Events In Oahu 2026 

Oahu Events 2026 – Festivals, Parades, Surf Contests & Fireworks

If you’re planning a trip to Oahu in 2026, timing your vacation around one of the island’s major events can turn a good trip into an unforgettable one. From cultural festivals and floral parades in Honolulu to world-class surf contests on the North Shore, Oahu events 2026 will bring crowds, energy and plenty of things to do all year long.

Early in the year, look for big winter surf on the North Shore as professional contests light up breaks like Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay. January and February are prime months for Oahu surf competitions, drawing athletes, media and spectators from around the world. At the same time, Honolulu hosts seasonal celebrations like Chinese New Year lion dances and community events that bring color and sound to Chinatown and the downtown area.

Spring on Oahu is packed with culture. In March, the Honolulu Festival usually takes over the Hawaiʻi Convention Center and Waikīkī with performances, craft fairs, a grand parade and fireworks off the beach. Around late March, you’ll often see the Prince Kūhiō Day celebrations and parade, honoring one of Hawaiʻi’s beloved aliʻi (royalty). April and May bring foodie and family-friendly events, including the famous Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival, Lei Day celebrations on May 1, and the moving Memorial Day lantern floating ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park.

Summer is prime time for events on Oahu that feature parades, fireworks and outdoor gatherings. June centers around the King Kamehameha Floral Parade and Hoʻolauleʻa in Waikīkī, celebrating Hawaiian royalty with paʻu riders, floral floats and live entertainment. In July, Oahu comes alive with 4th of July fireworks shows, community celebrations and bon dance season at temples around the island. These popular events can impact traffic and parking in Waikīkī and Kailua, so it’s smart to plan your circle island or Pearl Harbor tours around them.

By late summer and fall, the focus shifts to ocean sports and cultural festivals. August typically features the Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest in Waikīkī, a multi-day celebration of surfing, swimming and watersports honoring Hawaiʻi’s most famous waterman. September brings the Aloha Festivals with block parties and a floral parade on Kalākaua Avenue, along with other neighborhood festivals that showcase Hawaiian music, hula and food.

As the year winds down, Oahu events 2026 will include major draws like Honolulu Pride, culinary showcases such as the Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival, Honolulu City Lights and parades during the holiday season, and the world-renowned Honolulu Marathon in December. The winter surf season also returns, bringing massive swells and, in some years, legendary big-wave contests that can fill the North Shore with spectators.

If you’re visiting Oahu in 2026, use this events calendar to choose the best time to come and then build your activities around it. For busy weekends with parades, festivals or surf contests, we recommend booking your Oahu circle island tours, Pearl Harbor tours, snorkel adventures, luaus and helicopter tours early. That way you can enjoy the energy of Oahu’s biggest events while still having your must-do activities locked in with Oahu Best Tours.

Schedule of Events

January 2026

• WSL Lexus Pipe Challenger (Surf Contest, North Shore) – Jan 29 – Feb 9, 2026 (confirmed)
  Challenger Series event at Banzai Pipeline, bringing in pro surfers and big crowds to the North Shore.

(Chinese New Year parades and lion dances in Chinatown usually happen late Jan / Feb; 2026 dates aren’t posted yet but you can expect at least one major street event in downtown Honolulu based on past years.)

February 2026

• WSL Lexus Pipe Challenger continues – runs through Feb 9 (see above).

• International Fashion Week Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Convention Center – Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2026 (confirmed)
  Fashion shows, designers, and runway events at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.

March 2026

• Honolulu Festival (Waikīkī & Hawaiʻi Convention Center) – Mar 13 – 15, 2026 (confirmed)
  One of Oahu’s biggest cultural festivals: performances at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, craft fair, Waikīkī grand parade on Sunday, and the Nagaoka fireworks show off Waikīkī at night.

• Prince Kūhiō Parade (Waikīkī) – late March, 2026 TBA
  Annual parade honoring Prince Jonah Kūhiō; typically a Kalākaua Avenue parade around his birthday (March 26). 2026 date isn’t posted yet but it’s highlighted in the 2026 festivals guide as a key Oahu event.

April 2026

• Waikīkī SPAM JAM® Festival – Kalākaua Avenue – Saturday, Apr 25, 2026 (confirmed)
  Massive evening block party celebrating SPAM with food booths, live music on multiple stages, and tens of thousands of visitors. Streets on Kalākaua are closed from 4–10 pm.

• SPAM “Dine-In” Restaurant Week – Waikīkī – Apr 18 – May 3, 2026 (confirmed)
  Restaurants around Waikīkī run special SPAM-themed dishes leading into the festival.

• Kawaii Kon (Anime & Pop Culture Convention) – Apr 24, 2026 (confirmed weekend)
  Big anime / cosplay convention, usually at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center; already listed on Waikīkī events calendars as an April 24, 2026 weekend anchor.

May 2026

• Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi – Ala Moana Beach Park – Mon, May 25, 2026, 6:30–7:30 pm (confirmed)
  Huge Memorial Day remembrance ceremony at Ala Moana Beach, with floating lanterns and crowds that can reach tens of thousands.

• Lei Day Celebration (May 1) – May 1, 2026 TBA
  Annual lei-making and hula celebration, usually in Kapiʻolani Park or a similar venue; highlighted in 2026 festival guides as a key statewide event, with the main public activities on Oahu.

• East Honolulu Food Festival – early May, 2026 TBA
  Community food festival (Mary, Star of the Sea grounds) with food booths and entertainment, typically the first Saturday in May.