For one Saturday in September, downtown Seattle stops being a place you walk through and transforms into a place to pause and become fully immersed in art. WALKDONTRUN — the city’s free, open-to-everyone street art marathon — is back on September 19, 2026, running from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm across 20 city blocks from Westlake Park to Pioneer Square. This year it’s bigger than ever, with more than 200 artists working in every medium imaginable.
Read on for what to expect at Seattle’s second WALKDONTRUN event this September!
Last year’s debut WALKDONTRUN drew thousands of people who wandered the route at their own pace, stumbling into funk bands, hands-on activities, and secret art gardens tucked between the concrete. This year’s lineup pushes that ambition further.
Artist Parmida Ziaei will adorn a 20-foot length of fabric with text inspired by Persian calligraphy, then perform dance and vocals before inviting attendees to cut the painted cloth and take pieces home. Meanwhile, Undercurrent performers will fall, roll, and spiral through the streets in a living language of movement.
Music runs the full length of the route. Wasabi Samba, the Red Light Brass Band, and the Marshal Law Band — rolling through on their Jellybean stage — will keep the energy moving, while dj100proof closes out the day with a Backyard BBQ: Summer Sendoff set.
Some of the most striking work hides in plain sight. Ann Marie Schneider will be transforming utility poles into prehistoric giant horsetail ferns using thousands of biodegradable straws. Sharon Gottula will hang ceramic monarch cocoons from trees and posts along the route. And sculptor Francesca Lohmann and floral designer Isvald Klingels are growing a secret garden in the middle of downtown concrete.
Plenty of the art is made to be touched, joined, or taken home. Jesse Higman will turn strangers into co-painters on 16-foot iridescent mica canvases. Each one washes away immediately after completion, leaving only a video and the memory. Galaxy Photos will build a light-painted Polaroid portrait around you on the spot. Charmi Shah will post mini collectible collage cards along the route, with a make-your-own session waiting at the finish line. Expect kid-friendly activities too: all ages are invited to sculpt googly-eyed hammering men, learn stamping techniques inspired by the Hawaiian barkcloth tradition of Kapa, or draw their “Walk Face” with Seattle Paint Party.
There’s no single way to do WALKDONTRUN. Join the full route, dip in for a few blocks, or follow the brass band wherever it leads. The only rule is that it’s free.
📍 Starting Line: Westlake Park → Finish Line: Occidental Square
📅 Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
🕚 Hours: 11:00 am – 7:30 pm
💸 Admission: Free
