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BLINK, Cincinnati’s vibrant light and art festival, is an exciting opportunity to experience the city through a cultural lens. This guide spotlights the talented Black visual artists, live performers, and Black-owned businesses that make BLINK a celebration of diversity and creativity. From must-see art installations to dining at local Black-owned restaurants, along with essential parking, road closure, and transportation details, this guide will help you navigate BLINK while embracing the richness of Cincinnati’s Black culture.

The BLINK® experience is October 8-11, 2026 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

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Art and Experiences from Black Artists Featured at BLINK 

Discover the incredible talent of Black artists, muralists, filmmakers, and animators showcased at BLINK, where vibrant creativity and diverse perspectives come to life.

Mural by Max Sansing

1823 Vine Street (Findlay Market Zone)
Max Sansing is a Chicago-based fine artist and one of the city’s most prolific and talented muralists. His distinct aesthetic fuses the color-drenched dynamism of street art with the technical elegance of photorealism. Born and raised on the South Side by two artistic parents, Sansing discovered his passion and creative gift at an early age. During his youth he was involved with several graffiti crews and taught himself oil painting before completing formal training at the American Academy of Art. In addition to his studio practice, Sansing is frequently commissioned to create large-scale murals and experiential installations across the country. He is deeply committed to supporting his Chicago community and is involved with numerous youth programs that expand arts opportunities in underserved areas. His work has been featured in gallery shows and special events in Chicago, New York, and Miami among others.

Website | Instagram

Mural by Jim Tucker and Frank Young

1730 Race Street (Findlay Market Zone)
Frank D. Young is an American fine art photographer whose portraits treat their subjects as living documents of their existence. Though he has always had a camera in his hands, he began his journey as an artist in 2008, building a practice rooted in analog processes and equipment while moving fluidly between film and digital capture. Since 2012, he has documented the Black residents of Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine, a neighborhood reshaped by economic revitalization and gentrification, creating a portrait record of a community in the midst of change. His clients include the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, the World Affairs Council of America, 1001 Colors, Duke Energy, Mortar, 3CDC, and The City Flea. Drawing on influences from Gordon Parks and Richard Avedon to Carrie Mae Weems, Jamel Shabazz, and Spike Lee, his work bridges documentary tradition and fine art portraiture, framing everyday people with the dignity and permanence of the historical record.

Website | Instagram

Funk Glasses

150 W 5th Street (Fountain Zone)
Black Art Speaks is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit, membership-driven artist collective dedicated to promoting Black culture, social justice, and creative expression through the elevation of Black artists’ voices. Founded in 2020, the organization brings together artists, community leaders, and advocates who use art as a catalyst for dialogue, healing, and community impact. BAS is best known for creating Cincinnati’s iconic Black Lives Matter mural and has since developed numerous public art initiatives, exhibitions, educational programs, and professional development opportunities for Black artists. Through collaboration, advocacy, and public art, Black Art Speaks continues to foster cultural awareness, create economic opportunities for artists, and strengthen communities throughout Greater Cincinnati.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

In Light of Us

28 Oneida Aly (Fountain Zone)
Mz.Icar Collective is an interdisciplinary group of artists creating bold, community-centered public art that blends storytelling, material culture, and speculative imagination. Their collaborative practice spans murals, sculptural installations, textiles, projection mapping, and immersive environments that invite audiences into experiences of joy, reflection, and belonging. Rooted in deep engagement with local communities and cultural histories, their work amplifies underrepresented voices while exploring how emerging technologies like augmented reality and interactive projection can support cultural storytelling and memory-making. Their projects have been installed across cities including Boston, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Green Bay, and Philadelphia, and have been featured in collaborations with festivals and institutions such as BLINK and The Roots Picnic.

Website | Instagram

3rd Street Wall Projections

308 Race Street (Fountain Zone)
Vince Fraser is a pioneering British Afro-surrealist artist whose work sits at the intersection of digital art, visual storytelling, and cultural reclamation. With a career spanning over two decades, he has evolved from a successful commercial illustrator into a visionary digital artist known for immersive works that reimagine Black identity and heritage through an Afro-diasporic lens. Rooted in Afro-surrealism, his practice explores the spiritual, historical, and mythic dimensions of Black life in the present moment, blending photorealistic detail with African symbolism, surreal environments, and contemporary digital aesthetics.

