SPECIAL UPDATE - Ending of Gathering of Nations – 2026 Will Be The Last Dance
Published 9 days ago • 2 min read
Sorry to send out another email this week, but this is news is important enough to send another email. Before I get to the news, don't forget we are streaming live from Crow Fair this weekend! You don't want to miss any of this Pow Wow!
I have some breaking news to share with you, and honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
The Gathering of Nations Pow Wow, the largest pow wow in North America, has just announced their dates for 2026… and they’ve also announced this will be the final Gathering of Nations.
They’re calling it “The Last Dance.”
2026 will be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of 43 incredible years of Gathering of Nations history, culture, and community.
But after this… there won’t be another one.
If this event is on your bucket list, now is the time to make it happen. Don’t wait.
I've put together a special page with the official press release, an FAQ from Gathering of Nations, travel info, and more:
Kelli and I first went to the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow back in 2004. She was pregnant with Brooke, and it was at “The Pitt.” If you know, you know, you entered the arena at the very top, then had to walk all the way down to get to the floor. No halfway concourse!
Since then, I’ve had the honor of working with Gathering of Nations to stream the event live on PowWows.com. Watching it grow, evolve, and inspire so many people over the years has been nothing short of incredible.
I still remember when the Matthews family asked me to hop on a call recently. I figured we’d be talking about the logistics for next year’s live stream. Then they broke the news. I was stunned.
Over the next few months, I’ll share more of my favorite moments from GON. But for now, I just want to say, this one is going to be special.
2015 Gathering of Nations
Will you be there in Albuquerque in 2026? I hope to see you in the arena for The Last Dance.
💬 Do you have a special memory from Gathering of Nations?
We’re collecting video and written messages to share during the pow wow and online to celebrate this historic event.
If you want to keep up with more information from Gathering of Nations, I have a special email list for that. It's a free special newsletter that I'll send out periodically about updates on the upcoming and last Gathering of Nations Pow Wow.
Whether you're planning to attend your first pow wow or simply wish to deepen your understanding of Native American culture, this ebook serves as an essential resource.