2026 Arizona Renaissance Festival: Everything you need to know

PHOENIX — The 38th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival returns this weekend with entertainment, games, rides, special feasts, the Pub Crawl and all-new limited-engagement performers through March.

The festival runs on Saturdays and Sundays through March 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will also be open on Presidents Day (Feb. 16).

The festival grounds are located on US 60 in Gold Canyon, about 43 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

How much do tickets and parking cost?

Online tickets to the Arizona Renaissance Festival are $36 for adults and $24 for children ages 5 to 12, plus fees. Children ages 4 and under are free.

For the opening weekend, you can get an online discount of two adult tickets for $46 plus fees with promo code KOLD during checkout.

Tickets can also be purchased in advance at Bashas’ and Food City stores statewide for a $1 discount.

Parking is free at the festival.

You may also get season passes for the festival and group deals. You can visit the festival’s website for answers to any other frequently asked questions.

What’s new in 2026 at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The festival will present limited-engagement performers for the first time.

These six acts will perform only on specific dates:

• Blades and Bravery (Jan. 31 and Feb. 1)
• Jacques ze Whipper (Feb. 7 through Feb. 16)
• Dungeons and Shakespeare (Feb. 21 through March 8)
• Tiny Girl Big Show (March 14 through March 29)
• Judas and Magnolia (Jan. 31 through Feb. 22)
• Witch Trials (Feb. 28 through March 29)

Another 2026 addition is Gabs the Fool, who will perform a one-clown circus show at the Palace Theatre throughout the festival.

What entertainment will be at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The festival will have entertainment on its 16 stages every event day, including comedy, music and mischievous antics.

Each stage has anywhere from one to seven shows that have multiple show times each day. The entertainment starts as early as 10:30 a.m. and the final show of each day begins at 5:35 p.m.

And don’t forget about the jousting, which is one of the main attractions at the festival each year. The jousters will compete three times each day as two tons of horses, knight and armor battle with 10-foot lances in the 5,000-seat arena of champions.

The knights will compete in a three-part jousting tournament at noon (A Joust for Royal Favor), 2:30 p.m. (A Tournament of Champions) and 5 p.m. (A joust to the Death). When the joust is over, guests can meet the knights at the arena’s entry.

What games and rides will be at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The festival will feature 31 different rides and games.

There will be games of skill featuring axe, knife and star throwing, wall climbing, darts, crossbows, escape rooms and more, along with rides and activities for all ages, including butterfly rides, camel rides, pony rides, a petting farm, airships, the swan swing and more.

What food and beverages will be at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The festival will feature at least 18 different eateries you can stop by, featuring everything from hearty foods like turkey legs and steak and sausage on a stick, pizza, barbecue and Mediterranean cuisine to plenty of sweet and savory treats.

Here’s a current list of the 2026 eateries at the Arizona Renaissance Festival:

• King’s Kitchen and Pub
• The Cappuccino Inn
• The Cottage Bakery
• The Chocolate Maker
• The Gelato Guys
• Tudor Rose Pub
• The Mediterranean Fare
• Lancer’s Pub
• Queen’s Kitchen and Pub
• Ye Olde World Sausage Maker
• Crown Pub
• The Cottage Crepe Shoppe
• Dancing Pig Pub
• Joust Kitchen and Pub
• Pirate’s Kitchen and Pub
• Rovin’ Throughout the Realm
• The Piazza Pub
• Transylvanian Treats

What shops and artisans will be at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The village marketplace will feature more than 200 shops offering a variety of goods, including unique handmade items like blown glass, leather goods and jewelry.

You will also be able to watch artisans create many of the goods available for purchase.

The goods available in shops are separated into 18 categories:

• Adornments
• Leatherwork
• Lotions and Potions
• Metalwork
• At your service
• Musical Instruments
• Pewter
• Pottery and Ceramic Art
• Candles
• Children’s Fare
• Print and Books
• Unique Specialties
• Clothing and Textiles
• Weaponry
• Whimsies
• Glasswork
• Woodwork
• Heath and Home

What are the themed weekends at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

In addition to the regular shows, entertainment, food and games that will happen throughout the entirety of the festival, each weekend will have its own theme.

The first weekend’s theme will be “It’s Time for Norse Adventure,” with an emphasis on Viking revelry.

The second weekend (Feb. 7 and 8) will be “Chivalry and Champions,” where you can witness knights in shining armor and there will be contests at the Tournament of Champions.

Feb. 14, 15 and 16 will be themed “‘Tis a Three-Day Royal A’fair.” Festivalgoers are encouraged to dress in their finest attire.

Feb. 21 and 22 will be themed “Journeys Through Time” as the fair highlights travelers from the past to the future.

“Pirates Invasion and Brew Fest” will take place on Feb. 28 and March 1 as pirates take over the festival and you can participate in brew fest in the mead of Village Green from noon to 4 p.m. (must be 21+).

March 7 and 8 present “‘Tis an Enchanted Realm” where wizards, witches and wondrous creatures wander the fair.

March 14 and 15 present “Celtic Celebration” for a weekend of Celtic music, heritage and cheer.

“Carnival of Masks” takes over March 21 and 22 as participants are encouraged to wear their best masks for the weekend.

The final weekend (March 28 and 29) of the festival is themed “Magic and Merriment,” as guests can eat, drink and celebrate the final weekend of the fair.

What’s special add-ons are offered at the Arizona Renaissance Festival?

The Pleasure Feast is a special ticket you can purchase that includes festival access and a five-course meal in Festival Village. The feast offered at noon and 2:30 p.m. each day.

You can view the menu and purchase tickets for the feast online.

The Hops is a pub crawl that you can buy a special ticket to the festival for. The crawl has four stops along a one and half hour brew tour with Rowland & Florian of The Renaissance Men.

There is one tour each day at 2 p.m. and you can purchase your tickets online.

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