2026 Queens Borough Arts Festival

The NYC Public Schools Arts Office is proud to announce the 2026 Borough Arts Festival, an annual opportunity for our students to shine by elevating their voices in the public space. Congratulations to all of the students who are presenting work in this year's festival and to their families. And a heartfelt thank you to the countless educators and administrators who support our students in developing their craft. As Chancellor, it is my honor to announce the 12th year of the Borough Arts Festivals and to recognize our NYC Public Schools students as they share their artistry with our city. At NYC Public Schools, we are committed to and value arts education. Students thrive when they are given authentic opportunities for critical thinking, self-expression, and meaningful engagement with the world—experiences which are inherently embedded in arts instruction. The Borough Arts Festivals stand as an annual reminder of the power of the arts to elevate student voices, deepen students' understanding of themselves and others, and help students envision a future full of possibilities. As you join me in celebrating our student artists, I also invite you to celebrate all that they can and will achieve as a result of robust arts education in our schools. Congratulations to our student artists—as well as to their families, educators, and school communities! — Kamar H. Samuels, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools From the Harlem Renaissance to the lights of Broadway, to the birth of Hip-Hop and street art, New York stands alone in shaping the arts around the world. Every NYCPS student is entitled to a rich arts education that taps into that legacy and affords them the opportunity to hone their voice as one of the future artists and authors of our great City. The Arts Office is dedicated to fulfilling the Chancellor's vision by providing arts-based learning that meets the social emotional needs of our students. — Paul J. Thompson, Executive Director, NYCPS Arts Office