The Art Star Awards is an annual award ceremony hosted by the Laguna Beach Art Alliance to recognize excellence in outstanding achievements and contributions in the arts in Laguna Beach. The award categories are Best Arts Program, Arts Patron of the Year, Outstanding Arts Collaboration and Artist of the Year. A special award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts is also presented. The various category winners are given one-of-a-kind sculptures (Louies) created by local artist and celebrity Louis Longi. The Louies are created specifically for the Art Star Awards with no molds or editions. The awards ceremony was first held on March 21, 2007, and featured guest speaker Robert Lynch, Americans for the Arts President and CEO. Since then, keynote speakers have included Donald McKayle, Michael Ramirez, Wylie Aitken, Lee Rocker, Dana Gioia, Rita Rudner, Carl St. Clair, Joe Mantegna, Joely Fisher, Marcia Gay Harden and Melissa Manchester.
2026 ART STAR AWARDS
Thursday, April 23 • 5:30 p.m. • FESTIVAL OF ARTS
The 18th annual Art Star Awards reception and ceremony will treat guests to a festive evening filled with KXFM 104.7’s Rockin’ Red Carpet, Master of Ceremonies Roxana Ward, live music by Laguna JaZz, demonstrations by local artists, and special guest performances. All will be complimented by an open bar serving prosecco and wine with hors d’oeuvres and dessert by Starfish.
Tickets are available at $150 each ($1500 for table of 10) until March 31; on April 1, prices increase to $175 each ($1750 for table of 10). Guests may purchase tickets electronically by Zelle or credit card at the links below, or by mail-in check with the order form linked below.
ZELLE (PREFERRED – Help us avoid transaction fees!) at this link:
enroll.zellepay.com/register. Recipient email address: [email protected]
Or using this QR code:
Or by mail-in check with the order form linked below.
The 2026 Art Star Award nominees are:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Steve & Beth Wood
ARTS PATRON OF THE YEAR
The Quilter Family
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tom Lamb
Eric Henderson
Arnold Geis & Oriana Geis-Falla
OUTSTANDING ARTS COLLABORATION
Holiday Concert – Laguna Community Concert Band & LagunaTunes Community Chorus
“Rooted in Community” Mosaic at South Laguna Community Garden Park – LOCA Arts Education
SoCal Sister Cities 2025 California Young Artists Expo – Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association
BEST ARTS PROGRAM
Coast Film Festival – Jack Johnson and The Moonshine Conspiracy Concert
KXFM 104.7 – 2025 Programming
Sawdust Art Festival – Sawdust Art Education Program
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
Laguna Beach Arts Alliance is open to all non-profit 501(c)(3) art-orientated organizations located in Laguna Beach.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
