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X Marks the Arts Presents: Free Week 2026
February 16 @ 10:00 am – February 22 @ 5:00 pm
X Marks the Arts Presents: Free Week 2026
Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District
February 16 – 22, 2026
Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District
February 16 – 22, 2026
Downtown Iowa City’s Winter Arts & Culture Festival is back! Free Week returns for its second year from February 16 – 22, 2026, transforming Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District into a weeklong celebration of creativity, community, and connection.
Presented by X Marks the Arts and sponsored by Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District, Free Week brings together local and regional artists, venues, and audiences for a full lineup of free concerts, performances, and interactive workshops across downtown. From live music and theater to film and hands-on creative experiences, this collaborative festival highlights the talent that keeps Iowa City’s arts scene thriving year-round.
Throughout the week, downtown venues will open their doors to welcome the community in, offering admission-free programming that encourages exploration, discovery, and support of the artists and spaces that make this district special, even during the winter season. Free Week events are free to attend, and every participating artist is paid through programming curated in partnership with each venue.
Participating venues and organizations include: The Englert Theatre, FilmScene, Public Space One, Iowa City Public Library, The James Theater, Gabe’s Iowa City, Elray’s Live & Dive, the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, Beadology Iowa, the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, University of Iowa Libraries, Studio 13, Alley Cat, Vue Rooftop, The Artifactory, Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, the University of Iowa School of Music, the University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts, and Prairie Lights Bookstore.
Free Week is your invitation to bundle up, head downtown, and experience why Iowa City continues to earn its reputation as the “Greatest Small City for the Arts.” Celebrate winter, support local culture, and enjoy a week of creative moments with our favorite entertainment venues.
Free Week 2026 Highlights Include:
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Elizabeth Moen at The Englert Theatre – A homecoming performance from the Iowa City-rooted singer-songwriter
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Silent Disco at the UI Museum of Natural History – An innovative twist on museum programming
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Free Movie Tuesdays at FilmScene – All shows, both locations
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Live Music & Performances at Gabe’s, Elray’s Live & Dive, Vue Rooftop, Studio 13, and AlleyCat featuring local, regional, and national acts
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One Book Two Book Festival with Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
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Hands-On Workshops including embroidery at the Stanley Museum of Art, printmaking at Public Space One, and beadwork at Beadology
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UI Symphony Orchestra performances at Voxman Music Building, featuring acclaimed composers Lowell Liebermann and Gabriel Kahane
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Ten-Minute Play Festival at the UI Theatre Building, showcasing new works by undergraduate playwrights
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And much more across Prairie Lights, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City Public Library, and additional partner venues