Instagram

Future Cities No. 1, 2, and 3

124 Mehring Way E (The Banks Zone)
Cedric Michael Cox creates vibrant paintings that fuse abstraction and recognizable imagery into rhythmic compositions inspired by music, nature, architecture, and art history, ranging from cubist geometric forms to surreal cityscapes and floral-like environments.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Voyage to Atlantis Fashion Show

190 W Mehring Way (The Banks Zone)
Thursday

7 p.m. — Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame — Open to Guests Fashion + Live Sketching for Guests
7:15 p.m. — Alicia Reece — Welcome & Artist Spotlight on The Isley Brothers
7:30 p.m. — Live Music & Isley Brothers Tribute — Mic. Carr & Shades
8:30 p.m. — Asha Ama Fashion Show
9:30 p.m. — Mentee Designer Fashion Show — Diabou Fall

Friday

7 p.m. — Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Open to Guests + Fashion Live Sketching for Guests
7:15 p.m. — Alicia Reece — Welcome & Artist Spotlight on Sal Dali
7:30 p.m. — Live Beyoncé-Themed Music & Sal Dali Tribute + Blue Couch Series
8:30 p.m. — Asha Ama Fashion Show
9:15 p.m. — Mentee Designer Fashion Show: Makeda Zy’Ann

Saturday

7 p.m. — Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame — Open to Guests + Fashion Live Sketching for Guests
7:15 p.m. — Alicia Reece — Welcome & Artist Spotlight on Hi-Tek + M80
7:30 p.m. — Live Music & Hi-Tek + M80 Tribute — Turich Benjy, M80
8:30 p.m. — Asha Ama Fashion Show
9:30 p.m. — Mentee Designer Fashion Show — Fashionista Franklin

Sunday

7 p.m. — Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame — Open to Guests + Fashion Live Sketching for Guests
7:15 p.m. — Alicia Reece — Welcome & Artist Spotlight on Penny Ford
7:30 p.m. — Live Music & Penny Ford Tribute — Cléo’crt
8:30 p.m. — Asha Ama Fashion Show
9:30 p.m. — Mentee Designer Fashion Show — Makémé Sangaré & Maddy Love

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Live Entertainment featuring Black Performers during BLINK 

Check back for the full lineup of Black performers at BLINK, featuring jazz, hip-hop, reggae, and more. Enjoy the sounds of local and regional African American DJs, musicians, bands, and drumlines.

BLINK

Additional Events to experience before, during, and after BLINK 

With so much happening at BLINK, several exciting events kick off before the festival and continue even after it ends.

Saturday, October 3

Cincinnati Art Week

Through October 10
Multiple Venues in Over-the-Rhine
Most experiences are free to attend, though select special programs may require reservations or tickets.
Brings exhibitions, pop-up galleries, social gatherings, and special programming to Over-the-Rhine. Designed by artists, the week connects residents and visitors with exhibitions, conversations, creative experiences, public programming and the people shaping Cincinnati’s cultural landscape.

Sunday, October 4

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

1 p.m.
Paycor Stadium (The Banks)
Starting at $121
A can’t-miss matchup packed with big plays, electrifying energy, and nonstop game-day excitement.

Fountain District Fanfest: Overtime

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Fountain Square (Downtown)
Free Admission
The Fountain District is the place to be during football season! Looking for somewhere to celebrate (or cry silently) after the game? Head to Fountain Square for activities like music, cornhole, drink specials and more!

Tuesday, October 6

7:30 p.m.
Elm Street Plaza (Downtown)
$54.42
Starting at Elm Street Plaza, you’ll follow a unique 2.6-mile route experiencing the magic and wonder of BLINK before the crowds arrive. This is not your typical race… it is a chance to move through the city, take in the art, and experience the energy of BLINK in a way few people ever will.

Run the Night After Party

8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Elm Street Plaza (Downtown)
Included for race participants
Celebrate your illuminated finish with music from DJ Hannah, delicious bites from Fifty West Burger Bar, and running gear and community from Sprints Running Supply Co.

Wednesday, October 7

Nina Simone Piano Competition

6 p.m.
Music Hall (OTR)
$35
Named in honor of the legendary Nina Simone — an artist whose extraordinary musicianship transcended genres and challenged the boundaries of classical music — the Competition provides a highly visible platform for emerging artists to share their gifts, gain professional experience and open doors to new opportunities.

6:30 p.m.
Findlay Market (OTR)
Free Admission, Registration Requested
Open to everyone—all ages and abilities. All people-powered wheels are welcome, including bikes, skates, blades, and boards. The Bright Ride is a short, flat, fun route around Over-the-Rhine and the central urban basin.

