By East End Now | Auxio.tv News
One of the East End’s longest-running cultural traditions returns to Southampton this Labor Day weekend as the Shinnecock Nation prepares to host its 80th Annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow.
The four-day gathering is scheduled for September 4 through September 7, 2026, on Shinnecock territory in Southampton. The event brings together Native dancers, singers, drummers, artists, vendors and visitors from across the region and Indian Country.
For the Shinnecock Nation, the Powwow is more than a holiday-weekend event.
It is a cultural homecoming and a public celebration of traditions that long predate the modern East End. The Nation has maintained a continuous presence in the area for generations, and the annual Powwow has become one of the most visible ways those traditions are shared with the wider community.
This year’s event carries added significance because it marks the 80th anniversary of the Powwow.
The official schedule includes traditional singing and dancing, arts and crafts, Indigenous food, cultural demonstrations and competitive dance and drum events. More than $50,000 in prize money is expected to be awarded during the weekend.
Grand Entry is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with additional Grand Entry ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.
Admission is listed at $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 12, seniors 65 and older, and military personnel with identification. Children under 5 are admitted free. Parking is also free. The event is drug- and alcohol-free, and pets are not permitted except for documented service animals.
For many East End residents, the Powwow is an annual tradition. For visitors, it is also an opportunity to learn more directly about the Shinnecock Nation through music, dance, food, craftsmanship and community rather than through history books or secondhand descriptions.
That distinction matters.
The Shinnecock Nation is not simply part of the East End’s past. It remains an active community with its own government, families, institutions and cultural traditions.
The 80th Powwow offers a reminder of that continuity.
Eight decades after the gathering began, the event remains both a celebration and a statement of cultural endurance.
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