Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE, WA— The Seattle Center Festál series is in full swing, and the celebration is far from over. The popular cultural festival series presented by Seattle Center enters summer and fall, the busiest time of the year for Festál, with more family-friendly festivals set to take place between August and November, all free and open to the public.
Now in its 29th year, Festál remains a cornerstone of public programming at Seattle Center. Since its launch in 1997, the series has honored cultural heritage while creating space for shared experiences and cross-cultural connections. Each festival uplifts community voices, rich traditions, and contemporary contributions of the region’s diverse population through art, performance, food, exhibits, storytelling, and more – all of which are great unifiers, allowing attendees to enter into cultural worlds without leaving home.
From seasonal celebrations and new year commemorations to reflections on history, ancestry, and identity, Festál events offer something for everyone. Visitors can explore music and dance, visual arts and artisan crafts, cultural demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and vendor marketplaces. Every festival is community-produced and deeply rooted in the traditions and stories of the people it represents.
“Festál is a reminder that Seattle's strength comes from its people the traditions they carry, the stories they share, and the joy they bring through this platform on Seattle Center’s campus. We are proud to be a home for that," said Randy Engstrom, director of Seattle Center.
This summer and fall, Seattleites and visitors alike are invited to Seattle Center to experience the remaining Festál festivals, as each serve as a unique celebration of heritage, resilience, and community.
Seattle Center Festál Schedule for August-November 2026
A Day in Punjab, Saturday, Aug. 1
Tibet Fest, Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 8-9
BrasilFest, Sunday, Aug. 16
Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest, Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 22-23
Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, Sunday, Sept. 13
Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 19-20
The Italian Festival, Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 26-27
CroatiaFest, Sunday, Oct. 4
Turkfest, Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 10-11
Día de Muertos Festival Seattle, Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1
Diwali: Lights of India, Saturday, Nov. 7
Seattle Hmong New Year, Saturday, Nov. 14
Seattle Arab Festival and Seattle Iranian Festival have been postponed; new dates have not been announced.
Admission/viewing is free of charge. Find more information at SeattleCenter.com.
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.
Seattle Center Festál is presented in partnership between Seattle Center and 25 community-based organizations, with support from the City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture's Sustained Support and Free/Reduced Access programs. Additional support for Festál 2026 is provided by 2025 charitable donations from the Snoqualmie Tribe, and ArtsFund's Community Accelerator Grant funded by Allen Family Philanthropies.
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
Contact:
Jordan Van Beek | 425.638.2293 | jordan@whyforgood.com