Thursday, October 8

12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Findlay Market (OTR)
Starting at $40
Explore Market Square as you take in the energy of Findlay Market, sample local flavors, and discover new and recent BLINK murals throughout the market.

4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Central Parkway between Liberty Street and West 14th Street (OTR)
Free Admission
Featuring luminous interactive installations, electrifying live performances, hands-on creative experiences, and opportunities to create and wear your own light art, Ready, Set, BLINK! serves as the spark that ignites BLINK’s four-day celebration of art, creativity, technology, and community.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Starting hubs:

$10 per person
Experience BLINK with a local tour guide from Urban Hikers. Catch more art and more stories about the streets you’re walking on. Tours leave from 5 hubs with 25 spaces in each group. Through October 11.

Asianati Night Market

Thursday–Saturday: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Court Street Plaza (Downtown)
Free Admission
Experience the vibrant tastes, sounds, and smells of Asia’s night markets. Get ready for a variety of Asian cuisine, entertainment, games, and activities surrounded by captivating art installations all on Court Street Plaza. Through October 11.

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Findlay Market (OTR)
$175
Reserve your own table at Findlay Market for a night at BLINK! Each package includes seating for up to 10 guests and food and drink options to enjoy throughout the evening. Through October 11.

6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Coughlin Commons (OTR)
Starting at $25 per night
This indoor BLINK experience gives you a place to step inside, grab a drink, take a break, and enjoy the night all while being right in the heart of Findlay Market. Through October 11.

CeCe Winans with Charity Gayle, Red Worship, & Terrian

7 p.m.
Heritage Bank Center (Downtown)
Starting at $40
Winans is excited to bring along some of the biggest worship leaders for an evening designed to be unlike anything audiences have experienced before.

Friday, October 9

Tab Benoit Blues Concert

8 p.m.
Taft Theatre (Downtown)
Starting at $57
A four-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and guitarist who, for more than thirty years, has built a remarkable career on the foundation of his gritty and soulful Delta swamp blues.

Glow & Flow with Blu

8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Zencinnati (OTR)
Starting at $15
Enjoy yoga mini sessions, photo opps, glow gear, and more!

Silent Disco

8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Findlay Market (OTR)
Free Admission
Take a break from exploring and hit the dance floor the Farm Shed. Cincinnati Public Radio will provide the headphones and music—all you need to bring are your coolest dance moves! All ages are welcome to attend. Through October 10.

Saturday, October 10

Karyn White R&B Concert

7:30 p.m.
Ludlow Garage (Clifton)
Starting at $45
Known for hits like “Superwoman” and “Secret Rendezvous,” White brings her powerhouse vocals and timeless style. Fans can look forward to a soulful, high-energy performance that showcases why she remains one of the defining voices of ’90s R&B.

BLINK

Downtown Black-owned Businesses to check out during BLINK 

Find Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, nightclubs, lounges, and entertainment venues in downtown Cincinnati to explore during BLINK.

Downtown black-owned business guide
Black-owned eateries in Downtown Cincinnati | BLINK

Navigating BLINK requires some planning. Below, find everything you need to know about parking, travel options, accessibility, and road closures to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.

Parking 

BLINK is partnering with LAZ Parking, which offers reserved parking spaces at select locations. Once you purchase your reserved parking pass, you will see a button on the confirmation page to view your pass, as well as in a confirmation email. 

Reserve a spot today

Buses

Metro, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA), and Red Bike are making it easier for attendees to experience BLINK, illuminated by ArtsWave , without the stress of driving and parking downtown.

Transit options will include regular service and designated Park & Rides connecting directly to the nation’s largest immersive festival of art and light, with discounted tickets available for both options through the Transit app. Discounted weekly Red Bike passes will also be available in the Transit app to connect riders to these transit services.

Park & Ride Service
Designated Park & Ride locations will allow attendees to park and take transit directly to BLINK using special discounted passes available through the Transit app. Park & Ride service will drop attendees off at the Riverfront Transit Center.

Transit Service
Attendees may also use Metro, TANK, BCRTA and Red Bike services to travel to BLINK, with special discounted transit passes available through the Transit app. Street closures for BLINK installations and pedestrian activity will require service adjustments and temporary stop changes throughout the event area. Government Square will close nightly at 6 p.m., with service relocating to the Riverfront Transit Center until 12:30 a.m.

