Events

Shop from more than 100 artists; see a Native cultural performance involving aerial puppetry

Monday, March 23, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS — More than 100 American Indian, First Nations and Alaskan Native artists are featured in the 34th annual Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market & Festival, June 27-28. One of the top arts and culture events in downtown Indianapolis each summer, the festival this year includes a mix of entertainers new to Indianapolis as well as returning favorites.

Native artists from across the U.S. and Canada who specialize in multiple mediums — jewelry, pottery, basketry, beadwork, carvings and innovative art — will sell their works from booths inside and outside the museum. Many past award-winning artists return this year, along with those making their first appearances at the market. For event details, including advance tickets, participating artists, performers and the Native-owned food and beverage vendors, visit Eiteljorg.org/Indian-Market-and-Festival.

Entertainment is a big part of the festival, and this year brings a remarkable performance not seen before on the Eiteljorg stage. Turtle Island: From the Creation Story of the Haudenosaunee is an outdoor production, developed with Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) artistic leadership, that fuses dance, aerial puppetry and community engagement. A multicolored, parade-sized tethered balloon, the Turtle, floats above stage as eight dancers from the Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater present a moving visual and musical representation of Haudenosaunee cosmology. The performance supports cultural heritage and shares it with a wider audience. The producers describe it this way: “Turtle Island invites audiences to witness the birth of the world atop the Turtle’s back — a story that resonates across cultures as a symbol of resilience and interconnectedness.”

Also, Indigenous Enterprise returns to Indian Market & Festival for its second year, bringing the high-energy performance style that has made the troupe an international sensation. Featuring champion powwow dancers from multiple tribes and nations, the group blends traditional dance styles with contemporary influences, including hip-hop, creating powerful, modern expressions of Indigenous cultures.

“Every year the Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival invites people to experience the vibrancy and resilience of Native cultures as living, evolving traditions — not something stuck in the past. When visitors come, they’re directly supporting Native artists, hearing stories from Native voices, and engaging with traditions that have endured despite generations of challenges,” Eiteljorg Festivals Manager Conner Richberg (Turtle Clan, Mohawk) said.

Many of the artists enter their works into the market’s juried art competition. For works judged the best in several categories, artists receive ribbons and cash prizes awarded during the Eiteljorg Market Morning Breakfast on Saturday June 27, before the festival opens. The breakfast requires registration.

While browsing artists’ booths, shopping for Native art and enjoying onstage performances, marketgoers can enjoy art-making demonstrations in the museum’s studios, and meet two artists who have upcoming residencies at the Eiteljorg this fall. All ages can join in a scavenger hunt and try out temporary tattoos. Marketgoers can tour the museum’s exhibits, such as Cowboy Couture: The Fashion of Jerry Lee Atwood, which are included with admission.

“Beyond the incredible artwork, the festival also features performances, music, and Native-owned food and beverage, giving people a chance to truly immerse themselves in Native cultures in a communal and authentic way. At its core, this weekend isn’t about appropriation — it’s about appreciation, learning, and connection. It’s a celebration of Native resilience, creativity, and the cultures that continue to shape our communities today,” Richberg said.

Advance discount tickets to Indian Market & Festival go on sale March 30 at Eiteljorg.org/Indian-Market-and-Festival and are $20 for adults, or $30 for a two-day combo pass. For kids ages 5-7, advance tickets are $10; children ages 4 and under get in free. The first 100 early-bird tickets purchased online will include a 2026 Indian Market & Festival tote bag that ticket-buyers will receive at the event. Tickets purchased at the gate on June 27-28 are $25 for adults and $12 for youth.

Museum members have free admission, as do American Indian, First Nations and Alaskan Native members with tribal ID. Tickets obtained through the Access Pass program are $5. If visitors park in the White River State Park underground garage, the Eiteljorg can validate their parking.

About the Eiteljorg
For more than 36 years, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Indianapolis and scenic White River State Park. The Eiteljorg Museum explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Media Contacts
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com

Katie Warthan
Director of Communications and Marketing
317.275.1317
kwarthan@eiteljorg.com

 

Editor’s Note:  Here is recent news media coverage of the 34th annual Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival:

WISH-TV8, March 28, 2026

SeeGreatArt.art by Chadd Scott, March 31, 2026

Current in Carmel newspaper, April 2, 2026