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San Juan Island’s free artists’ studio tour returns for its 35th year
Published 6:00 am Monday, May 4, 2026
68 artists, 26 stops and a brand-new guidebook make this the most accessible tour yet
On June 6 and 7, studio doors will open up all across San Juan Island, ready to welcome art enthusiasts from across the county.
The 35th annual San Juan Island Artists’ Studio Tour features 68 local, celebrated artists over 26 stops. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and is a free, self-guided opportunity to meet and connect with the artists that help make the island the special place it is.
“We still have founding members on this tour and we also have a whole new generation of artists coming up alongside them,” says Brittany Whitaker, a ceramicist and board member. “That continuity is something special and this annual event plays an important role in ensuring our artists community remains strong.”
This year the tour expands to include shared and co-working studio spaces alongside traditional home studios.
Craig Britton and Brittany Whitaker work collaboratively – Craig throwing the pieces while Brittany glazes. Both are participating artists on this year’s San Juan Island Artists’ Studio Tour. Photo credit to Chase Anderson.
“In the past the tour was really about home studios, but this year we’re excited to open up some of the collaborative spaces on the island – to show people what a modern, professional art community really looks like,” Whitaker says.
Joining the tour this year are Friday Harbor Atelier, a painter-filled co-op, and Windy Gallery & Studios, another co-working space – both new additions to the map in 2026.
Also on the tour are The FellowShop, a communal woodworking space and Alchemy Art Center, a community hub with both shared and private studios.
“Co-op workspaces on the island have done a remarkable job making art accessible to a younger generation,” Whitaker says. “We’re excited to welcome them to the tour this year.”
Most studios also host guest artists, with four or five island-based artists showing at a single location. New this year is a multi-page printed guidebook that profiles every participating artist with a half-page spread.
Alchemy Art Center Staff – Eben Shay, Maria Michaelson, Casey Reagan, Katey Rissi & Cozette Ellis. Photo credit to Chase Anderson.
“This is the first year we’ve offered a full printed guidebook with a profile on every artist,” Whitaker says. “It’s taken a good amount of time to bring forward and we’re really excited to share it with the community.”
The guide is widely available across the island and online at sanjuanislandartists.com/guidebook.
“The studio tour is a great way to explore the island while getting off the traditional tourist loop,” Whitaker says. “You’re not just seeing art – you’re seeing the island through the eyes of the people who live and create here.”
Book ferry reservations early and consider a moped or rental car to move between stops at your own pace.
The 2026 San Juan Island Artists’ Studio Tour takes place June 6 and 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour is free and self-guided. Cash and credit cards are accepted at all studio stops.
For studio maps, the digital guidebook and more information, visit sanjuanislandartists.com.