A weekend celebration of Native culture, tradition, and community at one of Louisiana’s premier cultural events.
For high-res photos of the 2025 Pow Wow, click here.
MARKSVILLE, La. – (February 20, 2026) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host its 28th Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow, Honoring John D. Barbry, on May 16 and 17, 2026, at the Earl J. Barbry Sr. Convention Center at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. This annual public event brings together Indigenous tribes and visitors from across the region to celebrate Native American culture and heritage. Throughout the weekend, attendees will experience vibrant dance competitions, powerful drum performances, and cultural demonstrations that honor the traditions uniting Tribal communities.
“The Pow Wow is a sacred time for our Tribe, a time to gather in unity, reflect on the strength and resilience of our people, and celebrate the spirit that connects Native communities across generations,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “As we host the John Barbry Memorial Pow Wow, we do so with gratitude and remembrance, honoring John’s legacy and all those we have lost who helped shape our path forward. When we come together in song, dance, and prayer, we reaffirm who we are as a people and ensure that our traditions continue to live on for future generations.”
This year’s Pow Wow will be led by an outstanding lineup of host and invited drums, including Southern Host Drum Pawnee Yellow Horse and Northern Host Drum Meskwaki Nation, along with Southern Invited Drum Ottertrail and Northern Invited Drum Mato Pejuta. Hokah Sound will provide sound for the weekend, helping set the rhythm for two days of celebration. Dance competitions will be held for participants from ages 6 to 55+, and dancers can pre-register for the event by May 16, 2026. The Pow Wow will also host over 30 food and craft vendors, offering traditional foods, indigenous arts, jewelry and handmade crafts. Vendors interested in participating are encouraged to contact Paulette Voiselle – pvoiselle@tunica.org or (800) 272-9767.
In addition to the weekend festivities, the Tribe will host a free Education Day on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Earl J. Barbry Sr. Convention Center at Paragon Casino Resort. Two presentations will be offered at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., providing local students and school groups with an interactive introduction to Native American culture. The program will feature Pow Wow dance demonstrations, traditional storytelling, and engaging cultural exhibits designed to deepen understanding and appreciation of Tribal heritage. For more information or to register a school group, contact Elisabeth Pierite at Elisabeth.pierite@tunica.orgor (318) 240-6432.
General Admission for the 2026 Pow Wow is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children between twelve and five years of age, and free for children under the age of five. Registered dancers will be admitted with assigned numbers. The Pow Wow doors open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
To learn more about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/.
About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,600 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. The modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is composed of Tunica, Biloxi (a Siouan-speaking people from the Gulf coast), Ofo (also a Siouan people), Avoyel (a Natchezan people), and Choctaw. Although ancestry is typically intermixed through marriages, tribal members typically identify either as Tunica, Biloxi or Biloxi-Choctaw. The Tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/ and “like” us on Facebook.