top of page

Our Awards

Over the years, the Des Moines Arts Festival® presented by Nationwide has been recognized by a number of associations and trade magazines, making it the most celebrated event in Iowa. No awards have been more significant to the emergence of the Festival on the international stage as the Grand Pinnacle Award and over 350 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals & Events Association.

Screenshot 2024-10-04 115817.png

Des Moines, Iowa recognized by the International Festivals and Events Association as a
World Festival & Event City.

2023 Awards & Recognition 

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

  • Winner of 12 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

    • Gold Awards received for Best E-Newsletter, Best Commemorative Poster, Best Overall Merchandising Program, Best Educational Program, and Best Community Outreach Program

    • Silver Awards received for Best Single Digital/Social Ad, Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal, and Best Overall Entertainment Program

    • Bronze Awards received for Best Facebook Site, Best Single Newspaper Display Ad, Best Hat, Best Individual Sponsor Follow-Up Report, Best Children’s Programming

2022 Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 12 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

    • Gold Awards received for Best Website, Best Outdoor Billboard, Best T-Shirt Design, Best Hat, Best Overall Merchandise Program, Best Green Program, and Best Food & Beverage Program.

    • Silver Awards received for Best Commemorative Poster.

    • Bronze Awards received for Best Street Banner and Best Volunteer Program.

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

2021 Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 12 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

2019 Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 27 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

2018 Awards & Recognition

  • Gold Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 27 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

2017 Awards & Recognition

  • Bronze Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 28 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

  • Best Festival in Iowa by AmericanTowns Media

  • Top Festival by Artfair Insiders

2016 Awards & Recognition

  • Gold Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 25 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named 2016 Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

2015 Awards & Recognition

  • Gold Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 26 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named 2015 Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

2014 Awards & Recognition

  • Gold Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 21 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named 2014 Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

2013 Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 32 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • Named 2013 Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

2012 Awards & Recognition

  • Bronze Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 25 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.

  • The Encore Award from Bravo Greater Des Moines.

  • Named 2012 Best Cultural Attraction by the Des Moines Business Record

  • Best Annual Event from CityView Best of Des Moines Annual Reader's Poll

2011 Awards & Recognition

  • Bronze Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 19 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Named 2011 Best Cultural Attraction in Des Moines by the Des Moines Business Record.

2010 Awards & Recognition

  • Gold Grand Pinnacle Award reflecting the "best festival in the world" by the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 21 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals & Events Assocoation.

  • Inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Association of Independent Artists.

  • Named 2010 Best Cultural Event in Des Moines by the Des Moines Business Record.

  • 2010 Top 10 Art Fair & Festival by AmericanStyle Magazine.

  • Hometown Hero Award from Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau.

2009 Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of 22 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Named 2009 Best Cultural Event in Des Moines by the Des Moines Business Record.

  • 2009 Top 10 Art Fair & Festival by AmericanStyle Magazine.

2008 Awards & Recognition

  • Winner of 17 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Named 2008 Best Cultural Event in Des Moines by the Des Moines Business Record.

  • 2008 Top 10 Art Fair & Festival by AmericanStyle Magazine (No. 10).

2007 Awards & Recognition

  • Bronze Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner 17 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival & Events Association.

  • Named Best Cultural Attraction of 2007 by Des Moines' Business Record.

  • Named one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2007 by The American Bus Association (ABA).

2006 Awards & Recognition

  • Bronze Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association.

  • Winner of eight Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival & Events Association.

Other Notable Achievements

  • Winner of four National Association of Independent Artist (NAIA) Artist Choice Awards.

  • Received the 2004 Tourism and the Arts Award at the annual Iowa Tourism Conference.

  • 2004 winner of 11 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival & Events Association.

  • 2003 winner of 11 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival & Events Association.

  • 2002 winner of two Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival & Events Association.

  • Named the 2001 Iowa Tourism Event of the Year by the Iowa Division of Tourism.

  • Named Best Arts Show by Cityview.

bottom of page