In preparation for the new Highmark Stadium to open in 2026, the Buffalo Bills announced a Public Art Program. The permanent art onsite will reflect Buffalo’s diverse community and fan traditions.
In preparation for the new Highmark Stadium to open in 2026, the Buffalo Bills announced a Public Art Program. The permanent art onsite will reflect Buffalo’s diverse community and fan traditions.
The art included in the program will include sculptures, murals and ceiling art all of various sizes and budgets, at every level of the stadium. The team announced that the submission period will run through the end of March 2025, and professional artists from Buffalo and the surrounding region are encouraged to submit their designs.
According to the Buffalo Bills Press Room, “The Buffalo Bills Public Art Program at New Highmark Stadium is dedicated to an equitable art procurement process. Calls for Artists within the stadium will follow national best practice standards for public art, receptive Q&A, transparent details, and public sharing.”
The process for the Public Art Program will mirror last year’s Buffalo statue project. In 2024, the Bills sought out local artists to create buffalo sculptures to be placed at the new Highmark Stadium. That submission period closed in late spring 2024, and the Bills are currently reviewing proposals by the semi-finalists.
Bills’ vice president of stadium relations, Penny Semaia, said, “For more than 50 years, the Buffalo Bills have contributed greatly to Western New York through a variety of impactful initiatives. The Public Art Program at New Highmark Stadium will allow artists throughout Western New York to showcase their talents to visitors throughout the country."
The selection of artists will be announced this summer 2025.
The new Highmark Stadium, expected to open for the 2026 football season, is estimated to cost more than $2 billion. Of that, New York State is providing $600 million, the county is providing $250 million, and the Bills are covering the remaining costs. Renderings released in January showcased the future home of the Bills, complete with the team’s iconic open-roof style, modern concourses with views of the field where this art could soon hang.
