NORTHEAST IOWA ~
The painting hanging on the wall. The piece of pottery sitting on a shelf. The jewelry catching the light. The sculpture that makes you stop for a second look.
But where did it begin?
Next weekend, doors to working artistsâ spaces across Northeast Iowa will open for the 29th Annual Northeast Iowa Artistsâ Studio Tour, offering visitors a chance to see not only the finished art, but the studios, tools, inspirations and surroundings where the work begins.
The self~guided tour runs Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, with participating studios open 10 a.m.~5 p.m. each day.
Decorah serves as the central hub, with the tour reaching up to approximately 40 miles in different directions through Northeast Iowa.
The 2026 tour was originally announced with 41 artists at 31 locations, bringing together artists working throughout the region.
And part of the fun may be the trip between stops.
Rather than gathering everyone beneath one roof, this is a drive~yourself tour, winding along Northeast Iowaâs valleys, ridge tops, hilly roads and countryside as visitors choose their own route from studio to studio.
It gives people a chance to see something we donât always get to see:
The place before the piece.
The workbench.
The tools.
The surroundings.
And the spaces where an idea slowly becomes something someone else may someday take home.
There is one important update for those planning their route this year. Tour organizers announced that the location featuring artists Patti Brice and Brian Malaise will not be open during the October 9~11 tour because of a health issue. Visitors are encouraged to check the current tour information and map when planning their stops.
So if youâve ever looked at something handmade and wondered,
âHow in the world did somebody make that?â
Next weekend might be your chance to go looking behind the studio door. đ¨â¤ď¸
29th Annual Northeast Iowa Artistsâ Studio Tour
October 9, 10 & 11, 2026
10 a.m.~5 p.m. daily
Self~guided tour throughout Northeast Iowa
Deliverance Hope ~â¤ď¸ Word âRound Town ~ Good Things Goinâ âRound Town!
Event details and participating locations can change, so please check the official tour information and current map before heading out.
Keep Goin’ ‘Round Town
Thereâs always another story waiting just around the corner.