The future of the Wichita Falls Art Walk is uncertain after organizers announced they will no longer produce the event in 2026, prompting artists, city officials and supporters to meet Monday, Feb. 9, at the Big Blue Atrium.

Downtown Wichita Falls Development announced Jan. 30 that it will no longer produce the Art Walk in 2026. The organization lost most of its funding last year, and the event has become too large for it to manage.

Art walk founder and local business owner Sam Pak led the meeting and shared his thoughts on what changes would need to be made to continue the event.  The main issues are funding, security, safety and sanitation, according to Pak.

“We need a well-established nonprofit organization to step up and take ownership of the Art Walk. We need seed money from the city to help them begin and help it be sustainable,” Pak said. Future events will also need boundaries and a better registration process for vendors.

Community members were given the opportunity to share their thoughts. Many said the event provides a place to gather, belong and feel part of something bigger than themselves. Others said the city needs it to give people “something to do.” Several artists expressed concern about the loss of income because of the cancellation.

“This is something I count on to get through from March to October,” one artist said.

Others agreed and spoke about the uncertainty of investing time and money in inventory if they may not have a place to sell their work.

City Council member Mike Battaglino, District 4, reassured the crowd that the art walk was on the council’s agenda.

“I can promise you that the mayor and the rest of the council are talking about this really important decision. It’s important to them,” Battaglino said.

The city of Wichita Falls has hosted the After-Hours Art Walk for nearly a decade in its downtown streets. It started as a small art show and grew into an event spanning more than four city blocks, with food vendors, live music and other entertainment. The free event gives artists and vendors space to display and sell their work and interact with the public.

The Art Walk has been popular with students at MSU, who attend and sell their artwork.

No official plan to continue the art walk has been announced. Those who would like to see it continue can contact Wichita Falls city officials through the city’s website at https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/1996/Contact.