On May 8, 2026, hundreds of young artists and performers will have the opportunity to experience the Mercer County Teen Arts Festival. This annual festival provides high school and middle school students from Mercer County’s public, private, parochial, and independent schools the opportunity for a day of full arts immersion at the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College.
“Each year it’s a joy to see young people from every part of Mercer come together to learn, grow, and show off their talents at Teen Arts,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “I want to give a big thanks to all the teachers and school staff who partner with us each year to make this event such a success, and I want to recognize the team at Mercer County Community College for being great hosts every year.”
This one-day celebration of the arts consists of Master Classes, workshops, and hands-on art making activities. Through these sessions, teens have an opportunity to make new connections and network with peers, to learn new artistic skills, and to enhance skills they already have. The registration deadline is Feb. 13, 2026.
Mercer County Teen Arts Festival workshops are offered across multiple artistic disciplines. Many workshops are led by Mercer County Community College’s talented faculty members. Among the diverse offerings are classes in media and visual art, dance, drama, vocal and instrumental music, film, and creative writing.
Critique sessions are also a key aspect of the day. Experts and teachers in each arts field offer students constructive feedback on their work and performances, suggestions for future exploration in their field, and even guidance for their future academic and career endeavors. These critiques offer a real opportunity for the students to understand their work in a new light.
All art and performances presented for critique are further evaluated by adjudicators, and a select group of students are offered a special opportunity to present their work at the State Teen Arts Festival later in the year.
The day’s activities will run from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the Mercer County Community College campus, 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor, NJ 08550.
The Teen Arts Festival is presented by Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, the Board of County Commissioners and the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage. The Division is proud to welcome back Tim Hoh for his fourth year as Teen Arts Coordinator.
Students and families can contact their school’s administration or arts teachers to learn if that school is participating in this year’s festival. Individual students whose schools are not participating will have the opportunity to register online with the permission of a parent or guardian.
Questions about the Mercer County Teen Arts Festival may be directed to Tim Hoh at [email protected] or (609) 532-2634.
