Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year kicks off Seattle Center Festál 2026. Photo by Alex Garland
Festál returns with 25 free cultural festivals beginning Feb. 14
SEATTLE— Seattle Center Festál marks 29 years in 2026, returning with 25 free cultural festivals that honor traditions from around the world and celebrate the region’s vibrant communities. Produced in partnership with community-based organizations, the Festál series runs from February through November and offers family-friendly experiences that showcase music, dance, cultural vendors, visual art, food, storytelling, and hands-on activities.
Since launching in 1997, Festál has been a cornerstone of Seattle Center programming — creating space for cultural exchange, reflection, and shared celebration. Each festival is community-produced and highlights both heritage and contemporary cultural expression, inviting Seattleites and visitors to learn, engage, and connect.
“Festál has become a cultural heartbeat for our city,” said Marshall Foster, Director of Seattle Center. “For 29 years, this series has given us a way to celebrate what makes Seattle truly unique — a place where communities come together to share their stories and strengthen civic bonds.”
“Festál thrives because it’s rooted in community collaboration,” said Heidi Jackson, Managing Artistic Director of Cultural Programs at Seattle Center. “Every festival honors a living tradition and offers opportunities for connection and belonging in the heart of the city.”
Seattle Center Festál’s 2026 season begins Feb. 14 with Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year and continues through the fall with Seattle Hmong New Year in November. Visitors can expect live performances, cultural demonstrations, vendor marketplaces, family activities, and free admission to all events.
Seattle Center Festál 2026 Schedule
- Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Saturday–Sunday, Feb. 14–15
- Irish Festival Seattle, Saturday–Sunday, March 14–15
- Seattle’s French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures, Sunday, March 22
- Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival, Friday–Sunday, April 10–12
- A Glimpse of China – Seattle Chinese Culture & Arts Festival, Saturday, May 9
- Spirit of Africa, Saturday, May 16
- Northwest Folklife Festival, Friday–Monday, May 22–25
- Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, Saturday–Sunday, June 6–7
- Indigenous People Festival, Saturday, June 13
- Seattle Iranian Festival, Saturday, June 27
- Polish Festival Seattle, Saturday, July 11
- Seattle Arab Festival, Saturday–Sunday, July 18–19
- A Day in Punjab, Saturday, Aug. 1
- Tibet Fest, Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 8–9
- BrasilFest, Sunday, Aug. 16
- Festival Sundiata Presents Black Arts Fest, Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 22–23
- Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, Sunday, September 13
- Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 19–20
- The Italian Festival, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 26–27
- CroatiaFest, Sunday, Oct. 4
- Turkfest, Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 10–11
- Día de Muertos Festival Seattle, Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1
- Diwali: Lights of India, Saturday, Nov. 7
- Seattle Hmong New Year, Saturday, Nov. 14
Admission/viewing is free of charge. Find more information at SeattleCenter.com or call 206-684-7200.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál is a unique public program series of 25 free cultural festivals, each offering its own celebration of heritage and identity. These events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of the diversity of our region. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with community groups, presented on weekends from January to November and supported by City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center — The Cultural Heart of the Pacific Northwest
Seattle Center is a 74-acre civic, arts, and cultural gathering place in the heart of the city. It is home to more than 30 partner organizations — including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, MOPOP, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, SIFF, and many others — alongside world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events for all ages, centered around the iconic International Fountain.
As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District, Seattle Center serves as a hub for creative expression, cultural diversity, and civic life. It also manages the City’s new Waterfront Park in partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle, delivering cultural programming, operations, and civic care on Seattle’s revitalized downtown waterfront.
In 2025, Seattle Center is projected to generate over $900 million in visitor spending, contribute more than $2 billion in total regional economic impact, and support more than 18,600 jobs. With the support of our Official Partners — Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank — Seattle Center is the #1 most-visited arts and cultural destination in the Pacific Northwest. www.seattlecenter.com
