Tibet Fest Celebrates 30 Years of Tibetan Culture and Community at Seattle Center
The free, family-oriented event marks its 30th anniversary at Seattle Center from August 8–9
SEATTLE, WA — Celebrate the vibrant traditions, resilience, and cultural richness of the Tibetan people at Tibet Fest, taking place Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 9, from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. as part of Seattle Center Festál in the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall. This year's festival marks a milestone as the 30th anniversary of Tibet Fest, presented by the Tibetan Association of Washington (TAW).
At Seattle Center, the cultural heart of the city, this free, family-friendly event features two days of dynamic performances by students from the local Tibetan Language & Culture School and Tibetan performers, along with a Tibetan Fashion Show. Guests can browse vibrant handcrafted goods and artisan wares from vendors including the Tibetan Nuns Project, Drokpo Nepal, and Native Creations, and enjoy traditional Tibetan momos (dumplings) from the festival's food booth. Attendees can also take in a screening of Wisdom of Happiness, a documentary film in which His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, speaks directly to the camera about inner peace and happiness.
“Tibet Fest is our platform to highlight our unique Tibetan cultural traditions with Washingtonians! This is our means to support, promote, and preserve the Tibetan artistic heritage with our communities and younger generation,” said Tenzin Chokey-Sokpo, President of the Tibetan Association of Washington.
The focus of Tibet Fest is to preserve the culture within the community and to provide an opportunity for the broader public to experience this very rich and unique, but often inaccessible culture.
About Tibet Fest and the Tibetan Association of Washington
The Tibetan Association of Washington is a non-profit organization of Tibetans in the state of Washington. It strives to preserve and promote the unique Tibetan cultural traditions within the Tibetan Community and share our ancient cultural traditions with Washingtonians and the United States. The first Tibet Fest was held in 1996, making 2026 its 30th anniversary.
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 community-produced events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of our region’s diversity through immersive performances, food, arts, and educational programming. Collectively, the festivals welcome approximately 400,000 visits annually, generate an estimated $30 million in economic activity, support more than 250 jobs, and engage thousands of volunteers, artists, and small business vendors.
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 Seattle and 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. Anchored by world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events centered around the iconic International Fountain, Seattle Center serves residents and visitors of all ages year-round.
As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts and Cultural District, Seattle Center is an inclusive destination where community comes together through arts, culture, and public life, serving residents from across Seattle and the Puget Sound region alongside visitors from around the world. In partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Seattle Center also manages the City’s new Waterfront Park, providing cultural programming, operations, and civic care along Seattle’s downtown waterfront.
Over the past three years, Seattle Center has welcomed 11 to 12 million visits annually, with the majority of visits coming from the Seattle and Puget Sound region and is projected to reach 12.5 to 13.5 million visits in 2026. This activity generates more than $1 billion in visitor spending, contributes more than $2 billion in regional economic impact, and supports more than 18,600 jobs.
With the support of our Official Partners — Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, 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
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