Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The Heard Museum has announced ticket sale dates for two major events in 2026: the 36th annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, happening Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, and the 68th annual Indian Fair & Market, taking place Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8.
According to a press release, ticket sales open for the Hoop Dance event and Monday, Jan. 13, for the Indian Fair & Market. Adult tickets are $26 for Hoop Dance and $30 for the Fair.
Both events offer a full festival experience, with food and drinks from local vendors, offerings from the Heard Museum’s award-winning restaurant and hands-on activities in the Family Fun Zone each day. Guests can also explore community partner booths and enjoy programming that highlights Indigenous creativity and community.
The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest brings together more than 100 Indigenous dancers from across North America in a competition blending artistry, athleticism and cultural tradition, with $25,000 in prizes.
Since debuting at the Heard Museum in 1991, the event has grown into a premier showcase of skill and endurance, drawing thousands of spectators to watch dancers perform fast-paced, highly technical routines.
The Indian Fair & Market features more than 600 Indigenous artists representing over 100 American Indian, Alaska Native and Canadian First Nations communities. The weekend begins Friday, March 6, with the Best of Juried Competition awards ceremony, where $180,000 in prize money will be awarded, followed by two full days of artist booths and family activities.
The Youth Art Show and Sale returns for its second year, offering more than $10,000 in prizes to rising artists in grades seven through 12, with all youth artwork available for purchase. On Sunday, all children under 12 receive free admission to the Fair.
Together, these signature events remain two of the most anticipated showcases of Indigenous art and culture in the country.
