Columbus Valentine’s season 2026 features markets, arts programming, and ‘Love Is Blind’ local tie-ins

A February calendar built around Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day falling on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, event organizers across the Columbus area are scheduling programming throughout the first half of the month that blends shopping, live entertainment and themed social gatherings. Several listings emphasize experiences beyond traditional dinner reservations, including daytime markets, after-hours museum-style events and ticketed performances.

Pop-up markets expand Valentine’s shopping beyond one-day gifting

North Market is staging multiple Valentine’s-themed vendor events on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, offering set hours for shoppers seeking locally made gifts and seasonal items. At North Market Bridge Park in Dublin, the Valentine’s Day Market is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with organizers advertising more than 25 local vendors, food options from market merchants, and specialty drinks available on site.

North Market Downtown is also planning a Valentine’s Day Market on the same date and time window, running on the second floor. The posted vendor list includes makers offering items such as candles, flowers and other gift-oriented goods.

• North Market Bridge Park: Valentine’s Day Market, Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• North Market Downtown: Valentine’s Day Market, Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Arts and live events lean into relationship and community themes

The Wexner Center for the Arts has Buckeye Love Week on its calendar beginning Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, framing the programming around compassion, gratitude and creativity as part of a wider Ohio State community campaign. The published schedule includes on-site activities such as making Valentine’s cards and pins.

In Franklinton, The Junto has scheduled “Trade Room Talks: A Special Valentine’s Game Show Edition” for Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, with a posted time window that includes mingling and a live show format built around couples answering relationship questions. The event listing indicates RSVP is required and describes seating as first come, first served.

‘Love Is Blind’ Ohio season adds a pop-culture layer to local programming

Columbus is also seeing February events that reference the upcoming release of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” Season 10. The season is set to premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, and has been promoted as featuring singles from across Ohio, including people from Columbus. The show’s format centers on participants meeting in “pods” and becoming engaged before meeting face-to-face.

Several local listings describe February programming designed to coincide with the show’s release week, signaling how national entertainment events can shape local marketing and themed nightlife.

One example is COSI After Dark: “Cocktails & Chemistry,” scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, as a 21+ evening event centered on a cocktail competition and tasting format. The event page notes it will also acknowledge the show’s new season set in Columbus.

Performances and seasonal date-night options

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has promoted Valentine’s Day as a date-night option, stating regular zoo hours on Feb. 14. Separately, a concert listing for “Love is in the Air” appears in the Our Lady of Victory concert series schedule for Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, with tickets priced differently for online purchase versus at-the-door sales.

Taken together, the calendar shows a February strategy anchored by a weekend market push, campus and arts programming during the workweek, and entertainment tie-ins timed to a major streaming release.