
Buckle up for the Orange Show's 39th Houston Art Car Parade presented by Team Gillman!
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Powered by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art during April 9-12, 2026. Plan your involvement over multiple days using the schedule below.
Thursday April 9, 2026

MAIN Street Drag
9AM - 1PM | All Over Houston
Main Street Drag takes the spectacle beyond the parade route and directly into the community. Through a series of mini-parades, art cars roll into schools, hospitals, nursing homes, developmental facilities, and other spaces where residents may not be able to attend the parade themselves. Along the way, artists share their rolling masterpieces up close—talking about their inspirations, creative processes, and the stories behind each build—while spreading joy and sparking wonder. The program embodies and reinforces the Orange Show’s core belief: that art belongs to everyone.

6 - 9PM | Discovery Green - 1500 McKinney St.
ART Car Sneak Peek
The first chance to see this year's art cars!
Get up close with more than 100 dazzling art cars and meet the artists who bring them to life throughout the park and along Avenida Houston. This free, family-friendly evening preview offers a first look at the spectacle before the parade rolls out the next day. Live music, hands-on art activities, and a lively, come-as-you-are atmosphere make it fun for kids and grown-ups alike. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Friday April 10, 2026

6 - 11PM | Downtown Houston
LEGENDARY Art Car Ball
Wildly imaginative costumes, electrifying live music, immersive performance art, food and drinks, and a jaw-dropping array of illuminated and fire-breathing art cars define the annual Legendary Art Car Ball. Specially curated musical acts set the pulse for the night, while bold performance pieces and hands-on, interactive installations surround you. Everywhere you turn, hundreds of glittering, twinkling, bouncing, and pulsating art cars transform the space into a high-octane, after-dark spectacle.​
Saturday April 11, 2026

LINEUP Party
11am - 2pm | Allen Parkway between Taft & Bagby
Get a jump-start and arrive early for the Lineup Party! From Taft Street to Bagby Street along Allen Parkway, all 250 of this year's Art Cars will be parked and ready to roll in the parade! Enjoy beverages and food for purchase. We'll fuel the fun with live music and creative activations!

KIDS Creative Zone
11AM - 2PM | Sam Houston Park - 1000 Bagby St.
Stationed at the starting line, the Kids Zone is the place for little ones to have a creative outlet during the parade. Community partners set up engaging activations and performances to fuel inspiration, provide arts and crafting opportunities, and more! It's all FREE!

VIPit Party & Benefit
12 - 4PM | Hermann Square at City Hall - 901 Bagby St.
The ultimate viewing party, VIPit offers the best seats at the Parade. Whether you’re entertaining clients in a private Luxury Suite, showcasing your organization to hundreds of thousands of spectators, or spending the day with family, VIPit offers an exclusive and festive way to enjoy Houston’s most iconic event. VIPit ticket holders also enjoy special kids’ activities—making it a perfect setting for unforgettable family memories. Proceeds fund year round programming at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.

THE ORANGE SHOW'S 39th
HOUSTON ART CAR PARADE
PRESENTED BY TEAM GILLMAN
2PM | Along Allen Parkway & Smith Street
For the 39th year, 250 rolling masterpieces will take over the city’s streets as over 300,000 fans cheer them on from the sidelines. The parade officially begins at the intersection of Dallas and Bagby Streets (on Allen Parkway) heading into Downtown before circling City Hall and heading outbound onto Allen Parkway out of Downtown until dispersing at Waugh Drive. As always, the parade is FREE TO ATTEND. Reserved seating is available for purchase.

Past Art Car Winners

AWARDS Ceremony
Over $16,000 will be distributed to Art Car artists and groups in various categories through a judging process that rates entries based on their creativity, artistic techniques and inspiration. The public is invited to come celebrate the winners and get a final chance to see this year’s Art Car entries and meet their artists.

