Newark Arts Council (NAC, aka Newark Arts) is a key anchor institution that drives Newark as a global City of the Arts. Founded in 1981, for the past 43 years, Newark Arts has invested over $1 million into Newark’s creative ecosystem, funding more than 354 community-based projects.
Every donation helps fund our continued mission of powering the arts to transform lives.
Joy Lives Here. So Should You.
October 8–12, Newark becomes a citywide celebration of music, art, and radical joy.
LOOK BACK AT NAF2025
From Iconic Nights to Citywide Adventures
Exhibitions, performances, block parties, community events, and immersive art experiences all week long.
TICKETS
Choose your moment of JOY
Come for the Festival. Stay for the City.
Explore Newark’s art, food, nightlife, and culture between every show and gallery.
Looking for Inspiration?
We curated an eclectic playlist that captures JOY in all its forms. From quiet moments of peace to bold bursts of celebration, from revolutionary anthems to soft, reflective melodies—this is joy, in every shade and sound. Press play and let it inspire you. Updates bi-weekly.
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NAF IS ICONIC
Share the JOY
Join thousands of artists, innovators, and culture lovers from across the nation at New Jersey’s largest arts festival.
SPONSORS
