Navajo Song and Dance - The Heartbeat of Navajo Culture

Soothing Navajo melodies and a harmonic beat of a drum.

That’s what you’ll hear at the 113th Annual Northern Navajo Fair Song and Dance here in Shiprock, New Mexico on October 3-4, 2026.

Coordinator Delvin Hobson wants everyone to wear their finest silver and turquoise jewelry to their satin or velveteen traditional Navajo attire and showcase the cultural beauty of the Navajo people.

The song and dance is when cultural Navajo treasures showcase their beauty to the world.

The Shiprock native has been involved with song and dance for more than 40 years learning from his grandparents and other family members.

So Hobson is passing on that tradition to this day through his love for song and dance events that he continues to attend or host.

“I love people who participate in song and dance,” he commented. “We all share something in common and that is love, caring and respecting one another.”

He added that song and dance songs help teach the younger generation about Navajo culture.

World-wide visitors are captivated by the unique Navajo language when they first hear it. And they are even more enthralled to learn that the Navajo language was used as a code in World War II to help defeat the enemy.

The Navajo Song and Dance is a colorful rendition of Navajo heritage bonding elders and the youth as they dance in harmony….keeping traditional Navajo culture alive.

All sung in Navajo, the social songs are about being happy about life to singing about old friends to the celebration of the fall harvest.

Some of the most soul-stirring songs are about past wars Navajo veterans fought in,which gives listeners a deeper appreciation for veterans and the Navajo language. To have full meaning and impact, they’re all sung in Navajo.

This beautiful Navajo Song and Dance event is the only dancing event of its kind in the world; therefore, many domestic and international visitors are honored to see this event in person. And if visitors are very fortunate, they may even be asked to dance with a partner. What a thrill that would be.

In fact, it actually happened years ago.

A group of international writers were visiting New Mexico. Instead of attending a balloon event elsewhere in the state, they wanted to attend the Northern Navajo Fair.

They watched the parade and other events, but their highlight was when they had an opportunity to dance at the Navajo Song and Dance.

Suffice to say, they brought the tent down so to speak and there was much laughter in the air that day by all.

The Navajo Song and Dance is a joyous event because this may be the only time in the year Navajo elders get to sing, dance and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Moreover, with the onset of diabetes and other diseases among the Navajo people, the Navajo Song and Dance is a perfect venue to participate in physical activity that can be enjoyable through the social Navajo songs and dances.

There’s nothing more beautiful than to see a gathering of elders living their lives at their fullest with laughter and dancing the evening away.

Come and see the fun…come and join the fun.

Pray for a safe and enjoyable fair.

See you all at the Northern Navajo Fair Navajo Song and Dance!