104th Indian Market, Santa Fe. Photo: Kitty Leaken g
Welcome Summer in New Mexico at exhibitions, festivals and events that engage the senses and honor art and traditions.
In June and through summer catch a signature exhibition celebrating Hopi art in Santa Fe, join the ongoing Route 66 celebrations, and the Silver City Clay Festival. Santa Fe holds its wine festival in July, Albuquerque celebrates the Route 66 Centenary in style, while the Roswell UFO Festival enjoys its 73rd anniversary, attracting believers and skeptics alike. In August the Santa Fe Indian Market clocks up 104 years of honoring traditional arts and traditions of the Native American people.
Special Events in New Mexico: Worth the Detour
Ancestral Symbols, Modern Masterpieces
To September 1, 2026, Santa Fe
The Adobe Gallery celebrates its 50th birthday with this exhibition, Ancestral Symbols, Modern Masterpieces: Documenting the Sacred Narratives and History of the Hopi People. It explores the profound spiritual and historical narratives of the Hopi people through a ncurated selection of paintings by the Artist Hopid collective.
Fred Harvey’s Route 66
To December 6, 2026, Albuquerque
The Albuquerque Museum delves into its collection of maps, postcards, brochures, and other ephemera to present Fred Harvey’s Route 66 in the Works on Paper Gallery. Looks at the Fred Harvey Company’s tourist and hospitality ventures throughout New Mexico, with particular attention to La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe and the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque.
Silver City Clay Festival
To June 20, 2026, Silver City
Ceramic exhibition inviting artists working in clay to share work. Clay carries traces of place, memory, culture, and imagination, and in the hands of different artists it becomes something endlessly adaptable. This year the theme is ‘Convergence’ where varied perspectives, forms, and materials come together in one shared space.
Santa Fe Wine Festival
July 4-5, 2026, Santa Fe
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas hosts dozens of New Mexico-based wineries at this annual event, offering tastings and wine purchases alongside multiple artisans selling clothing, accessories, art, and more. Dine on delicious bites from multiple food trucks onsite, purchase a charcuterie board or snacks from food vendors, explore the grounds and enjoy New Mexico music.
Route 66 Summerfest
July 18, 2026, Albuquerque
Centennial festival celebrating all the eras of Route 66 along the one-mile stretch in Nob Hill. Party with live music, fresh food and treats, shopping from local artisans, activities for the kids, show cars, and all the flare you expect of Nob Hill. .
Roswell UFO Festival
July 2-4, 2026, Roswell
73rd Anniversary: Far out fun, bringing UFO and space enthusiasts together to celebrate the 1947 ‘Roswell Incident’, when a rancher found debris initially thought by some to be from a UFO. Believers and skeptics alike are invited to enjoy a drone show, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, guest speakers, authors,and costume contests.
Santa Fe Indian Market
August 15-16, 2026, Santa Fe
104th Annual: This year’s theme, Empowered Resilience—Centuries in the Making, honors the traditions carried forward by the contemporary artists defining the Native American art world today. SFIM attracts over 1,000 Native artists each year, representing more than 200 Tribal Nations from across the U.S. and Canada. Visit to experience a dynamic weekend of fine art, fashion, film, performances, and community celebration, all grounded in tradition and culture.
Hatch Chile Festival
September 5-6, 2026, Hatch Valley
Annual two-day festival dating from an original gathering of farmers in 1971, now celebrating the fiery heart of the Southwest’s chile harvest with delicious chile dishes, chile roasts, live music, parades, and family fun.
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Full Calendars of Events
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