United Tribes International Powwow 2026: Schedule, Admission and Visitor Guide

Last verified: September 9, 2026. The 56th Annual United Tribes Technical College International Powwow is scheduled for September 11-13, 2026, at Lone Star Veterans Arena in Bismarck, North Dakota. Details can change close to the event, so check the official United Tribes International Powwow website again before travelling.

The United Tribes International Powwow is one of the major contest powwows on the northern Great Plains circuit. United Tribes Technical College describes it as the “Home of the Champions” and holds the gathering every year on the weekend after Labor Day. The official registration page says the 2026 event is expected to bring together people from more than 70 Tribal Nations and more than 1,500 dancers and drummers.

United Tribes International Powwow 2026 Quick Facts

Source note: Dates, venue, admission, head staff, specials, vendor details, and contact information are published by the organizer. Grand Entry times and the livestream are currently published by the PowWows.com event listing; the organizer’s public agenda page still displays an older schedule. Treat the official event website and arena announcements as final.

Dates, Location and Event Setting

The powwow runs September 11-13 at Lone Star Veterans Arena on the United Tribes Technical College campus. The address is 3315 University Drive in Bismarck. Both the organizer and the North Dakota state event calendar confirm the same dates and campus location.

UTTC describes the powwow as one of the last large outdoor events of the northern Great Plains powwow season. That outdoor setting matters for visitors. September weather can change quickly, and the arena experience may include sun, wind, cooler evenings, or rain. Bring layers, weather protection, and any seating the organizer permits. Follow campus signs and security directions when arriving.

The 2026 event is part of a larger UTTC Events Week that also includes the Tribal Leaders Summit, Thunderbird Run, Legends softball tournament, Powwow Youth Day, golf, and basketball activities. The college says event proceeds support UTTC student scholarships.

Grand Entry Schedule

The current PowWows.com calendar listing gives these Grand Entry times:

• Friday, September 11: 7 p.m.
• Saturday, September 12: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, September 13: 1 p.m.

That listing also shows flag raising at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with Sylvester “Duane” Foote Sr. These times were checked on September 9. Because the organizer’s own agenda page has not yet been updated from an older year, arrive early and listen for current arena announcements. Contest rounds, specials, drum roll calls, feeds, weather, and tie-breakers can affect the pace of a powwow day.

Admission and Tickets

The organizer lists the following public admission prices:

• $25 for a weekend pass
• $15 for a day pass
• Free admission for children up to age 5
• Free admission for adults age 65 and older

The admission page does not currently publish an advance spectator ticket link, a separate child rate for ages 6-17, or detailed re-entry rules. Bring a payment method and confirm gate procedures with the organizer. Vendor registration shown elsewhere is not a spectator ticket.

2026 Head Staff

The official head-staff page identifies the following people for the 2026 powwow:

• Arena Director: Rusty Gillette, Arikara and Hidatsa from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation
• Announcer: Charlie Moran Sr. (Shishii), Hidatsa and Mandan from the MHA Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
• Announcer: Whitney Rencountre II, Crow Creek Hunkpati Dakota
• Head Woman Judge: Georgalene Chaske/DuBois (Ma’Ka To’ Win’, Blue Earth Woman), an enrolled member of Mni Wakan Oyate and Dakota Tipi First Nation
• Head Man Judge: Richard D. Street, Meskwaki
• Head Singing Judge: Justin Gray Hawk, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

These roles guide the contest and arena. Visitors should follow the announcers and Arena Director, especially during Grand Entry, flag songs, honor songs, specials, intertribals, and any time photography or movement is restricted.

Dance, Singing and Judging

This is a contest powwow. The organizer explains that dancers and singers compete for prize money and that judges evaluate dancers according to knowledge and skill in their category, their ability to keep time with the drum, and their regalia.

The currently published event information references dance competition, singing competition, hand-drum competition, Tiny Tots, and a substantial schedule of committee and family specials. A complete 2026 general contest payout chart and complete drum-contest payout chart were not publicly visible on the organizer pages reviewed September 9. Do not rely on an older powwow book for current payouts. Contestants should confirm registration times, entry fees, point requirements, drum rules, and payout terms directly with the committee.

2026 Specials and Payouts

The organizer has published the following specials. This summary is useful for planning, but the official specials page and arena announcements control.

Friday Evening

• Jr. Women’s Traditional Special in memory of Megan Isnana: $1,000 plus a star quilt and trophy for first; $800 second; $600 third; $400 fourth; four $200 consolation awards.
• All Veterans Special, age 40 and older: $1,500 first; $1,000 second; $800 third; $700 fourth; ten $100 consolation awards. Sponsored by MHA Chairman Mark Fox.
• Men’s Fancy Committee Special: $500 first; $400 second; $300 third; $200 fourth.
• Men’s Veterans Traditional Special: $3,000 first; $2,500 second; $2,000 third. Sponsored by South Fox Ranch.

