Vote Cincinnati 10Best’s top City for Street Art

Cincinnati is again vying for national attention as USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards considers it for Best City for Street Art in 2026, and local arts leaders are urging residents to help push the city to the top of the list.

The Queen City has appeared in the rankings every year since the category launched, most recently finishing second in 2025 after coming in first the previous year.

Voting is underway through Feb. 16, with supporters able to cast one ballot per day at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/cincinnati-ohio.

“We always used to say our city is a gallery. Now we boast that our city is a museum, where you can discover an incredible array of art, appreciate amazing living local artists side by side with artists from Cincinnati’s history, and encounter internationally acclaimed artists who created their first murals in the world right here,” said Colleen Houston, the CEO and artistic director of ArtWorks.

Creating a public gallery of art, opportunity

Cincinnati’s growing reputation as a public art destination is tied closely to ArtWorks, the nonprofit responsible for a sprawling mural program that has helped transform streetscapes across all 52 neighborhoods over the past two decades. The organization is one of the local arts-centered institutions spearheading the local push to get people to support Cincinnati’s claim for Best Street Art City. 

Houston says the organization’s youth apprenticeship model – which provides paid roles for professional artists, teens and young adults – has resulted in more than 350 permanent outdoor murals and helped introduce international artists to the city.

Alumni of the program have gone on to start and lead their own mural efforts, continuing to diversify the city’s visual landscape. ArtWorks also co-founded the BLINK festival in 2017, an event that has drawn millions while expanding the reach of large-scale and light-based installations.

“These murals are a powerful investment back into our neighborhoods. Most importantly, they help create hundreds of local jobs each year,” Houston said. 

Other community groups have contributed to the momentum, including Black Art Speaks, whose independent projects – most notably the Black Lives Matter mural near Cincinnati City Hall – which showcases the power of public art.

“With every brushstroke, young people make a positive change in their communities,” Houston said. “That legacy and connection to place empowers generations of future community leaders.”

Major movement in 2026

The city is entering 2026 with significant public art activity, including 13 new installations at the reimagined Cincinnati Convention Center created by ArtWorks, Black Art Speaks, the Art Academy of Cincinnati and AGAR. ArtWorks plans to complete 27 permanent works next year, while BLINK expects to unveil eight to 12 permanent pieces in addition to dozens of temporary light displays. Existing murals will again be a major part of the festival’s animations.

The 10Best awards spotlight cities where public art bolsters neighborhood identity, boosts civic pride and draws visitors. ArtWorks says a national win would amplify Cincinnati’s creative sector and highlight the organizations and residents who support it.

USA Today will name the winner in the category on Feb. 25.

“A vote for Cincinnati is a vote for our artists, our neighborhoods, and the creative spirit that makes this city unlike any other,” Houston said.

Vote for Cincinnati