Jul 2, 2026
AKWESASNE — (Ohiarihkó:wa/July 2, 2026) Summer has officially arrived, and with it, the 5th Akwesasne Art Market & Juried Art Show. The North Country’s largest event for Indigenous arts and culture is returning as a two-day event featuring over 100 artists, vendors, and demonstrators.
The event will be full of friends, food, music, and art! The Juried Art Show will take place at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort on Friday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Art Market will be held the following day, Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Generations Park, inviting visitors to experience Akwesasne through contemporary Indigenous art and culture.
“This community celebration of arts and culture is the highlight of our summer,” says Raeann Adams of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of Economic Development. “We’re excited to bring family, friends, and visitors together to experience Akwesasne’s rich and vibrant arts scene. It’s a chance to meet the artists, marvel at their incredible work, experience live cultural demonstrations, shop Indigenous, and support local businesses.”
“There’s something for everyone at this event,” she notes.
The weekend kicks off Friday, July 17 at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort with the prestigious 2026 “Best of Show” award presentation, where this year’s slate of Indigenous artists are recognized and celebrated for their talents. Some 80 works of native art will undergo expert evaluation, with awards presented across nine categories. Guests are invited to view the show, mingle with the artists, and take part in selecting the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
The Juried Art Show takes place in the casino’s Winter Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The weekend continues on Saturday, July 18 at Generations Park, where more than 100 artists and vendors will gather to showcase their creations and share traditional and contemporary cultural art practices. Enjoy a day of demonstrations, free hands-on activities, music, and a variety of local food offerings.
The Art Market is open to the public, and parking and admission is free. Generations Park features ADA-compliant parking. A free shuttle service will be provided during the Art Market, with a pick-up at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort and drop-off at Generations Park. The shuttle stop is conveniently located at the eagle sculpture by the casino’s main entrance.
For more information, visit www.akwesasne.travel or call (518) 358-4238. This event is presented by Akwesasne Travel, the tourism initiative of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
Check out their Promo Videos, featuring shorts from prior winners Karhatiron Perkins, Kelly Back, and Carie Hill.
About the Sponsors:
The 2026 Akwesasne Art Market is presented by Akwesasne Travel with generous support from Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Murnane Building Contractors, Alcoa, Bear’s Den Charitable Foundation, 97.3 CKON, AECON-Mohawk Networks Joint Venture, and Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort.
About Akwesasne Travel:
Akwesasne Travel is based within the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of Economic Development in Akwesasne, New York. Its cultural tourism offerings include experiences with Mohawk experts in the traditional arts of splint basketry, loom beadwork, herbal remedies, and maple sap collection. Guided museum and cultural center tours explore the past, present, and future of the Mohawk and Haudenosaunee through storytelling, art, and artifacts. Akwesasne Travel received a Tourism Excellence Award in 2023 from the New York State Tourism Industry Association for sustainable tourism stewardship. The American Indigenous Tourism Association named Akwesasne its 2022 Tribal Destination of the Year.
About Akwesasne:
Akwesasne is the name of the Mohawk territory that extends into Northern New York, Southeastern Ontario, and Western Quebec. In the Mohawk language, Akwesasne means “land where the partridge drums.” The picturesque community of some 25,000 Mohawks is located along the shores of the St. Lawrence River.