Saturday Afternoon

• Teen Girls Traditional Special celebrating Liberty Driver’s 16th birthday: cash and textile prizes through fifth place, including $500 and a star quilt for first.
• Women’s Traditional Committee Special: $500 first; $400 second; $300 third; $200 fourth.

Saturday Evening

• Tiny Tot Special: sponsored by MHA Chairman Mark Fox; the organizer page does not list a payout breakdown.
• Women’s Fancy Shawl Special, age 40 and older: $4,000 first; $3,500 second; $3,000 third. Sponsored by South Fox Ranch.
• Jr. Men’s Traditional Special, ages 18-34: $6,000 and a jacket for first; $4,000 and a jacket second; $3,000 and a jacket third; $2,500 and a jacket fourth; $2,000 and a jacket fifth; five $500 consolation awards.
• Tim White Eyes Memorial Men’s Traditional Special, age 15 and older: $1,500 first; $1,000 second; $700 third; $500 fourth; $300 fifth. The organizer lists High Noon as the drum group.

Sunday Afternoon

• Street Dance Committee Special: open invitation; $500 first; $400 second; $300 third; $200 fourth.
• Old Style Women’s Jingle Dress Special in memory of Sharlene and Erni Iron Road, age 18 and older: $500 plus a Pendleton first; $300 plus a star quilt second; $200 plus a star quilt third; three consolation prizes.
• Sweetheart Committee Special: $500 first; $400 second; $300 third; $200 fourth.

Dancer and Drum Registration

A complete public 2026 dancer-registration or drum-registration page was not located during the September 9 check. Registration opening times, deadlines, fees, age divisions, point-system requirements, drum pay, and contest payout terms are therefore not publicly verified yet in this guide.

Dancers, singers, and drum groups should contact the United Tribes International Powwow committee and arrive with enough time to handle registration before their first required roll call. Do not use a past year’s powwow book as proof of current rules.

Vendors

Official 2026 vendor registration is open through the event’s Eventleaf page on a first-come, first-served basis. The organizer lists:

• Food vendor space, 30 by 15 feet: $1,300
• Arts and crafts vendor space, 12 by 15 feet: $600

Native preference applies to arts and crafts vendors, with a Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal ID requested for verification. Food vendors need a valid North Dakota food licence. Vendors must carry $1 million in liability coverage naming United Tribes Technical College as an additional insured for September 11-13, 2026.

The campus is alcohol-free, drug-free, smoke-free, and pet-free. The vendor rules also require compliance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and prohibit weapon sales. Vendor coordinator Judith Red Tomahawk can be reached at 701-221-1882. Amber White Bear handles vendor payment questions at 701-221-1430.

Parking, Camping and Accessibility

The current organizer site gives only limited public visitor parking detail. Vendor parking is restricted to one vehicle when space is available. A current 2026 public parking map, spectator shuttle plan, camping registration form, RV fee, shower information, and campsite rules were not found in the pages reviewed.

Earlier official UTTC safety guidance placed accessible parking on the south side of the arena near the first-aid station and general parking south and west of the bowery, but visitors should not assume an older map is unchanged. Follow 2026 signs and parking attendants on arrival. Contact the organizer before travelling if you need a confirmed accessible route, mobility accommodation, service-animal guidance, or reserved parking.

Camping and RV availability are not publicly verified yet for 2026. Do not arrive expecting an on-campus campsite without direct confirmation.

Hotels and Travel to Bismarck

The organizer links to a 2026 hotel-specials page, but the public page reviewed did not display hotel names, rates, booking codes, or remaining inventory. Search Bismarck lodging directly and confirm cancellation policies. A hotel advertising a general Bismarck rate is not necessarily an official powwow block.

Closest airport: Bismarck Airport is the practical commercial airport for the event. Its address is 2301 University Drive, and official airport planning documents place United Tribes Technical College roughly one mile west of the airport property. Even with the short distance, verify ground transportation because pedestrian access and luggage movement may not be practical.

Drivers arriving from Interstate 94 can use Bismarck Expressway and University Drive. Allow extra time for event traffic, campus routing, and parking. Keep the official street address in your navigation app rather than searching only for the event name.

Nearby Visitor Stops

Visitors with additional time can consult the official Bismarck-Mandan tourism office for current hours and accessibility at area attractions. The North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum is a useful public history stop in Bismarck. Travel planning should leave enough time for Grand Entry and parking rather than squeezing an attraction into the last hour before the event.

Powwow Times did not identify a verified organizer-endorsed Indigenous-owned hotel, restaurant, or tour operator in the immediate event area during this check. We will add one when an authoritative current source is available rather than guessing based on a business name.

Livestream

PowWows.com currently lists a livestream for the 2026 event. The official organizer pages reviewed September 9 did not publish a separate broadcast schedule or permanent player. Check the calendar listing and organizer channels on each event day for the active video, time-zone information, delays, and replay availability.

A livestream listing is not a guarantee that every contest, special, song, or arena moment will be broadcast. Respect any recording restrictions announced by the host.

