On April 24–25, 2026, I had the privilege of attending the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Held at Expo New Mexico's Tingley Coliseum, the event brought together tribes from across the continent for two days of breathtaking dance, music, drum competitions, and a celebration of Indigenous culture unlike anything else in the world. 

This year's powwow drew over 4,500 dancers and 245,000 visitors from across the world. The Gathering of Nations is the largest Native American powwow in the world, and being there in person surrounded by thousands of dancers in full regalia, the thundering of drums, and the energy of the crowd  is something that's genuinely hard to put into words. 

What made this year especially profound was knowing it was the last one. After 43 years, organizers announced that the 2026 event would be the final Gathering of Nations Powwow, aptly titled The Last Dance.

2026 Gathering of Nations Photo Gallery