Metro Access service will also be available for eligible customers traveling to and from BLINK. Customers should contact Metro Access in advance for reservation information and assistance planning their trip

Before traveling, customers should check their transit provider ’s website for full details and the latest information:

Discounted Tickets Through the Transit App
Riders are encouraged to purchase special discounted BLINK passes through the Transit app before traveling. Passes are valid on both regular transit service and designated Park & Ride service, making the app the easiest way to pay, plan trips and access real-time bus information throughout the event.

Discounted tickets go on sale Oct. 5 through the Transit app. Available options include:

  • A One-Day BLINK Pass, valid October 8-11 for 24 hours after activation – $2.20
  • A Four-Day BLINK Pass, valid October 8-11 – $8.00
  • A One-Day Group Pass, valid October 8-11 for up to four people for 24 hours after activation – $8.00
learn more

Streetcar 

The Connector, Cincinnati’s streetcar, will operate during the four-day festival free of charge.   

Road Closures

BLINK Run the Night

Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m. Streets Close, 9 p.m. Streets Reopened

  • Elm Street- closed between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (Closes at 4:30 p.m. for Start/ Finish Line Construction)
  • Elm Street- closed between Fifth Street and Mehring Way
  • Fifth Street- closed between Central Avenue and Race Street
  • Fourth Street- closed between Race Street and Plum Street
  • Third Street- westbound closed between Race Street and Plum Street
  • Second Street- closed between the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and Race Street
  • Central Avenue- southbound closed between Seventh Street and Fifth Street
  • Central Avenue- northbound closed between Third Street and Fifth Street
  • Freedom Way- closed between Elm Street and Race Street
  • Mehring Way- closed between Central Avenue and E Pete Rose Way
  • Johnny Bench Way- closed
  • E Pete Rose Way- closed west of Broadway

Ready. Set. BLINK! Opening Ceremony

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

  • Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Ezzard Charles Drive (Closes at 6 a.m. for block party construction)
  • Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Elm Street
  • Fourteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street
  • Magnolia Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access the Central Parkway)
  • Fifteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access the Central Parkway)
  • Odeon Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access the Central Parkway)
  • Wade Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access the Central Parkway)

BLINK Festival

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 9-11, 2026

Streets close:  7 p.m.

Streets Reopen (End of Festival) 11 p.m.

 The following streets will close nightly from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 9-11, 2026:

NORTH- SOUTH Streets

  • Elm Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Street (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
  • Race Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Streets (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
  • Vine Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
  • Walnut Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
  • Main Street- closed between Second Street and Twelfth Street (Second Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street and Central Parkway remain open for east-west traffic) (Main Street will close to maintain the streetcar)
  • Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Central Parkway

EAST-WEST Streets:

  • Fourth Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street.  The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
  • Seventh Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street.  The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
  • Charles Street- closed between Central Parkway and Elm Street
  • Twelfth Street- closed to through traffic between Main Street and Central Parkway
  • Fourteenth Street- closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street
  • Grant Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
  • Magnolia Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
  • Odeon Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
  • Wade Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
  • Green Street- closed to through traffic between Vine Street and Elm Street
  • Elder Street- closed between Vine Street and Central Parkway

In addition to these street closures during BLINK Festival hours, the following blocks will close and remain closed for the entire week:

  • Freedom Way- closed between Race Street and Marian Spencer Way (Rosa Parks Street will remain open during non-event hours)
  • Plum Street- closed between Ninth Street and Eighth Street
  • Court Street- closed between Race Street and Walnut Street (Vine Street will remain open during non-event hours)
  • Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street
  • Elder Street- closed between Campbell Street and Elm Street

MISC. Closures

  • Suspension Bridge- closed 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly

Additional reminders: Local residential access will be maintained with the assistance of Cincinnati Police Department officers on site.  Additional streets may close as needed for traffic volumes. 

Accessibility

Guests can enjoy:

  • Accessible Viewing Areas for various installations,
  • Accessible Pathways to make travel from one installation to another smooth,
  • Accessible Drop-Off and Pick-Up points throughout the city,
  • ASL Interpreting for events and music
  • A dedicated Accessible Viewing Area for the Opening Ceremony, Parade and Drone Shows.

If you have questions, please email Accessibility Director Holly Maniatty at Holly@allinevents.co.   

BLINK

The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.

Images provided by AdobeStock and BLINK

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Written by Sophie Barsan

Sophie Barsan is a writer at The Voice of Black Cincinnati, where she covers events and client -focused content. Sophie's work is central to keeping the community informed about Cincinnati vibrant array of activities and opportunities. Her dedication to exploring and highlighting the city's cultural richness makes her stories a must-read for anyone looking to engage with the local scene. Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn for a deeper look into her articles and contributions.

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