‘IMMERSE 2026’: Where art flies and the city glows

ORLANDO, Fla. — Creative City Project proudly announces the final headline performer and a
wave of immersive, large-scale art installations for IMMERSE 2026. Central Florida’s signature arts celebration returning to Downtown Orlando Feb. 20-22, 2026. The three-day event will transform 10 city blocks into a walkable, immersive festival filled with live performances, interactive art and unforgettable creative encounters.

Joining headline performers Blue Man Group, MESH and Orlando Vocal Collective, Immerse 2026 presented by AdventHealth welcomes a highly anticipated addition: Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney – The Aerial Pencil.

In addition to headline performances, audiences can experience glowing, interactive public art throughout Downtown Orlando, including The Art of the Heart, presented by AdventHealth and two returning audience favorite installations sponsored by OUC–The Reliable One.

IMMERSE 2026 will officially conclude on Sunday, Feb. 22 with the return of Color the Sky Fireworks over Lake Eola, a daytime fireworks finale that brings the weekend to a colorful, sky-filling close.

“IMMERSE is all about the kind of art you don’t just watch – you feel it,” said Cole NeSmith, founder and artistic director of Creative City Project. “From a sky-high Cirque du Soleil performance to glowing installations that invite people to play, reflect and connect, IMMERSE 2026 is built to surprise you at every turn.”

“We are honored to support IMMERSE 2026, presented by AdventHealth — a vibrant celebration of how the arts inspire connection, healing, and hope,” said Sharon Line Clary, senior vice president of community impact and partnership engagement at AdventHealth. “As we celebrate National Heart Month, our heart-shaped experience symbolizes the powerful connection between creativity and well-being — inspiring hope, reducing stress, and nurturing body, mind, and spirit. At AdventHealth, helping people feel whole guides everything we do, and IMMERSE beautifully brings that to life within our community.”

FINAL HEADLINER
Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney – The Aerial Pencil
Celebrating the moment when life first appears upon the animator’s paper, the “pencil test” becomes the essence of animation. In this special performance created for IMMERSE, aerial acrobat artist Saulo Sarmiento delivers a gravity-defying act that inspires the painter, played by Chloe Polson, to remember that the power of legacy, love and friendship endure and continue to inspire.

The performance is accompanied live onstage by drummer Landon Baker, creating a dynamic fusion of movement, storytelling and live music that lifts the experience into the sky above Downtown Orlando.

IMMERSIVE, LARGE-SCALE INSTALLATIONS
The Art of the Heart presented by AdventHealth (City Commons Plaza)
For the month of February, a 14-foot-tall heart will appear at City Commons Plaza. In the daytime, it’s a bright red heart. At night, it illuminates with a bright red neon glow. The heart frames guests making it great for photos and videos. Throughout the Plaza, 50 neon hearts, each about 20 inches tall, pop up amongst the flower beds, also illuminating each night.

Guests are invited to step into AdventHealth’s Art of the Heart experience – a celebration of how creativity connects to healing. New this year is an interactive digital art wall where guests can reflect and express what makes their heart feel whole by sharing uplifting words, meaningful shapes, or designs that speak to their spirit.

Then, visitors can wander through the glowing heart garden and snap a photo at the radiant heart sculpture – each moment designed to inspire joy, reflection, and connection.

OUC Lights and Raindrops (30 S. Orange Ave.)
An IMMERSE audience favorite, the OUC Lights are returning in 2026. The installation features thousands of LED lights hanging from a structure, providing a beautiful display of illuminated color. The OUC Lights promote energy efficiency and solar power, and the focal point of thousands of photos taken by event attendees. The installation allows guests to move among the lights and experience the energy of the night.

Accompanying the OUC Lights is an installation called OUC Raindrops, which originally appeared at Creative City Project’s Airplay event in 2022 and then Immerse last year. It features a series of illuminated raindrops that serve as an additional photo opportunity for audiences.

IMMERSE FINALE
Color the Sky Fireworks over Lake Eola (Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1 pm)
IMMERSE 2026 officially concludes on Sun., Feb. 22 at 1 pm with the return of Color the Sky Fireworks over Downtown Orlando’s iconic Lake Eola – a daytime fireworks finale that offers one last shared moment of awe and celebration to close out the weekend.
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TICKET OPTIONS and PRICING
While the heart of IMMERSE remains free and open to all, ticketed experiences allow guests to unlock even more of what the festival has to offer:

IMMERSE Full Experience — $25
Unlock more of the art you love. Includes entry into Architects of Air and admission to a special reserved viewing area for Sunday’s signature experience.

IMMERSE VIP Experience — $100
Experience IMMERSE at its most elevated. Enjoy a curated route through the event, access to exclusive VIP areas, intimate artist encounters, two drink tickets, and admission to the reserved viewing area for Sunday’s signature experience.

IMMERSE VIP Dining Experience — $180
Savor an exclusive chef-crafted dining experience on Orange Avenue and enjoy all the premium benefits of the VIP Experience — including VIP lounges, art encounters, drink tickets, and access to the reserved viewing area for Sunday’s signature experience.

Reserve your special experience at www.IMMERSEfest.com and learn more.
IMMERSE 2026 is presented by AdventHealth with additional support from the City of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board and Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Visit www.creativecityproject.com for more information about IMMERSE and other Creative City Project events.