The 37th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, a renowned Indigenous dance competition celebrating cultural traditions through storytelling and movement.
The World Championship Hoop Dance Contest returns to the Heard Museum on February 6 and 7, 2027. It's the 37th annual running of the competition, which has become one of the most recognized Indigenous dance contests in North America, drawing hoop dancers from across the United States and Canada.
If you've never seen it, the art is storytelling through movement. A dancer starts with a single hoop to represent the beginning of life and adds more as they go—sometimes up to 50 at once—interlocking them into intricate shapes to the beat of the drum. They form animals, flowers and baskets, weaving the hoops in and out of each other. The competition is split into five age categories, from Tiny Tots up to Senior, so you'll see everyone from the youngest kids to the veterans on the same stage. Judges look at precision, rhythm, creativity, speed and storytelling, and with more than 100 Indigenous dancers taking part, there's a lot to watch. Live traditional singing fills the room throughout the weekend.
Beyond the contest, the event is built as a cornerstone for cultural preservation and intergenerational learning. It's as much about the community and the tradition as it is about who takes home the title. The contest first came to the Heard in 1991 and moved there in 1992, and it's been a fixture of the museum's calendar ever since.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Phoenix and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Tickets for adults are around $20 to $25, which is included with Heard Museum general admission or a special event ticket, with discounts for youth, seniors and members. The museum is at 2301 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
