St. Petersburg’s creative calendar kicks off October with the 2026 MUSE Awards on Oct. 2, highlighting the city’s ongoing commitment to arts and culture. The event arrives as the City of St. Petersburg celebrates another year of investment in artists, arts organizations, and public art projects that strengthen its identity as the “City of the Arts.”
The October City of the Arts newsletter spotlights a wide range of cultural momentum across the city, from the reopening of the historic Manhattan Casino to new public art installations and community-focused arts programming. The MUSE Awards are part of a month packed with events, including St. Pete Arts Alliance activities, Artmosphere, ArtWalk, Creative Clay, and Old Southeast Artist Enclave gatherings.
This year’s arts programming also reflects a broader citywide effort to support creative placemaking and public engagement. Recent highlights include the unveiling of Egypt Hagan’s mural “Where We Gather” at the Manhattan Casino, new Pan-African-inspired bike racks installed nearby, and the donation of preparatory drawings for Alex Klahm’s Millennium Gateway. Together, these projects show how art continues to shape neighborhood pride and civic identity.
With awards, exhibitions, community meetings, and fall festivals ahead, Oct. 2 marks more than a single celebration—it signals the start of a season when St. Pete’s cultural scene takes center stage.