Make. Art. Music.

Art Market Gallery is a vibrant marketplace for original art and fine crafts located on Gay Street. It's the hub for 60 juried-in East Tennessee artists to showcase their amazing work. During Big Ears weekend, you're invited to an artist reception (from 1 PM – 5 PM) and live music from Steven Varga (from 2 PM – 6 PM) on Saturday, March 28. Visitors can meet and interact with the represented artists and see Steven Varga's metal sculptures will be on display.

Those lucky enough to present one of the Art Market Gallery coupons will recieve 10% off their entire purchase. (Coupons are valid 3/26 – 3/29 only.) A limited number of coupons will be available at some of the downtown hotels and at the Sunsphere Welcome Center, at 810 Clinch Ave. Other coupons will be handed out on Friday and Saturday on S. Gay Street. Drop in and explore throughout the weekend!

RED is an intimate gallery in the Old City that features rotating exhibitions of local and regional artists. During Big Ears, they’ll be hosting the opening of Andy Saftel's show, "Is Everybody Ready?" During Big Ears, the gallery will be open Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29, 10 AM – 6 PM. Andy will be in the gallery from noon – 1 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday will have a walk through of the exhibit with Andy and a Q&A. Sunday: RB Morris will be joining Andy, and Big Ears may announce secret pop-ups.

OFFICIAL BIG EARS VENUE - open to the public
Click Here for Festival Lineup

The Emporium Center is the hub for arts and culture in Downtown Knoxville. This charming building is worth your time where you'll find studios with resident artists specializing in chalk pastel, watercolor, oil, acrylic, fiber, jewelry, photography, and more.A Big Ears exhibition will be upstairs and official Big Ears Festival merchandise will be downstairs. Extended hours for the weekend include Wednesday– Thursday, 9 AM – 9 PM; Friday – Saturday, 10 AM – 9 PM; and Sunday, 10 AM – 8 PM.

Exhibitions on display include:

time. space. curated by Ashley Layendecker
Featuring artists who are all Tennessee-based/born, or deeply influenced by this region.

E Pluribus Unum – Juried Exhibition, juried by Josiah Golson
A creative reflection on American ideals and our national narrative.

Soft Wounds, Loud Colors: Fragments Of A Lived Experience by Liz Lee
A series of digital works that reflect how the artist sees and feels experiences through pattern, memory, and sensation.

Robert Felker: Patron Saints of Rock, Revival
A larger-than-life portrait series of music’s iconic personalities.

Laura Goff Parham: Traditional Stained Glass with a Modern Twist
A variety of stained glass works with an experimental flair.

OFFICIAL BIG EARS VENUE - open to the public
Click Here for Festival Lineup

Knoxville Museum of Art provides incredible art to locals and visitors year-round. As a Big Ears venue, the museum offers an inspiring setting where visual and musical artistry converge, inviting audiences to experience performances surrounded by thoughtfully curated exhibitions that reflect the rich cultural landscape of the area. This unique space is a place for reflection, exploration, and a deep appreciation of the arts. During the Big Ears' weekend, programming includes Concerts, Conversations and a Special Event: ambient music pioneer Laraaji and sound healer and musician Arji Oceananda will lead two laughter and sound release playshops through playful interactions accompanied by music.

Plus, starting Thursday, don't miss the opening reception for Wayne White: The Revenge of the Knoxville Girl. Wayne White is a multi-faceted artist, illustrator, and musician who has charted a kaleidoscopic path through multiple frontiers of art and culture. From early life in Chattanooga and Emmy award-winning work as Art Director for Pee Wee's Playhouse, to orchestrating music videos for Peter Gabriel and The Smashing Pumpkins, White traverses the pop culture landscape. The Revenge of the Knoxville Girl is an eclectic survey show that convenes an array of White's Word Paintings, sketchbooks, small sculpture, and papier-mache heads. It will also feature a monumentally-scaled pair of puppets that provide a stage for the beleaguered Knoxville Girl of murder ballad notoriety to return, and stand triumphant. This show is presented in collaboration with the Big Ears Festival, is part of the 2026 edition of the Tennessee Triennial, and will run until July 12, 2026.

The museum is always free.

Don't expect a big, flashy sign telling you where the Pilot Light is. The indiscreet venue in the Old City has been a local favorite for creative, independent, and experimental music and performance for more than 24 years. During the festival weekend, they'll be presenting What For? a micro-festival featuring 35+ performers free to the public—first come first served. Find details at thepilotlight.com.

Nothing Too Fancy is the Official Merch Provider of Big Ears 2026! They printed all of this year's apparel at their in-town print shop using all water based inks—but also make sure you check out their retail store on Union Ave. These locally designed and printed apparel purveyors have been providing the official Big Ears merchandise from the very beginning. Focusing on eco-friendly and original t-shirts, it's the perfect spot to pick up a Tennessee or Knoxville souvenir while you're visiting.

It's a full weekend at the brewery! At 3 and 6 PM on Saturday, March 28, Joyful Noise presents a sounds at Pretentious Beer Co. Several musicians will come together for a live improvised performance. Hear work from Wendy Eisenberg, Shahzad Ismaily, Greg Saunier, Booker Stardrum, Patrick Shiroishi, Kishi Bashi, Tall Tall Trees & more! Patrick Shiroishi, Dave Harrington, Max Jaffe, and Shahzad Ismaily. While you're there enjoy good company and a good drink!

