Santa Fe Prepares for 2026 Southwestern Association of Indian Arts Market

SANTA FE — The Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) is preparing to host its annual Indian Market on August 15-16, 2026, bringing a diverse celebration of Indigenous art, music, and fashion to the Santa Fe Plaza. Reporting for ICT, Sandra Hale Schulman notes the event will be accompanied by a series of satellite gatherings across the city, highlighting the breadth of contemporary Native creativity. The festivities include the Get Indigenous Film Festival, which will screen “Maara’yam: The Yuhaaviatam Story” on Friday, August 14, at the New Mexico History Museum Auditorium. The film explores the history of the Serrano people of Southern California, known as the People of the Pine. Meanwhile, the Pathways Native art market will return to the Buffalo Thunder Resort for its sixth year, hosting 350 artists alongside live music performances and a film festival featuring screenings of “Dark Winds” and “Free Leonard Peltier.” Culinary arts and fashion take center stage at the official Gala & Live Auction on Saturday, August 15. Chef Pyet DeSpain, the Prairie Band Potawatomi winner of Next Level Chef, will curate the evening’s menu. The gala will also showcase runway looks from award-winning designers Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo) and Jamie Okuma (Luiseño, Wailaki, Okinawan, and Shoshone-Bannock). The entertainment lineup features Baby Opie, an eight-year-old Cree/Anishinaabe powwow dancer and singer. The SWAIA Native Fashion Show follows on Sunday, August 16, at the Santa Fe Convention Center Ballroom. The runway will feature works by several prominent designers, including Himikalas Pamela Baker, Jontay Kahm, and Devon Tso. Additionally, the Blue Rain Gallery will host a collaborative exhibit titled “The Good, the Bad and the Raven,” featuring glass artist Preston Singletary and author Garth Stein, reimagining Raven mythology through modern sculptures.