**Kestrel Tseng,** **Designer of our 2026 Limited Edition T-shirt.**

ABOUT

The Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival occurs annually on the second weekend in September and is held in the renowned coastal jewel of Santa Barbara, California. In an exciting celebration of ocean-inspired art and jewelry. For all the latest information please go to our home page and checkout our social media links below.

This festival is the only one of its kind in Southern California, and one of three on the west coast alone. Rooted in the community, the festival’s values ring true in the collaboration with local artists, the venue location, the dedicated committee of event planners, wonderful volunteers, and through partnerships with non-profit organizations. Whether you’re an artist or a shopper, a collector or an admirer of sea glass, local or just visiting; there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

FESTIVAL HISTORY

Since its inception, the Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival has inspired sea glass artists, collectors, and enthusiasts from all over the country and the world, to flock to California’s central coast. In August of 2015, local, sea glass loving merchants, artists, and community members from across Santa Barbara County joined together and organized the first-ever Carpinteria Sea Glass Festival, aimed at celebrating both the tiny coastal community and all things sea glass.

VISIONS FOR 2026

Giving Back
We are committed to Giving Back to the local community. This year we are introducing a brand new nonprofit: The California Coastal Arts & Ocean Alliance, “a 501(c)(3) founded in 2025, in Santa Barbara, California. “Our mission is to create awareness of the coastal environment through art and education, focusing on creativity, conservation and sustainability by promoting, fulfilling and inspiring activities for all now and in the future.”

Environmental Commitment
In the true spirit of sea glass, we are dedicated to leaving the world more beautiful than how we found it and this shows in our festival’s green practices. We will have reusable logo water bottles and canvas tote bags for sale as plastic alternatives.

Education
This year we have curated a variety of speakers, workshops, and displays to provide engaging learning opportunities for all attendees. Due to the popularity of previous sessions, we are introducing two new workshops:
- Coastal Crushed Glass Art: Available both Saturday and Sunday.
- Coastal Macramé – The Art of Tying Knots: Available Saturday only.
We will also continue to offer our Wire Wrapped Sea Glass Pendant (both days) and Mermaid Tiara (Sunday only). In addition to these hands-on sessions, all festival goers are invited to attend presentations covering topics such as sea glass education, west coast sea glass history and marine life from some amazing ocean-inspired artists and educators.

Looking forward to Sea-ing you in September!