NEON Nights 

The vibrant creative energy of Norfolk is taking a new shape this year with the introduction of NEON Nights, a dynamic evolution of the beloved annual NEON Festival. Shifting away from a single, massive weekend footprint, NEON Nights will feature a series of more intimate, highly engaging art events happening multiple times throughout the year.  

The inaugural NEON Nights event is scheduled for one night only on Friday, October 16, 2026. 

At the heart of this new, year-round format is a heavy emphasis on direct community collaboration, specifically by pairing talented local and regional artists with incredible local businesses. The vast majority of art installations, performances, and creative activations will take place directly inside participating storefronts, galleries, and venues. This strategic shift is designed to drive foot traffic and foster creative synergy right within the walls of local establishments. 

While the focus remains on immersive indoor experiences, NEONNights will feature a limited number of outdoor activations. These select public spaces will be specifically reserved for small, individual, pop-up style acts, such as street-side poetry writing, acoustic busking, yarnbombing, and similar micro-art experiences. 

Call for Artists & Grant Funding Now Open:

Event organizers are actively seeking creators across all mediums to partner with local businesses and bring this vision to life for the October launch.  

To support the creative community, a grant funding is available for the inaugural event. Artists can apply for micro-grants ranging from $250 to $750 to help fund their concepts, installations, and performances.

Additionally, unfunded proposals are highly welcomed. Creators who have an idea that requires no financial support and simply want a platform to share their art during this exciting night are strongly encouraged to join the lineup. 

 

How to Apply: 

Interested artists, groups, and organizations must submit their concepts through the NEON Nights Art Proposal Submission Form. Submissions require a description of the proposed activation, a timeline, a budget breakdown (if applying for a micro-grant), and examples of past work. 

To submit a proposal for the inaugural NEON Night, please visit NEONNFK.