Fête of Lights

Fête of Lights MICA Bicentennial Gala

Celebrate 200 Years of Creative Impact at the Maryland Institute College of Art. The historic tradition returns, with an immersive art experience and a parade of wearable art.

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: Main Building, 1300 West Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21217
Attire: Creative Formal (wearable art encouraged)

Gala in the Main Building (6:00 PM)

Enjoy cocktails, a reception-style dinner, and a front-row view of the Wearable Art Contest inside MICA’s historic Main Building. Gala guests join a festive parade to the Party on the Plaza, featuring music, dancing, and dessert in a heated tent.

Party in the Plaza (7:00 PM)

The Party in the Plaza, open to the MICA community and public, offers music, dancing, dessert, beverages, and creative displays in Brown Center and Cohen Plaza. Join the parade as it arrives and celebrate the Wearable Art Contest participants.

Ticket options

Proceeds support MICA’s Bicentennial Fund, sustaining the next wave of faculty and student innovation and community programming.

Reserve your tickets today

begins at 6:00 PM

Gala in the Main Building

Experience the Bicentennial Fete of Lights Gala inside MICA’s historic Main Building. This ticket includes cocktails, a reception-style dinner, and a front row view of the Wearable Art Contest. Gala guests will follow the celebratory parade down the Main Building steps to the Party on the Plaza, located in a heated tent on Cohen Plaza, where they will continue the evening with music, dancing, and dessert.

Tickets start at $350

beginning at 7:00 PM

Party in the Plaza

Join the Bicentennial Party in the Plaza, hosted in Brown Center and Cohen Plaza. This ticket includes access to music, dancing, dessert and creative contributions from the MICA community. Open to alumni, staff, faculty, neighbors, and friends. Guests over 21 will receive a complimentary drink ticket.

Tickets start at $50 for Community members and $15 for MICA students (with ID)

call for entries

Participate in the Wearable Art Parade

The Bicentennial Steering Committee wants to highlight the exceptional creativity of the MICA community with a curated parade of wearable art. Students, alumni, staff, and faculty can submit their wearable art or costumes for consideration by a jury of MICA faculty and staff.

MICA's Bicentennial: Celebrating Two Centuries

Join the festivities as MICA honors its 200-year history, recognizes its present success, and looks forward to a bright future. Throughout 2026, the College will be sharing community stories and announcing one-of-a-kind events on campus, in Baltimore, and beyond.

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