Arizona Festival Calendar 2026

The Fiesta Bowl is one of college football's premier events — New Year's Day in the desert, 72,000 fans, and the kind of tailgate culture that takes over the entire Phoenix metro. When Arizona hosts College Football Playoff games, the energy ratchets up further. Scottsdale fills with fans from both programs the week before, making it an entire experience rather than just a game. Tickets from $150 to $800+ depending on matchup.

The world's largest gem and mineral show — and it's not close. Over 250 individual shows at venues across Tucson simultaneously, drawing 60,000+ buyers, dealers, and collectors from 100+ countries. The main show at the Tucson Convention Center is polished and family-friendly. The parking lot shows, hotel room pop-ups, and warehouse venues around Kino Boulevard are where the real treasure hunting happens. You can spend $5 on a quartz point or $50,000 on a museum-grade specimen. Free entry to most shows.

An intimate film festival in one of the most cinematically beautiful settings on earth — red rock canyon walls as your backdrop for eight days of independent film, panels, and parties. The festival draws about 100 films, several celebrity guests, and an audience that's genuinely passionate about cinema rather than just there to be seen. Screenings at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre and other Sedona venues. Passes from $150; individual screenings $12–18. Combine with hiking the red rocks at sunrise.

One of the top-rated fine arts festivals in the country, held on the beautifully walkable Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Over 170 juried artists from across the nation display paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography, and ceramics. The setting is excellent — fountains, public art, and Old Town Scottsdale steps away. Live music throughout the weekend. Admission around $10; free for children. The spring timing means perfect weather for wandering outdoor galleries.

One of the largest outdoor art festivals in the Southwest, filling Mill Avenue in Tempe with 200+ artists, live entertainment, and street food. ASU students and locals mix with collectors browsing the gallery-quality work. The spring show benefits from cool weather and the energy of a college town throwing itself a party. Free admission. Mill Avenue has excellent restaurants and bars for post-gallery wandering. The December show has holiday energy but the spring show has better weather.

Phoenix's largest film festival showcases independent films from around the world across nine days of screenings, panels, and awards. Strong mix of feature films, documentaries, and shorts across multiple screens. The festival punches above its weight for talent — industry guests attend and Q&As are accessible and genuine. Individual tickets around $14; festival passes from $75. April weather in Phoenix is ideal — warm evenings, cool theaters, perfect excuse to spend all day watching films.

Flagstaff is a genuine science city — home to Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered), multiple research institutions, and Northern Arizona University. The Festival of Science showcases the region's scientific depth with public lectures, lab tours, forest ecology walks, and star parties at observatories. Most events are free. The elevation (7,000 feet) means autumn temperatures are crisp and comfortable while Phoenix is still baking. Dark sky tours during the festival are exceptional.

One of the largest Renaissance festivals in the country runs for seven straight weekends in the desert outside Phoenix. Over 2,000 costumed performers, artisans, jousting knights, and food vendors transform a purpose-built village into a genuinely immersive experience. The cast is enormous and the production values are high — this is not a small local fair. Arrive early, stay late, eat a turkey leg. Tickets around $25 adults, $15 children. Costume encouraged but not required.

The Heard Museum World Championship Hoop Dance Contest is the centerpiece of this annual powwow — the finest Native American hoop dancers in the world compete using hoops to create elaborate animal and nature shapes in mid-performance. The museum's collection of Native art is world-class; the powwow weekend adds music, food, and community that brings everything to life. The Heard Museum is a genuine destination on its own; plan the full day.