Polka-DOTober: Blink 2026 at AAC
OCTOBER 8 – 11, 2026 | 7 – 11 PM
This October, AAC will transform its Over-the-Rhine campus into a destination for BLINK 2026 with Polka-DOTober, a four-day and four-night celebration of art, light, music, performance, and community.
From October 8–11th, the AAC building and Jackson Street will be a living canvas filled with large-scale 3D projection mapping, professional and student-created light sculptures, DJs and live music, dance performances, fire performers, LED performance art, exhibitions, hands-on community activities, and more. AAC students are creating illuminated sculptures for the event, performing with LED wings and other light-based works, and offering glow-in-the-dark face painting for BLINK visitors. Developed by AAC students, faculty, and staff, Polka-DOTober extends the Art Academy beyond its walls and brings creative experimentation directly into the streets of Over-the-Rhine.
During BLINK, AAC will also host Stinkstock, AAC’s famous rock concert, for a special night of live music. BLINK visitors are also invited inside throughout the weekend to view exhibitions from the FOTOFOCUS Biennial: The Long View. See below for the full schedule of art, music, dance, and fun!
Full BLINK Schedule:
Thursday, October 8
7:30-8 pm – Dance Flash Fusion
8–9:30 pm – DJ BOSS LADY
9:30–11 pm – DJ Chizzo fo Rizzo
Friday, October 9
7:30-8 pm – Dance Flash Fusion
Fire Performance: Gia Bolton
8–9 pm – DJ Sabastooge
Fire Performance: Rachel Glover
9–10 pm – DJ X-ian
Fire Performance: Ariana Rinehart
10–11 pm – DJ Chizzo fo Rizzo
Fire Performance: Gabe Ford
Saturday, October 10
1-3 pm – Chalk Art + Hula Hoop Jam
3-3:30 pm – Marshmallow the skunk from the Cincinnati Zoo visits AAC
7:30-8 pm – Dance Flash Fusion
9:30-10:30 pm – Fire Performance: Ariana Rinehart
Fire Performance: Gabe Ford
7-11 pm – STINKSTOCK
Sunday, October 11
7:30-8 pm – Dance Flash Fusion
7–8 pm – DJ IROH
8–11 pm – DJ Marble Garden
