The 2026 Montana Clay Tour runs Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with six host studios across the Helena area opening their doors for what has become one of the region's premier ceramic arts events. Admission is free and open to the public.
This year's tour features work by more than 40 artists, spanning pottery, ceramic sculpture, and installation art. The studio format puts visitors in direct contact with artists and their working spaces — a different experience than a gallery show, and one that draws both serious collectors and people who just want to spend a weekend afternoon looking at handmade objects in the places where they were made.
The Montana Clay Tour has grown steadily since its founding as a way to connect ceramic artists in the Helena region with a broader audience. A map of participating studios is available through the event's organizers. With the heat advisory in effect through Sunday evening, the tour offers a reason to get out in the cooler morning hours before temperatures peak.