A program responsible for many of the murals in downtown Salina is cancelling it’s 2026 event.
The Boom! Salina Street Art & Mural Festival, which the last four years has been held in early October, is pushing pause citing. Organizers cite “an unresolved legal matter involving sign ordinances” that does not involve Boom Salina.
Boom Salina is supported by the Salina Kanvas Project. It is a street art and mural festival that brings world-renowned muralists and street artists from around the world to paint large-scale murals on downtown buildings.
The organization made the following announcement via social media:
_ _ _
“With heavy hearts, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 Boom! Street Art & Mural Festival.
An unresolved legal matter involving sign ordinances—one that does not involve Boom!—has created uncertainty around our ability to proceed responsibly this year. The City of Salina has consistently supported Boom! and public art, and this decision is not a criticism of the City, the parties involved, or anyone connected to the festival.
After careful consideration, we believe pausing this year is the best way to protect future opportunities for public art in Salina and avoid unintended complications for our artists, property owners, partners, and community.
We know this news will be deeply disappointing. Artists, sponsors, volunteers, property owners, and supporters have already invested considerable time, creativity, and heart into this year’s festival. We are incredibly grateful to each of them. Our hope is that Boom! will return in 2027 with a clear and dependable path forward. Boom! has never simply been about painting walls. It has been about opening minds, broadening perspectives, creating connections, and showing world class art can help transform a community. That purpose remains as important to us as ever. This is a painful pause, but it is not the end of Boom! Thank you for believing in the artists, the festival, and the power of public art in Salina.””
After careful consideration, we believe pausing this year is the best way to protect future opportunities for public art in Salina and avoid unintended complications for our artists, property owners, partners, and community.
We know this news will be deeply disappointing. Artists, sponsors, volunteers, property owners, and supporters have already invested considerable time, creativity, and heart into this year’s festival. We are incredibly grateful to each of them. Our hope is that Boom! will return in 2027 with a clear and dependable path forward. Boom! has never simply been about painting walls. It has been about opening minds, broadening perspectives, creating connections, and showing world class art can help transform a community. That purpose remains as important to us as ever. This is a painful pause, but it is not the end of Boom! Thank you for believing in the artists, the festival, and the power of public art in Salina.””
