Anchorage Hosts AFN’s 60th Convention and Native Art Fair
A young child smiles for the camera while wearing what appears to be a nasqurrun, a traditional Yup’ik dance headdress. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Federation of Natives Navigator Program.
Alaska Native leaders, delegates and artists gather in Anchorage for three days of cultural celebration, policy discussions and traditional arts.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, October 20, 2026 – From the issues that affect everyday life in Alaska to the art and traditions passed down through generations, the Alaska Federation of Natives’ annual convention brings a wide range of voices and concerns under one roof.
The 60th annual convention runs October 22–24 at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W. Seventh Avenue in Anchorage. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Land and Tradition, Rising in Our Voices.”
Dr. Rosita Worl, a Tlingit anthropologist, educator, author and longtime Alaska Native rights advocate, will deliver the keynote address. She is president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute.
The agenda tackles issues that reach into communities across the state, including subsistence, salmon, public safety, missing and murdered Indigenous people, and the well-being of Native youth. Delegates will also vote on resolutions that help determine AFN’s priorities and direction in the year ahead.
There’s something for visitors beyond the policy discussions, too. The Alaska Native Customary Art Fair gives the public a chance to see the work of Alaska Native and Native American artists and craftspeople, learn more about their traditions, and purchase artwork directly from the people who create it. The fair is listed as free and open to the public.
Together, the convention and art fair offer a chance to hear what matters to Alaska Native communities, see the strength of their cultural traditions, and learn about issues that help shape life across Alaska.
Event details
- What: Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention and Alaska Native Customary Art Fair
- When: Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Where: Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W. Seventh Avenue, Anchorage
- Convention theme: “Rooted in Land and Tradition, Rising in Our Voices”
- Art fair admission: Listed as free and open to the public; verify current hours with the organizers.
Official Sources
- Alaska Federation of Natives: Convention, agenda and updates
- Alaska Federation of Natives: Customary Art Fair
- AFN: 2026 theme and keynote announcement
- AFN’s published 2026 convention agenda (PDF)
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