When: Friday, January 23, 2026
Where: Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba (Location TBA)
The sākihiwē Festival Round Dance Marketplace 2026 marks the fourth annual winter gathering organized under the sākihiwē festival, taking place in downtown Winnipeg on January 23, 2026. The event brings together vendors, artists, and community members for an evening focused on cultural exchange, creative expression, and connection, combining a marketplace environment with live programming and music as part of the festival’s winter activities.
As part of the broader sākihiwē festival, the Round Dance Marketplace serves as a platform for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis vendors to present and sell handmade goods within a professionally organized festival setting. The event contributes to Winnipeg’s winter cultural calendar and reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to supporting artists and makers through accessible public programming. Updates and announcements related to the event are shared through sākihiwē news channel.
What to Expect
Indigenous Marketplace
The Round Dance Marketplace will host up to 20 Indigenous vendors, offering handmade beadwork, ribbon skirts and shirts, visual art, accessories, and Indigenous-designed apparel. T-shirt and apparel vendors are welcome to apply. Food vendors are not permitted at this venue.
Each selected vendor will be provided with:
One 8-foot table
Two chairs
Power and Wi-Fi will not be available at the venue, and vendors are encouraged to bring battery-powered lighting if required.
Round Dance Gathering
The marketplace operates alongside the sākihiwē Festival Round Dance, creating a shared space for community gathering in the winter season. The Round Dance is part of the festival’s ongoing programming and contributes to its focus on Indigenous-led cultural events in Winnipeg.
Vendor Participation & Applications
Indigenous vendors interested in participating are invited to apply through the official Google Form provided by the organizers.
Who can apply: Inuit, Métis, and First Nations vendors
Application deadline: Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:59 pm CST
Notification of acceptance: December 18, 2025 (by email)
Vendor fee: $65
Payment due: January 16, 2026
Applications are reviewed by the organizing team, and invitations are sent to successful applicants only.
Event Schedule
Marketplace load-in: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Doors open to the public: 5:00 pm
Marketplace closes: 11:00 pm
The event takes place on Friday, January 23, 2026, with the exact downtown Winnipeg location to be announced.
Why It Matters
Supporting Indigenous Artists & Makers
The sākihiwē Festival Round Dance Marketplace creates direct opportunities for Indigenous artists and makers to sell their work, connect with audiences, and participate in a community-based cultural event. By centering Indigenous vendors, the marketplace supports Indigenous-led creative economies during the winter season.
Community Gathering Through Culture
As part of the sākihiwē festival, the Round Dance Marketplace contributes to a broader effort to create accessible cultural spaces in Winnipeg. The event encourages community participation while highlighting Indigenous creativity through art, clothing, and handmade goods.
Funding & Acknowledgements
The Round Dance event is supported through funding from:
The Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage
Canada Council for the Arts
Manitoba Arts Council
Winnipeg Arts Council
This support enables the continued development of Indigenous-led cultural programming within the sākihiwē festival.
Participation & Contact
For questions regarding vendor applications or event details, interested participants may contact:
Email: alan@sakihiwe.ca
Applicants and attendees are encouraged to monitor official sākihiwē festival communications for location announcements and event updates.
Final Thoughts
The Festival Round Dance Marketplace 2026 offers a Canadian winter gathering that brings together artists, vendors, and community members through a curated marketplace and evening programming. Held in January, the event creates space for creative exchange, live music, and community connection, contributing to the broader winter cultural calendar through accessible, artist-centered programming.
The marketplace highlights handmade goods, visual art, and apparel presented in a professionally organized festival setting, encouraging visitors to engage directly with makers while supporting creative practice during the winter season. Music plays a central role in shaping the atmosphere of the event, reinforcing its focus on shared experience and community presence.
Visitors and participating vendors are encouraged to follow sakihiwe news for official updates, announcements, and programming details as the event approaches. Ongoing communication and highlights are also shared through the festival’s Instagram channel, providing audiences with timely information, visual previews, and post-event coverage connected to this January gathering.
