By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – For more than four decades, the Gathering of Nations Powwow has served as a cultural anchor in Albuquerque, drawing thousands of dancers, artists and visitors each spring.
In 2026, that tradition is coming to an end. Often called the largest powwow in North America, the Gathering of Nations has long been more than a single event. It has become a week when the city fills with artists, families and performers traveling from gathering to gathering across the country.
But while the powwow has been the centerpiece, it has never been the only story.
Around it, a network of smaller, independent events has grown over the years. Some focus on contemporary Indigenous art forms like hip hop and live music. Others center on community, education and cultural exchange. Together, they form an ecosystem that has thrived alongside the larger gathering.
Now, with the end of the Gathering of Nations Powwow in sight, those events are beginning to imagine what comes next.
Creating Space Outside the Powwow
For Def-i, founder of Gathering of MCs, the event began as a response to a need within the community. The event will take place April 23 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Launchpad (618 Central Ave. SW).
“It was founded back in 2010,” said Def-i, who created the Gathering of MCs as an intertribal rap competition and music showcase. The event, Def-i says, was designed to “create a platform that serves our communities by mostly promoting positive self expression” through poetry, songwriting and storytelling in hip hop.
From the beginning, the goal was to create opportunities that did not exist elsewhere. “There wasn’t many opportunities for a lot of the artists that were coming in,” says Def-i.
While the event takes place during the same weekend as the Gathering of Nations Powwow, it has remained independent. “It hasn’t really been connected at all with the Gathering of Nations ever. We haven’t ever partnered together in that way,” says Def-i.
Still, the scale of the powwow has shaped the environment around it. With thousands of people traveling along the powwow circuit, Albuquerque becomes a gathering point not just for dancers, but for artists across disciplines.
“There’s so many powwows that travel around the whole Turtle Island,” says Def-i. “So, Gathering of Nations kind of aligns with that trail. So usually that does add thousands of people to our beautiful area too.”
Within that moment, the Gathering of MCs offers something distinct: a space for Indigenous artists to share what Def-i describes as modern-day storytelling through hip hop, while also expressing their identities and connecting with audiences beyond the powwow grounds.
Growth in the Orbit of a Giant
A similar story has unfolded for Native Guitar Tours, which hosts its Albuquerque festival “Under the Native Stars” during the same week. The event is scheduled for April 25 from 5 to 10 p.m. at FUSION | The Meadow (708 1st St. NW).
“This is our 14th annual event for this particular event that we’ve been having,” says Jir Anderson, founder and executive director of Native Guitar Tours. “It’s an opportunity for us to kind of bridge the communities that are coming in for the gathering.”
What started as a small show has evolved into a large community festival featuring music, art, fashion, food vendors and artists from across the United States and Canada.
“It started off as a little gathering, a little small show, and it has evolved into this really big community festival that we have every year now,” says Anderson.
Beyond performance, the organization also focuses on mentoring artists and helping them develop professionally. “We’re not only supporting by creating a space, but also supporting artists by helping them develop as an artist,” says Anderson.
Like Gathering of MCs, Under the Native Stars has benefited from the timing of the powwow.
“If it wasn’t for the gathering a lot of the organizations and events during that time would never have come to fruition,” says Anderson.
More Than One Gathering
At American Indian Week, the focus shifts from large-scale spectacle to community-centered programming rooted in Pueblo culture, education and everyday connection.
Held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the weeklong event offers activities, including a Springs Arts Market, an exclusive artist talk from a featured contributor to the Grounded in Clay exhibition, a Round Dance in the IPCC courtyard, and more.
Across Albuquerque, that same week is filled with events happening in venues throughout the city. At the Guild Cinema on April 23, Laughing for Land: A Night of Indigenous Comedy brings together Native comedians for a night of performance and storytelling centered on humor and advocacy.
At El Rey Theater on April 24, Gathering of Nativez showcases live music and performances from Indigenous artists, creating another space for contemporary expression outside of the powwow grounds.
Meanwhile, Colors of the Wind, a benefit drag show for Diné Pride, taking place at JUNO Brewery + Cafe + Art on April 24 offers a different kind of gathering, blending performance, community support and celebration in a space that highlights LGBTQ2S+ Indigenous voices.
Taken together, these events reflect the sheer range of experiences happening during the week. While the Gathering of Nations Powwow has long drawn national attention, the surrounding events show that the gathering has always extended far beyond a single venue.
Facing the End of an Era
For many organizers, the announcement that this year could be the final Gathering of Nations Powwow brought mixed emotions. “My initial reaction was like, ‘Whoa, is it really the final dance’,” says Def-i.
Like others, he questioned whether the event might return in some form, given its impact and role in bringing people together.
For Anderson, the news was less surprising. “I felt that time was coming,” he says.
Still, he acknowledged the weight of the moment. “There is a little sadness there to know they may be ending their time with the gathering,” he says.
At the same time, both organizers pointed to a sense of resilience within Indigenous communities.
“We’re very resilient, and we always seem to think that maybe it is time for this event to kind of sunset, and for maybe another event to kind of take over,” says Anderson.
What Comes Next
Without the anchor of the Gathering of Nations, smaller events are now considering how they will evolve, whether by expanding their reach or redefining their role.
For the Gathering of MCs, that could mean growing beyond Albuquerque. What began as a local showcase has built a steady following, with artists and audiences returning each year.
“We’re still trying to partner with other tribes and other venues and nations to keep it going and still maybe make it more of a national touring event,” says Def-i.
For Native Guitars Tour, the future may involve stepping into a larger role.
“If this is the last time, then maybe we’re the organization that builds a festival around this time,” says Anderson.
Anderson pointed to the possibility of something even bigger. “Building like a South by Southwest [the annual music, film and interactive media festival in Austin, TX] here in New Mexico,” says Anderson.
That vision reflects a broader idea shared by many organizers: the end of one large event could create space for multiple gatherings to grow and take on new significance.
A Transition, Not an Ending
Even as the final Gathering of Nations approaches, the week it helped shape is unlikely to disappear. The relationships and networks built over decades continue beyond a single event.
Instead, what may be happening is a transition, as organizers continue their work and explore new ways to bring people together.
Across Albuquerque, artists and organizers are already building platforms, mentoring the next generation and creating space for community connection.
For some, the end of the powwow is a loss. For others, it’s a turning point. Either way, gatherings will continue.