In today’s culture, the term “GOAT”—greatest of all time—is everywhere, from sports to entertainment. For the 2026 Pageant of the Masters, the question is: who are the G.O.A.T.s of art? The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach proudly announces the 2026 Pageant of the Masters theme, “The Greatest of All Time” (G.O.A.T.), will celebrate the artists, innovators, and masterpieces that have defined the history of art. Running nightly from July 9 through September 4, 2026, next summer’s Pageant will invite audiences on a global journey through the timeless works and legendary creators to discover for themselves who truly deserves the title “G.O.A.T.” in a show filled with surprises, spectacle, and magic. Tickets go on sale December 1, 2025, and may be purchased online at www.PageantTickets.com or by phone at (800) 487-3378.
Masterpieces won’t just hang on walls—they’ll come alive in breathtaking tableaux vivants, blending art, music, and theatrical illusion. Audiences can expect a high-energy experience that celebrates not only the genius of the artists, but also the enduring power of their work to move and inspire.
“Do I really think the history of art has one artwork that can be considered the greatest of all time? No!” laughed longtime Pageant Director, Diane Challis Davy. “But that’s exactly what makes this show so exciting. We’ve taken on the challenge of finding forty works that could each make their case for being one of the greatest: whether for their technique, their influence, or their power to move us centuries later.”
“We think about what it means to be the greatest,” Challis Davy continued. “Does it mean the artwork that’s the most expensive, or the one most coveted, or the one that shows the most passion or technical skill? All of these things are worth considering. And yet the artist who created the ‘Venus de Milo’ remains unknown. Credit for the art may be important, but there’s also a point where anonymous art is somehow free to be appreciated independent of the artist’s identity.”
The 2026 Pageant will feature legendary works from Michelangelo, Diego Velázquez, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Norman Rockwell. “My personal favorites are John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer,” Davy added, “but works from around the world will also be given their due.”
Now in its 93rd year, the Pageant continues to thrive thanks to hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who bring these masterpieces to life and are truly the heart and soul of the production. The Festival’s Volunteer Research Committee has grown to 200 “art detectives,” submitting possible artworks for the 2026 production. While the committee provides invaluable research and inspiration, Director Diane Challis Davy makes the final selections, highlighting both the Pageant’s deep community involvement and her creative vision.
Presented under the stars in the Pageant’s 2,600-seat Irvine Bowl amphitheater, real people will step into the spotlight, perfectly posing as their counterparts in larger-than-life works of art. Each living picture will unfold with the Pageant’s signature fusion of stage magic, original music performed by a live orchestra, and captivating narration.
“Art remains a fascinating window into history, creativity, and our common humanity,” said scriptwriter Dan Duling. “When you open yourself to it, it’s immediate…and personal.”
Challis Davy concluded, “I like to think that’s also what we do here at the Pageant. Just as the Festival supports art in our community, I hope to see this year’s Pageant encouraging everyone’s greater appreciation for art.”
The 2026 Pageant of the Masters production “The Greatest of All Time” will run nightly from July 9 through September 4, 2026. Advance tickets go on sale December 1, 2025. For updates, follow the Festival on social media @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.