Heart-shaped goalllll: How city’s favorite parade of art, culture creates 150 openings for KC in 2026

Parade of Hearts scores new sculpture design as campaign looks down the pitch to World Cup potential

A newly revealed sculpture design for the 2026 Parade of Hearts campaign is more than just the fiberglass from which it takes shape, Carmen Zuniga told a crowd gathered for a sneak peek at the prototype for the popular culture-defining, city-spanning art installation.

2026 Parade of Hearts sculpture design; rendering courtesy of Dimensional Innovations

“It is actually a symbol of our Heartland’s creativity, our resilience and our shared identity as we prepare to take the global stage in 2026,” continued Zuniga, Parade of Hearts board member and vice president of commercial lending for nbkc, one of the campaign’s sponsors. “Parade of Hearts has never been just about the art. It’s about the unity we’ve created, the cultural diversity, the economic growth, the tourism and our civic pride. It tells the story of our entire Kansas City region.”

Click here to check out art pieces featured in the most recent Parade of Hearts campaign.

Along with unveiling the new heart design Tuesday during a press conference at nbkc bank, Parade of Hearts leadership also revealed the theme for the 2026 art experience: Hearts of Unity.

“It represents the power of connection,” Zuniga explained. “We are bringing together communities, cultures, and industries through art across the Kansas City region and beyond.”

As part of the annual campaign, artists are selected to add their own flair to blank sculpture canvases — like the one showcased Tuesday — using a variety of painting and mixed media techniques. The 150 hearts will then be on display throughout the Kansas City area starting in the spring of 2026.

Beginning June 9, artists are invited to submit designs, with the selection process concluding early next fall. 

Click here to watch for the call for artists or sign up for Parade of Hearts news alerts.

Community leaders reveal the sculpture design for the 2026 Parade of Hearts project; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Jenn Nussbeck, executive director of Parade of Hearts, right, speaks alongside Lavon Colhour, board chair for Parade of Hearts, during a reveal event at nbkc bank; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“Parade of Hearts is a transformative force in the Kansas City region,” said Jenn Nussbeck, executive director of Parade of Hearts, in a news release. “More than a public art display, it fuels local businesses, energizes neighborhoods, and engages both residents and tourists, especially in under-marketed areas.”

“In 2026, we’re amplifying this impact and solidifying the region as a global cultural and creative destination, it’s the heartland’s global welcome,” she continued.

Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, speaks during a Parade of Hearts reveal event at nbkc bank; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“The Parade of Hearts ties us together,” added Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a past sponsor for the project. “Our neighborhoods, our circumstances, the issues, the challenges, the celebrations all across our community — all get tied together through the Parade of Hearts as we move and learn about each other.”

With the campaign running parallel to Kansas City hosting World Cup games, 2026 will be the fourth year for the Parade of Hearts — continuing its mission to unite the Kansas City region through a magical, free public art experience featuring one-of-a-kind sculptures created and designed by local artists.

To choose the newly unveiled sculpture design, a panel reviewed 34 submissions “that displayed talent across our region — individuals, local design firms, national design firms, international, and even students from the University of Kansas School of Architecture,” said Jay Currie Campbell, Multistudio vice president of business development and co-chair of the Parade of Hearts Design Selection Adjudication Committee. 

Brandon Wood, vice president and director of engineering and R&D at Dimensional Innovations, left, speaks alongside Jay Currie Campbell, Multistudio, at nbkc bank during a Parade of Hearts reveal event; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Brandon Wood — vice president and director of engineering and R&D at Dimensional Innovations — designed the winning selection. Wood also created the original “KC Heart”-style sculpture used during the first three years of the campaign.

“This time around, as we invite guests from all around the world to our city and our region, we want to keep that connection to that original sculpture intact and to that heart intact, while also giving visitors a glimpse into why we love Kansas City and this region so much and why we call this place home,” Wood told the crowd.

“So all that said another way, the concept for this sculpture is to create a window into the hearts of Kansas City and into the hearts of our region,” he continued

Some might see a soccer ball or a globe when they look at the new sculpture design, Wood suggested.

“But I think I’m most excited to see how artists take this and transform it into something amazing that is their own work,” he added, “and then equally excited to see how the public interacts with this around our region once, once those all are finished.”

 

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Neal Sharma, civic leader and exited co-founder of DEG, addresses a crowd gathered at nbkc bank for a Parade of Hearts reveal event; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

“2026 is going to be a moment where (our) progress will be showcased on a global stage, where folks will get to see how far we’ve come and where we’re headed, and will give us an opportunity to unite, strengthen and elevate the KC region and propel us to new heights throughout the nation and the world,” said Neil Sharma, president of dentsu Alliance Solutions and exited co-founder and former CEO of DEG, who detailed for the crowd how the Parade of Hearts campaign originated after a meeting with some of his friends and fellow CEOs.

“That is the opportunity and this is our moment when the world’s eyes are on us,” he continued. “We get to demonstrate the vitality of our economy, the richness of our culture, and — most importantly — the character, the heart of our people.”