Vote for 2026 Santa Barbara Solstice Poster Design

The 2026 Santa Barbara Summer Solstice season is off to a start, with local artists submitting art for this year’s poster and T-shirt designs. The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA) hosted a reception at their headquarters at 419 State Street during First Thursday.

The winning entry will not only become the 2026 Poster and T-shirt design. I believe it will also win a cash prize. The art work will be on display until the end of this week. Hurry on over and vote for your favorite design! And check out all of the other cool art!

You can also vote online here: https://www.solsticeparade.com/about/poster-artist-submissions-2026

Here are my many photos from the reception, including most of the art entries. This year’s Solstice Theme is “Wave”. Which can have many meanings!

There is not space here to show all of the designs, so I will just showcase some of my favorites. In my decades of observations, the most successful designs are bold, simple and clear with bright colors and without too much intricate detail.

Of course, I am biased toward my dear friend Pali and his art. He kindly posed with me and his creation “Surfing the Wave to the Summer Solstice”.

But I also loved the piece by Paul Zagala Freedom “Feel the Wave”. It looks like watercolor, pen and ink. But he created it on an iPad.

Richard McLaughlin is a long time artist and past Board member of Solstice. He created an amazing mural on the side of the former Earthling Bookstore. The mural was carefully relocated to the Granada Garage. Here Richard posed with a study he made for that mural.

Here I posed with then Mayor Harriet Miller on October 21, 1995 at the original dedication of the mural. I was in costume after I performed on my unicycle.

Here my brother and his wife posed with the mural in its current location when they came to visit in 2016.

Richard and his wife Emma Jane Huerta collaborated on this poster art entry “Sun With Lips”

Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association Executive Director Robin Elander did not submit any art. But she has been a past Executive Director for Solstice and she was responsible for providing the space. Here she kindly posed for me.

I loved this art by Karen Folsom “Sun Rider”. But wouldn’t it be even better with just one wheel?

Larry Vigon has been a featured Solstice artist in the past. He is a master of offering bold simplicity that works well for poster designs. Here are two pieces he submitted this year. First, “Sun Surfer”.

And, simply, “Waves” with two kinds of waves at once.

Buffy Jo Grenier offered “Freedom Waves”

Past Solstice Executive Director Claudia Bratton created “Let It Shine”

Stephanie Ingoldsby made “The Siren” of Homer’s myth.

Here are a few more photos of some of the attendees. First, regular Solstice participants Ron Glover, Joan Melendez, Rich McLaughlin, Riccardo Morrison, Justin Gunn. Justin is President of the current Board.

Solstice Executive Director Penny Little (right) is with regular Solstice artist Katreece Montgomery (middle) and her partner.

Beth Amine in the pink top is an artistic powerhouse in Santa Barbara. Notably, the creator of the whale on Stearn’s Wharf.

Artist Paul Zagala Freedom (right) posed with his wife Krystal Zagala Freedom (left) with Michael White and Meighann Athena Helene.

Visit the Solstice web site for more information and/or to donate to help make this year’s Solstice the best ever!

https://www.solsticeparade.com/