2026 Marks a Year of Celebration for the Refract Glass Art Festival

The country’s premier glass art festival marks several anniversaries in 2026, making this year’s event that much more special.

Refract returns October 15-18 with scores of glass art events in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area. This year, three major participating studios and artists are reaching notable milestones:

• Seattle Glassblowing Studio celebrates 35 years as a popular hands-on hot shop space and go-to retail location for glass art in downtown Seattle.
• Pratt Fine Arts Center, a beloved epicenter of artists and classes of all kinds located in Seattle’s Central District (just east of downtown), marks 50 years.
• Chihuly Studio, home to world renowned artist Dale Chihuly, marks a major milestone in 2026 with CHIHULY: Venice 2026, a landmark return to Venice after three decades. The exhibition debuts three new sculptures installed along the Grand Canal, reconnecting Chihuly’s studio with the city that helped shape his early artistic vision.

For a taste of what to expect during Refract, here’s a selection of key events at these milestone locations:

Seattle Glassblowing Studio

• 35 Years: Music & Glass: Hot Glass Party featuring Dan Friday, Skyriver, and Khu.éex’: A collaborative demonstration by Lummi Nation member Dan Friday and sculptor Raven Skyriver, accompanied by Indigenous, jazz, and funk/rock music by Khu.eéx’, a band cofounded by glass artist and bassist Preston Singletary.
  Friday, Oct. 16, 5-9 pm. Free.
• Hot shop demo with Paull Rodrigue: Rodrigue’s glasswork is notable for its intersection of bright jewel tones and play with light. While his work has been featured in the Studio gallery for years, this special event marks his first appearance presenting a live demo.
  Friday, Oct. 16, 11 am-3 pm. Free.

Pratt Fine Arts Center

• Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen with Jasen Johnsen and Hilltop Artists Hot Shop: glassblowing in action from the renowned Bow, Washington-based artist. Willenbrink-Johnsen received a prestigious Libenský–Brychtová Award from the Pilchuck Glass School, while Hilltop Artists inspire hundreds of middle and high school students each year with no-cost glass art instruction.
  Thursday, Oct. 15, 2-5 pm. Free.
• Fire & Rain Glass Bead Society Flame Shop: an official member of the International Society of Glassbeadmakers, will demonstrate its intricate artistry.
  Saturday, Oct. 17, 9:30 am-5 pm. Free.

Chihuly Studio

• Chihuly Boathouse: For those who’ve been dreaming of experiencing the extraordinary Chihuly Boathouse, a space not open to the public, limited tickets will become available in October for tours. Keep an eye on the RefractSeattle.org website for release details and updates.
  Thursday, Oct. 15, 9:30-11 am and 11:30 am- 1 pm. Free, but tickets required.

The opening night party: A hotly anticipated Refract event

Beyond the artists’ demonstrations and studio events, Refract will feature numerous art gatherings and parties. One that’s not to be missed is GATHER: The Refract Opening Night Party, which takes place at Chihuly Garden and Glass on October 15 at 7 pm. (Doors open at 6:30 pm.) Chihuly Garden and Glass is located at 305 Harrison Street, right under the Space Needle in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and this festive and much-loved event sells out each year, so be sure to get yours soon.

In addition to GATHER, other Refract events require reservations and tickets ahead of time. This includes many of the free events offered during the festival. Visit the Refract website for more event details, including ticket details, a full list of participating open artist studios, and FAQs, plus a helpful downloadable Glass Art Guide to Seattle and the Puget Sound Region.

For more details, please visit the Refract website.

Ready to plan your festival experience? Head over to RefractSeattle.org to start planning your itinerary, book your hotel stay, and start your Refract adventure!

About the Author

Erica Jorgensen

Erica Jorgensen is Visit Seattle’s senior manager of content strategy. She’s written for The Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, GeekWire, and many more local and national publications.

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