RAPID CITY, SD – The 38^th Annual Black Hills Powwow – It’s a traditional celebration of Native American culture and tradition – takes place October 9 through 11in the Summit Arena at The Monument.

The theme for the annual gathering is “Come Dance With Us,” reflecting the commitment to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and can experience the beauty, strength, and spirit of Great Plains Indigenous song and dance.

Doors open Friday at 4 p.m. at the Summit Arena with the veteran’s grand entry at 6 p.m. and the dancer’s grand entry at 7. On Saturday, there will be a parade at 10 a.m. in downtown Rapid City. Complete events listings can be found at blackhillspowwow.com.

The gathering is a time for fellowship, connect with friends and relatives, and enjoy the importance of song and dance.

“Whether it’s for ceremonial purposes or in this case for celebration purposes, song and dance is universal throughout the world amongst all cultures and Black Hills Powwow is an example of that,” Ira Taken Alive, BH Powwow Board of Directors, said.

The Black Hills Powwow has grown significantly since the first outdoor event in Rapid City in 1987. Last year, more than 2,000 dancers competed, setting a record for the event.

While participant numbers have increased significantly, attendees’ numbers have followed suit and the powwow continues to expand events, addressing the growth.

In addition to the powwow arena events, attendees can enjoy a fine arts show, the He Sapa Win pageant, a style show, a youth wellness symposium, and tournaments in hand games, golf, and archery.

This year’s dance categories will award seven places in each category, and the Champions of the Northern Plains singing contest will award 10 places, with a total of $59,000 in singing prizes. Our overall prize payout will exceed $200,000 – the largest in the history of the Black Hills Powwow.

“These types of gatherings were to celebrate the end of the summer season before the winter comes,” Taken Alive said. “It’s an opportunity for friends and relatives to see each other, to dance, to sing, to give gratitude for a bountiful harvest or a bountiful buffalo hunt, We look at it as an opportunity to gather, in this day and age, before the winter sets in.”

Taken Alive said this year’s event will include a remembrance of the anniversary of Victory at Greasy Grass (Battle of Little Big Horn) which will include special events remembering the victory and impact the battle had on the native community.

Major powwows are held across the country but Taken Alive said the Black Hills Powwow has been considered the last major event of the powwow season.

The powwow draws participants and attention from across the country, bringing thousands to the Black Hills to celebrate, fill hotels and retail outlets.

But for decades since its inception and annual growth, the Black Hills Pow Wow has been a volunteer effort, the group doesn’t even rent office space.

“We’ve been volunteering for almost 20 years, everything that we get goes right back into the powwow,” Dew Bad Warrior, VP, Black Hills Powwow Board of Directors, said. “That was intentional because we didn’t have a lot of revenue starting out so we had to put every single penny back in to reinvest in ourselves.”

That investment has allowed the powwow to expand into a larger venue, add dance categories, new events, drum prizes, and other things. But as the event continues to grow taking much more time and energy, Bad Warrior said a paid position to manage the event is being seriously considered.

2026 Miss He Sapa Win

Wanbli Kinyan Win, also Tyler Star Comes Out, is the 2026 Miss He Sapa Win. She is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, while also representing the Hunkpapa and Mnicoujou Thithunwan Bands. She is from the Mni Wanice/ Hoka Yuta Tiospaye (No Water/ Badger Eaters) based in the Oglala community within the Pine Ridge Reservation.

(Visit https://www.blackhillspowwow.com/ for complete schedule information)

 Friday, October 9, 2026:

4:00 pm – Doors Open to Public – Summit Arena

Arena Blessing  

6:00 pm – Veteran’s Grand Entry – All Veterans and Dignitaries

7:00 pm – Dancer Grand Entry  

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Parade – Downtown Rapid City

8:00 am – Parade Downtown Line Up by in Dacotah Bank Parking Lot – Sponsored by The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board

10:00 am – Parade Starts 2nd & Main Street (Float Contest)

The Summit Arena –The Monument

11:00 am – 1:00 pm Dancer & Drum Registration – Head Table

10:00 am – Doors Open Main Arena & Tradeshow Venue

Sunday, October 11, 2026

The Summit Arena –The Monument

11:00 am – Doors Open Main Arena & Tradeshow Venue

NOON – Announcement of Winners of Junior, Teen, Platinum & Golden Age Categories

12:45 – Veteran’s Grand Entry – All Veterans and Dignitaries

• Flag & Victory Song, Sicangu Lakota Veterans, Colors Posted
• Welcome Address – New 2026-27 Miss He Sapa Win

1:30 pm – Dancer Grand Entry