The 2026 Boom! Street Art & Mural Festival in Salina has been canceled, with organizers citing uncertainty surrounding an unresolved legal matter involving the city's sign ordinances.

The Salina Kanvas Project announced the decision Monday, saying the legal matter does not directly involve Boom!, but has created enough uncertainty that organizers determined proceeding with this year's festival would not be responsible.

Organizers emphasized that the cancellation is not intended as criticism of the City of Salina or any of the parties involved in the legal matter.

According to the organization, the decision was made in an effort to protect future public art opportunities and avoid potential complications for participating artists, property owners, sponsors and other partners.

The cancellation comes after planning had already begun for the 2026 festival, with artists, sponsors, volunteers and property owners investing time and resources into the event.

Organizers said they hope Boom! can return in 2027 once there is a clearer path forward.

Boom! has brought large-scale murals and artists to Salina, adding public artwork to buildings throughout the community.

"This is a painful pause, but it is not the end of Boom!," organizers said in announcing the cancellation.

The unresolved sign ordinance matter referenced in the announcement was not identified by the Salina Kanvas Project in its statement.