Pour Taproom will have live music with JL Fulks from 9 PM – 12 AM. It gets better... 60+ rotating taps of craft beer, wines, ciders, meads, and cocktails; pay by the ounce–not the glass; tasty snacks and great outdoor seating.

Stop in at Pretentious Glass Co for stunning works of art in the gallery and live glassblowing workshops and demonstrations all weekend. The gallery will exhibit sculptures and one of a kind Founders Series glasses from Owner and Master Glassblower Matthew Cummings. Experience Make Your Own Workshops while open bookings last. Sign up at PretentiousGlassCo.com.

Dogwood Arts brings art outside, adding character and beauty to our city streets and spaces through their annual Art in Public Places Sculpture Exhibition. Enjoy larger-than-life works of art as you stroll through Krutch Park, where the majority of this year's exhibition resides. Since 2007, the Art in Public Places sculpture program has curated and installed over 280 works of art in Knoxville and gained national recognition as a platform for exhibiting world-class sculptors.

From coffee mugs to the art and fine crafts on display, and even much of the furniture, every detail of Maker Exchange is sourced to immerse you in the celebration of Knoxville as the Maker City. More than 100 Local Artists currently have work on display in the Curio at Maker Exchange. The collection is shoppable 24-7 using an easy online system with QR codes to select the piece you desire, make your purchase via the website, and choose the method of delivery – pickup the next business day or have shipped to your desired location.

Tavern Notes
Live music from 7 – 9 PM on Friday, March 27th featuring Westwend and Margarita Fava.

Awaken is a charming coffee shop in the Old City with seasonal lattes and spacious seating to enjoy your morning cup of joe. Throughout the weekend, you'll find an exhibition by local artist Emma Beard, a watercolor artist who lives and works in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her work uses a combination of watercolor paints and waterproof black ink to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Visit the Dogwood Gallery to experience Resonance: a solo exhibition by Curtis Glover. Although Glover has a long history of collaborating on projects with Dogwood Arts, this is his first solo exhibition in an indoor space. Gallery hours: Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM.

Visit the heart of Knoxville's street art scene to watch artist Megan Lingerfelt transform the seasonal Downtown Knoxville mural from Winter to Spring (Thursday, March 27 through Saturday, March 29, weather dependent). Strong Alley is one of the most photographed places in town thanks to creative muralists decorating it with new artwork each year, as well as reinventing old favorites. Located between Gay Street and Market Square, it's a great place to snap a pic!

Bistro at the Bijou, located in the historic Bijou Theatre, is known for their classic bar, great food—much of it fresh from the garden of owner and chef Martha Boggs—and for their weekly jazz. Enjoy the Tom Peron Quartet on Friday, March 27 and Mark Boling Trio Life on Saturday, March 28. 8 PM – 10:30 PM.

OFFICIAL BIG EARS VENUE - open to the public
Click Here for Festival Lineup

The UT Downtown Gallery is a contemporary art gallery exhibiting professional work through funding and support from The University of Tennessee. On Friday and Saturday at 6 PM, the gallery is presenting The Radical Chimeras Sessions. Artist and composer Rob Mazurek presents a new body of work with an exhibition of paintings, sound generated animations, large-format sound prints and sculpture that converge into hybrid visual forms of one another. Timed to coincide with the visionary Big Ears Festival, light, motion, and form carry the imprint of sound’s structure and energy.

Amulet Parlor, Knoxville's only Appalachian-themed folk magick gift shop & parlor, will offer several specials:

The Arrowmont Gallery is an exhibition space for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts expanding their physical presence to Downtown Knoxville. During the week of Big Ears, they will present "Archivision", the 2025–2026 Artists-in-Residence closing exhibition.

OFFICIAL BIG EARS VENUE - open to the public
Click Here for Festival Lineup

Boyd’s Jig & Reel is bringing a rotating lineup of artists rooted in traditional, folk, and global sounds throughout the weekend. With music happening daily alongside their signature whiskey selection and lively pub atmosphere, it’s the perfect stop between sets or a destination all its own during the festival.

Times vary by day, so swing by throughout the weekend to catch a set. Grab a pint, settle in, and enjoy one of downtown’s most beloved music spots in full Big Ears form. Plus, their kitchen will be open until 11 PM on Thursday, 12:30 AM Friday and Saturday, and 9 PM Sunday. They will have plenty of grab and go food items to purchase during the festival.

OFFICIAL BIG EARS VENUE - open to the public
Click Here for Festival Lineup

Gregory Uhlmann brings his genre-blurring sound to Jackson Terminal during Big Ears, performing alongside Booker Stardrum and Will Miller of Resavoir. Known for his work with artists like Perfume Genius and Hand Habits, Uhlmann’s project Extra Stars leans into ambient, jazz, and experimental textures for a set that’s both immersive and quietly magnetic.

Gallery 1010 provides a location for UT School of Art artists to exhibit their work, curate exhibitions, and collaborate with other artists or disciplines outside of the School of Art. Stop by for some fresh perspectives and emerging talent in a collaborative exhibition space. During Big Ears weekend, the featured exhibit will be False Signals: Works exploring digital culture and online communication by Hannah Jane Oliver and Kayla Smith.