The PASEO Festival is Evolving

…will return to the streets of Taos in 2027 in a new biennial format

[TAOS, NM, Jan. 2026]  — For the past twelve years, The PASEO Festival has brought bold and experimental public art to Taos — activating streets and plazas, fostering moments of connection, curiosity, and shared imagination. As the festival has grown, so has The Paseo Project’s commitment to artists, community partners, and the long-term sustainability of this work, in Taos and beyond. 

That work continues in 2026. This year, The Paseo Project will remain active across Taos County through a full slate of public art, youth programs, and partnerships, including Disturbance: The Art & Ecology of Change; a new public mural project in Questa; pop-up programs and collaborations with the Taos Film Festival and the Taos Center for the Arts; continued youth internships; and year-round workshops, artist talks, residencies, and exhibitions through the Gallery @ Hotel Willa.

To support deeper collaborations with our community, extended artist development time, and thoughtful production planning, The Paseo Project announces that The PASEO Festival will transition to a biennial festival model, with the next full edition of the festival returning to the streets of Taos in September of 2027.

This two-year planning cycle strengthens the organization’s capacity to meaningfully support artists and staff, while preserving and enhancing the festival’s commitment to site-responsive, community-engaged public art.

“This transition allows us to plan more intentionally with our community of artists and partners, and to ensure that each festival year reflects the inspiration, care, and collaboration that The PASEO is known for,” said Matt Thomas, Founder and Executive Director of The Paseo Project. “It also supports the long-term sustainability of the organization and the programs our community has grown to love, from more thoughtful production planning to extending time to artists to develop new works.” 

Programs and Activities in 2026

Although the festival will not hit the streets in 2026, The Paseo Project will continue to present public art and community programming across Taos County this year, including:

• Disturbance: The Art & Ecology of Change — a multi-event program exploring wildfire, climate, resilience, and land stewardship through art, dialogue, and collaboration.
• A new public mural project in Questa, developed with Questa Creative Council and 100% Taos Initiative.
• Pop-Ups and ongoing community partnership programming, including work with the Taos Film Festival and the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA).
• Youth Internship Program, continuing mentorship, skills training, and leadership development for Taos County youth.
• Year-round workshops, artist talks, residencies, youth programs, and exhibitions through The Paseo Project and the Gallery @ Hotel Willa.

These initiatives carry forward the values at the heart of The PASEO — creativity in public space, cross-disciplinary exchange, and community engagement.

Looking Ahead to 2027

An Open Call for PASEO 2027 artists is planned for Fall 2026, inviting artists working across mediums to engage with Taos through place-based, experimental, and community-centered projects.

“We remain committed to bringing art to the streets of Taos,” Thomas said. “The biennial model gives us the time and structure needed to produce meaningful work with and for our community.“

More information about PASEO 2027 and related programs will be announced later in the year. The Paseo Project invites community members, partners, and artists to stay connected through signing up for our newsletter by visiting our website and following us on social media.  Remain in conversation with us at paseo@paseoproject.org!