CARSON CITY, N.V. (April 14, 2026) – Registration is now open for the 28th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC), which will be held on the tribal homelands of The Tulalip Tribes, October 19-22, 2026, at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Washington. The event is organized by the American Indigenous Tourism Association (AIT).
AIT, the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States, will celebrate 28 years as the leader in Indigenous tourism. Each year, the AITC attracts more than 300 attendees for second-to-none networking opportunities, high-level keynote sessions, and informative breakout sessions led by the hospitality industry’s leading experts.
American Indigenous Tourism Conference
Date: October 19-22, 2026
Location: Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd, Tulalip, WA 98271
Host: The Tulalip Tribes
The theme of this year’s conference, “Indigenous Tourism is Sovereignty in Action,” celebrates a powerful truth: Indigenous tourism is a living expression of sovereignty. Around the world, Native Nations continue to exercise their inherent right to govern themselves—protecting homelands, nurturing economic opportunity, and safeguarding the well-being of their citizens.
“True Indigenous tourism must be Indigenous led. It must be guided by our people, supported by our consent, and rooted in our authority to decide which stories are shared – and how they are shared,” said Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe), CEO, American Indigenous Tourism Association. “Through Indigenous tourism, we uphold our cultural identities and strengthen our nations. We invite you to join us at AITC to celebrate the transformative role of tourism in advancing our self-determination.”
NEW for 2026: In an exciting shift to the conference curriculum, the signature mobile workshops will now take place on Wednesday afternoon and are included in the registration fee. This update ensures attendees can experience the host tribe’s culture without additional costs or an extra day of travel. This year’s mobile workshops include:
- Hibulb Cultural Center: Learn more about the culture of the Tulalip Tribes with a tour of the museum and its collections, followed by a hands-on cedar woven craft session.
- Sovereignty in Action: See sovereignty firsthand across the Tulalip Reservation with stops at the Salmon Hatchery, Administration Building, Gathering Hall, Youth Complex, and Longhouse.
The 28th Annual AITC will be held at the Tulalip Resort Casino, a AAA Four-Diamond property and Condé Nast Traveler favorite. Located between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., this premier enterprise of The Tulalip Tribes features 370 luxury rooms, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, and a full-service spa. Attendees are steps away from world-class gaming, the Hibulb Cultural Center, and Seattle Premium Outlets, making it a pinnacle example of Indigenous hospitality and economic sovereignty.
“Commerce was always one of our traditions,” said Tulalip Chairman Hazen Shopbell. “Our ancestors were entrepreneurs. They hunted, fished, gathered, and traded with different tribes and nations. Today, we still want our people to have many roads to success. Tourism is one path, but the key is we need to be out front. We can’t wait for opportunities – we have to make them. Our unique status and reserved powers put us in an optimal position to make moves that benefit our members and grow our wealth. When Tulalip wins, we reinvest our profits back into the government services we provide. It’s a positive spiral that builds bigger and better things for our kids and their kids,” he said.
A favorite AITC event, the Excellence in Indigenous Tourism Awards Gala, will honor the best and brightest across Indigenous tourism. This event is accompanied by dinner on Wednesday, October 21 where attendees can donate to AIT’s tourism and hospitality scholarship program.
The 2026 AITC logo artwork depicts the sun rising over the Salish Sea and was created by Tulalip Media & Marketing. The rising sun reflects the awakening of a new day, of renewal, and the teachings our ancestors carried forward. The Salish Sea is always moving and always connecting us, just as the tides have carried stories and connections across these territories since time immemorial.
Conference registration begins at $845 for AIT members who register by the early bird deadline (June 30, 2026). A select number of exhibitor spaces are available at $1,000 per booth for members and $1,200 for non-members. As with previous years, the conference will also feature a Business of Art Seminar and Native Art Market, and artisans are encouraged to register for a table. AITC attendees who register by the early bird deadline of June 30 will be entered into a drawing for one overnight stay at the Tulalip Resort Casino during the 28th Annual AITC, where one winner will be chosen. To register and learn more about AITC, visit www.americanindigenoustourism.org/aitc.
For more than 27 years, the American Indigenous Tourism Association has worked to address inequities in the tourism system and has served as the national voice for U.S. Indigenous peoples engaged in cultural tourism, while providing technical assistance, training and capacity building to Native Nations and communities and Indigenous-owned enterprises engaged in tourism, hospitality, and recreation.
Native Nations and communities who are looking to start or expand their cultural tourism footprint can find resources at www.AmericanIndigenousTourism.org and visitors interested in learning more about Indigenous culture can visit www.DestinationNativeAmerica.com.