X Marks the Arts has announced the schedule and lineup for Free Week 2026, Downtown Iowa City’s Winter Arts & Culture Festival.
The seven-day festival will run from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22, featuring more than 50 admission-free events across more than 20 downtown venues within the Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District.
Now in its second year, Free Week will include music, theater, film, literature, visual arts and hands-on workshops. Programming ranges from live concerts and silent discos to film screenings, literary events, museum programming, comedy nights, drag shows, symphony performances and community workshops. All events are free and open to the public.
The festival is sponsored by Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District. Organizers said the event is intended to energize downtown during the winter months while highlighting the artists, venues and creative economy that contribute to Iowa City’s cultural identity. Participating artists are compensated through curated programming developed in partnership with individual venues.
“Free Week provides an opportunity for audiences to step into venues they may have never visited before, discover new artists, and experience the incredible breadth of our arts scene without barriers,” said Christopher Hunter, director of marketing for the Iowa City Downtown District. “By removing admission costs, our venues are opening their doors for everyone to explore what makes Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District a must-visit destination.”
Free Week was inspired by Austin’s Free Week in the Red River Cultural District but is tailored to Iowa City’s local arts community, organizers said.
Highlights of the 2026 festival include a homecoming performance by Iowa City-rooted singer-songwriter Elizabeth Moen at the Englert Theatre; a silent disco at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History; free movie screenings at FilmScene; and live music and performances at venues including Gabe’s, Elray’s Live & Dive, Vue Rooftop, Studio 13 and AlleyCat.
Additional programming includes the One Book Two Book Festival with Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature; hands-on workshops at the Stanley Museum of Art, Public Space One and Beadology; University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra performances at the Voxman Music Building featuring works by Lowell Liebermann and Gabriel Kahane; and a Ten-Minute Play Festival at the UI Theatre Building showcasing undergraduate playwrights.
“Free Week is all about celebrating the vibrant creativity of Iowa City’s spaces and the artists who make the Greatest Small City for the Arts,” said Brian Johannesen, programming director of the Englert Theatre. He said the Englert’s Free Week programming will feature Ms. Moen alongside singer-songwriters with deep ties to Iowa City’s music scene.
Most venues are located within walking distance of each other downtown. Organizers encourage attendees to dress for winter conditions and arrive early for popular events, as capacity limits may apply. Event details and updates will be available through individual venue websites.
Festival-goers can text FREEWEEK to 319-308-5218 for information about events and performers. During the festival, attendees may also use the number to complete a survey for a chance to win a gift basket with items and tickets donated by participating venues.
A complete schedule is available at xmarksthearts.com.
