Painted Skies Pow Wow 2026

August 29, 2026

Come join us as we celebrate our 2nd annual Painted Skies Pow Wow in Albuquerque, NM, at the Balloon Fiesta Park. This will be a contest Pow Wow with Gourd Dancing and a Handgame tournament. We’ll have over 75 artisans, information booths, and traditional & non-traditional food vendors.

Free Admission
Free Parking

— Pow Wow —
MC – James Edwards – Pawnee/N. Cheyenne/Comanche
AD – Vaugh Stands – Oglala Lakota
Host Northern Drum – Powerhouse – Rio Rancho, NM
Host Southern Drum – Cruisin’ South – Brimhall, NM
Head Man Dancer – Kenny Donaghey – Navajo – Crown Point, NM
Head Women Dancer – Cheyenne Chee – Navajo – Albuquerque, NM
Head Boy Dancer – Levi Sandoval/Pacheco – Dakota/Pueblo – Bernalillo, NM
Head Girl Dancer – Bridget Sunshine Tsosie-Hohenstein – Laguna, Kewa, Dakota, Diné, EB Cherokee – Laguna, NM

— Gourd Dance —
MC – James Edwards – Pawnee/N. Cheyenne/Comanche
AD – Nick Jackson – Hopi – Albuquerque, NM
Head Singer – Adrian Yahzee – Brimhall, NM – Cruisin’ South
Head Gourd Dancer – Rusty Cozad – Kiowa – Anadarko, Oklahoma

— Pow Wow —
11am – Gourd Dance
3pm – 1st Grand Entry
6pm – Supper Break
7pm – 2nd Grand Entry
10pm – Pow Wow Closing

— Handgame —
11am – Pueblo Feed
12pm – Material Game
1pm – Main Tournament

— Categories —
Tiny Tots
Juniors
Boys – Traditional, Grass, Fancy, Chicken
Girls – Traditional, Fancy, Jingle
Teens
Boys – Traditional, Grass, Fancy, Chicken
Girls – N. Traditional, S. Traditional Fancy, Jingle
Adult
Men’s – Traditional, Grass, Fancy, Chicken
Women’s – N. Traditional, S. Traditional Fancy, Jingle
Golden Age
Men’s – Combined
Women’s – Combined

— Specials —
Grandmas Special
Teen Girls Jingle
Tint Tot Boys & Girls
Switch Dance
Team Dance (3 Dancers)
More TBA

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Pow Wow Information