Visitor Etiquette

• Stand and remove hats when the announcer asks, including during Grand Entry, flag songs, and other requested moments.
• Do not enter the arena unless invited. Intertribal dances may welcome visitors, but wait for the announcement.
• Ask before photographing or recording an individual. Stop when the announcer says photography is not permitted.
• Refer to dancers’ clothing as regalia, not costumes.
• Do not touch regalia, feathers, drums, or personal belongings.
• Give singers and dancers space around the arena and drum areas.
• Supervise children and follow the campus’s alcohol-free, drug-free, smoke-free, and pet-free rules.
• Follow the host’s instructions over any general etiquette guide. Protocols are living and community-specific.

See this event in the Powwow Times fall 2026 schedule.

First visit? Read Powwow Times’ powwow etiquette guide, first powwow guide, and powwow travel guide.

Official Sources and Contact

• United Tribes International Powwow official website
• Official admission page
• Official head staff page
• Official specials page
• Official vendor page
• Official contact page
• North Dakota state event listing

Powwow contact: Judith Red Tomahawk, 701-221-1882, jredtomahawk@uttc.edu. General UTTC phone: 701-255-3285; toll-free: 888-643-8882.

How to Plan Your Powwow Weekend

A useful plan starts with the Grand Entry you most want to see. Friday evening can work well for visitors arriving after work, while Saturday offers two currently listed Grand Entries and the fullest day of specials. Sunday afternoon includes several published specials and may also include final contest rounds or tie-breakers. The arena schedule can run later than a fixed concert timetable, so avoid booking a meal, flight, or long drive immediately after the time you expect a session to finish.

For Families

Families should plan for an outdoor day rather than a short indoor performance. Bring weather-appropriate layers, water, hearing protection for anyone sensitive to sustained drum sound, and a way to carry small necessities without blocking walkways. Confirm whether outside food, coolers, folding chairs, umbrellas, or wagons are permitted before packing them. The public pages reviewed did not provide a complete 2026 bag policy or prohibited-items list.

Children are welcome, and admission is free for children age 5 and younger. Keep children close around the arena, vendor area, traffic lanes, and drum groups. If an intertribal is announced, families may be invited to dance, but follow the announcer’s direction and do not treat a contest or special as an open-dance period.

For Dancers and Singers

Contestants need more information than a visitor guide can safely infer. Bring the identification and registration information normally required for your own category, then confirm every 2026 rule with the committee. Ask specifically about registration closing times, category ages, points, Grand Entry requirements, contest numbers, drum roll call, day-money or drum-pay rules, tie-breakers, and the payout process. A special may have different eligibility from a regular contest category.

Arrive early enough to park, locate registration, prepare regalia, and reach the arena without rushing. The published head staff and special schedule help with planning, but live arena announcements are authoritative. Powwow Times will add a complete registration chart only if the organizer publishes one or sends a verified update.

For Elders and Visitors With Access Needs

Admission is free for adults age 65 and older. That ticket policy does not, by itself, answer accessibility questions. Before travelling, ask the organizer about the 2026 accessible parking location, surface conditions between parking and seating, accessible washrooms, seating availability, drop-off areas, medical support, and any accommodation needed for a service animal on a campus otherwise described as pet-free.

Bismarck Airport and the UTTC campus are close, but a short map distance does not guarantee a comfortable walking route. Arrange a vehicle, taxi, rideshare, hotel shuttle, or other confirmed transport. Anyone with a tight departure should allow a generous margin for arena timing, traffic, and airport screening.

What to Recheck on Event Day

• The active agenda and any weather-related schedule changes
• Grand Entry, flag raising, drum roll call, and registration times
• The livestream player and time zone
• Parking, accessible drop-off, and gate payment procedures
• Any photography, recording, bag, chair, food, or pet restrictions
• Whether vendor, dancer, drum, camping, or RV registration has closed

Save the official contact information before leaving home in case mobile service is busy at the grounds. When information on this page and an arena announcement differ, follow the organizer and head staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the United Tribes International Powwow in 2026?

It is scheduled for September 11-13, 2026, at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Where is the powwow?

The venue is Lone Star Veterans Arena, 3315 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504.

How much is admission?

The organizer lists $25 for a weekend pass and $15 for a day pass. Children age 5 and younger and adults age 65 and older are admitted free.

What time is Grand Entry?

The current calendar listing shows Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Confirm on the official site and arrive early because the organizer’s online agenda has not yet been updated for 2026.

Can non-Native visitors attend?

Yes. The event is publicly advertised and has public admission prices. Visitors should follow the announcers, posted rules, and host guidance.

Is there camping?

Camping and RV arrangements were not publicly verified for 2026 during the September 9 check. Contact the organizer before arriving with a trailer, tent, or RV.

Will the powwow be livestreamed?

PowWows.com currently lists a livestream. Confirm the working link and schedule on event days.

Refresh trigger: recheck the official organizer pages within 24 hours of opening, during the event for schedule or livestream changes, and after September 13 for results, champions, and replay links.