Nowruz America 2026: Your Guide to Spring Celebrations Across the US
From Seasttle to Houston, Central Asian communities across the United States are welcoming spring with festivals, food and centuries-old traditions.
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.
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 a public Nauryz celebration featuring performances, cultural activities and traditional food.
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.