As visitors poured into Phoenix for the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, the calm Arizona morning rattled awake when the gates opened and thousands of guests marched onto the Heard Museum campus. During its peak on Saturday, visitors were shoulder to shoulder inside the full tents as transactions were taking place and new friends were being made. It was the 68th year of the long-running market—it’s no spring chicken—and yet the event is as vibrant and exciting as ever.
Best of Show winner Jacqueline Rickard (Walker River Paiute) shows off her award-winning piece at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market
Crowds walk through the market in Phoenix.
The market, always held the first weekend in March, kicked off with an awards ceremony and party on March 6, during which the awards for best of classification were announced and presented to artists. Chosen from the winners of best of class is the best of show winner, which this year went to basketry artist Jacqueline Rickard (Walker River Paiute).
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market. I am in awe of the wonderful craftsmanship of all the people who entered the competition, and I’m deeply honored that my basket was chosen for Best of Show,” Rickard says. “When I received the news, I sat in disbelief, but indeed, I had won. I was blown away. I am now in recovery, and my senses are restored. 2026 was my first time at the market and museum. Everyone was gracious, helpful and delightful. The museum itself is incredible. I look forward to returning next year.”
Mavasta Honyouti holds up the February/March issue of Native American Art magazine, which featured his work.
A dancer performs during the fair and market.
Native American Art co-publisher Adolfo Castillo, left, with jeweler Cody Sanderson.
Nearly 650 artists competed for more than $160,000 in prize money. Other winners were Aiden Kahn (Navajo (Diné)) in the Youth Art Show & Sale, Earl Patterson Jr. won the Conrad House Innovation Award, Shelby Rowe (Chickasaw) won the Idyllwild Arts Imagination Award, and Kyle Lee-Anderson (Navajo (Diné)) won the Arts & Crafts Association Commemorative Award.
Besides art, the market also feature live music and dance performances, the youth art show, Native American food vendors, book signings, art demonstrations and also numerous ongoing exhibitions inside the Heard Museum.
The Heard Museum Guild, which operates the market, has already picked dates for next year: March 6 and 7, 2027. Plenty of time to get ready. —
2026 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market Award Winners
Best of Show / Best of Class: Basketry Jacqueline Rickard (Walker River Paiute), It is Pure Joy, Basket Creation
Best of Class: Jewelry, Lapidary & Metal Work Roy Talahaftewa (Hopi), Water & Corn Clan Migration Concho Belt
Best of Class: Pottery Jared Tso (Navajo (Diné)), Hastiin Bob Square Bun
Best of Class: Two- Dimensional Art Merlin Little Thunder (Cheyenne), From a Place of Strength and Beauty
Best of Class: Pueblo Carvings Tayron Polequaptewa (Hopi), Monongya Katsina
Best of Class: Sculpture Leon Misak Kinneeveauk (Inupiaq), Katang the Shaman Visions of the Past
Best of Class: Weavings & Textiles Kevin Aspaas (Navajo (Diné)), Holy Corn
Best of Class: Diverse Art Forms Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty (Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux) and Kevin Pourier (Oglala Lakota), Protects the Spirit Horse Mask
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