The gallery closed on several dates during the 2026 Invitational, October 4 and October 9 to 11, so confirm hours in Invitational week.

LPAPA beyond the Invitational

LPAPA’s stated mission covers painting the landscape, keeping Laguna’s art history alive and promoting plein air painting. Its site also lists workshops and classes, paint-outs and demonstrations, and free recordings of painting demos.

Who started LPAPA

LPAPA’s founding page says the group formed in 1996 when Saim Caglayan invited friends who painted outdoors, Ken Auster, Jacobus Baas, Cynthia Britain and John Cosby, to join him. Its stated aim was to link the early California plein air painters with today’s.

Plan around it

LPAPA’s Invitational page links to the Coast Film & Music Festival. The October guide covers weather and sunset times, and the summer festivals guide covers the Festival of Arts, where the 2027 Collectors Art Party takes place. For year-round galleries, see art galleries.