Nowruz America 2026: Your Guide to Spring Celebrations Across the US

Summary: Every March, millions of people around the world celebrate Nowruz, the ancient spring festival marking the Persian New Year. Across the United States, Iranian, Central Asian, Afghan, Kurdish and other communities gather to welcome the new season with music, dance and tables filled with traditional foods—from fragrant plov to golden beignets. Here are several celebrations taking place across the country in 2026.

Each spring, communities across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan and parts of the Middle East celebrate Nowruz, the ancient holiday marking the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year.

Across the United States, Central Asian communities—Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uyghur, Uzbek and others—are organizing many public celebrations of the holiday and sharing their traditions with a wider public. These gatherings often center on music, dance and tables filled with dishes such as plov, boorsok, sumolok, and other foods long associated with the holiday across the steppe and Silk Road regions.

From California parks to university campuses in Washington, DC, these celebrations reflect a growing cultural presence and leadership among Central Asian communities in the US.

Here are several Nowruz celebrations taking place across the country in 2026.

Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest has become one of the most active hubs for Central Asian diaspora celebrations in the United States.

Kirland, Washington

Nauryz Celebration—North American Kazakh Association

The North American Kazakh Association (NAKA) will host a Nauryz celebration bringing together the Kazakh community in the Seattle area for a day of food, music and spring festivities.

Guests can expect traditional cuisine, cultural performances and a community gathering marking the arrival of the new year.

When: March 29, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Carl Sandburg Elementary School
12802 84th Ave NE

Seattle, Washington

Navruz Celebration—Seattle–Tashkent Sister City Association

The Seattle–Tashkent Sister City Association will host a Navruz celebration highlighting Uzbek culture, cuisine and traditions.

When: April 11, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Where: Shoreline Community College
PUB 9000 Building

Shoreline, Washington

Nowruz Celebration & Ramadan Feast

Another Seattle-area gathering organized by the Oasis Foundation will combine Nowruz festivities with a Ramadan community meal.

When: March 28, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Shoreline Community College
PUB 9000 Building

Snohomish, Washington

Nooruz Cultural Festival

The Kyrgyz Community of Washington State will host a Nooruz Cultural Festival celebrating the arrival of spring with traditional Kyrgyz dishes and community gathering.

The event will feature foods associated with the holiday including plov (ash), sumolok and tandyr samsa.

When: March 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Pacifica Foundation Seattle
8626 180th SE

California

California hosts some of the largest Central Asian celebrations in the US.

Belmont, California

Bay Area Novruz Festival

The Turkic communities of Northern California will gather for the 3rd Annual Novruz Festival, celebrating the arrival of spring through music, food and cultural performances.

Participating groups include the Uzbek Community Center, the Uyghur Cultural Advancement Association, the Kyrgyz Community of Northern California, the Kazakh American Association of Silicon Valley, and the Azerbaijani Cultural Society of Northern California.

When: March 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Where: Belmont Twin Pines Community Center
20 Twin Pines Ln, Belmont, CA

Glendale, California

California Qazaq Community Nauryz

The California Qazaq Community will host its annual Nauryz celebration, bringing together families from across the Los Angeles area for a day of culture, food and community.

Now in its sixth year, the event has grown from a small gathering into one of the region’s most-important Kazakh community celebrations. Organizers also run a free Kazakh school, which has been operating since 2021 and plays a central role in preserving language and traditions among younger generations.

Guests can expect traditional Kazakh dishes, live music, including dombra performances and dance, performances by students, national games, cultural activities, as well as a food and handicraft bazaar.

Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting and expanding the community’s free Kazakh school.

When: March 21, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Where: Lower Scholl Canyon Park
2849 E Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA
Admission: Free

Northeast

Nowruz celebrations in the northeast bring together Central Asian communities, cultural organizations and international audiences in cities such as Boston and New York.

Boston, Massachusetts

Nowruz 2026 at the Museum of Fine Arts

A Nowruz gathering organized by TurkicStan Foundation will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, bringing together community members for cultural programming and celebration.

When: March 19, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Where: Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA

New York, New York

Central Asian Nowruz Festival

American Central Asian Association (ACAA) and the Qazaq American Qaganat will host the Central Asian Nowruz Festival in New York highlighting the cultural heritage and spiritual traditions of the Kazakh people.

According to the organizers, the event aims to present Kazakhstan’s history, traditions and artistic heritage on an international stage while contributing to broader cultural dialogue.

When: April 8, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Where: 821 United Nations Plaza #10017
New York, NY
Admission: Invitation only

Mid-Atlantic

Potomac, Maryland

Kazakh American Association Nauryz

The Kazakh American Association will host a family-friendly celebration featuring Kazakh traditions, food and community activities.

When: March 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion
Potomac, Maryland

Washington, DC

Nowruz Celebration at George Washington University

Students and community members will gather for a Nowruz celebration hosted with the Uyghur American Association, the Central Asia Program, and the Sigur Center for Asian Studies.

When: March 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Elliott School of International Affairs
George Washington University

Texas

Houston, Texas

Nauryz Celebration Concert

One of the largest Central Asian celebrations in Texas will take place in Houston with a concert and cultural festival organized by the Texas Qazaq Foundation.

The event will feature live performances, cultural programming and community gatherings.

When: April 5, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: GSH Event Center
9550 W Bellfort Ave, Houston, TX

Tickets:
Early Bird – $40
Regular – $60
Students – $30
Kids (5–15) – $20

Spring, Texas

Happy Nauryz Festival

Just north of Houston, the American Nomad Association will host a family-friendly Nauryz picnic in Spring, Texas, bringing community members together for food, vendors and cultural activities welcoming the arrival of Spring.

When: March 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: Forest Oaks Park—Alcove #4
Spring, TX

A Shared Spring Tradition

For communities across the US, Nowruz celebrations continue to grow as communities preserve traditions while introducing new generations to a holiday rooted in renewal, hospitality and hope. From university campuses to city parks and community centers, these gatherings bring people together to welcome spring and celebrate a cultural heritage that spans centuries and continents.

Find out more about how a Kazakh teacher keeps the spirit of Nauryz alive.