From world-class sporting competitions to vibrant cultural celebrations, the Big Island’s annual events calendar is packed with reasons to visit in every season. Signature gatherings like the Merrie Monarch Festival, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival showcase the island’s deep Hawaiian roots, thriving local agriculture, and love of outdoor adventure—all against a backdrop of volcanoes, rainforests, and stunning coastline. Review our list of top annual Big Island events happening in 2026
Kona Brewers Festival (March 14th)
The Kona Brewers Festival is an annual celebration of craft beer, island cuisine, and community spirit held in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The festival brings together craft breweries from across Hawaii and beyond to showcase a wide range of locally brewed beers, from crisp lagers to bold IPAs and rich stouts. In addition to beer tastings, the event features gourmet dishes prepared by island chefs, live music, and a lively oceanfront atmosphere that highlights the spirit of aloha. Proceeds from the festival support local charities and community projects, making it not only a flavorful experience but also a meaningful one for the Kona community.
Merrie Monarch Festival (April 5 - 11th)
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural celebration held each spring in Hilo, honoring the legacy of King Kalākaua, who was known as the “Merrie Monarch” for his patronage of the arts. Established in 1963, the festival is best known for its prestigious hula competition, which draws hālau (hula schools) from across the Hawaiian Islands and the mainland United States to compete in both ancient (kahiko) and modern (‘auana) styles. Beyond the competition, the festival features a vibrant arts and crafts fair, cultural demonstrations, and a grand parade, all dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian language, music, and traditions. It is widely regarded as the world’s premier hula event and a cornerstone of Hawaiian cultural identity.
Hilo Lei Day Festival (May 1st)
The Hilo Lei Day Festival is a vibrant annual celebration held on May 1 in Hilo, honoring Hawaii’s cherished tradition of lei-making and the spirit of aloha. Part of the statewide observance of Lei Day, the festival features beautifully crafted floral lei displays, live Hawaiian music, hula performances, cultural demonstrations, and a variety of food and craft vendors. Participants of all ages take part in lei-making contests and educational activities that showcase the artistry and cultural significance of lei in Hawaiian history and daily life. With its colorful flowers, island melodies, and strong sense of community, the Hilo Lei Day Festival reflects the enduring pride Hawaiʻi has in its traditions and natural beauty.
Hilo Chocolate Festival (May 9th)
The Hilo Chocolate Festival is an annual celebration of cacao and chocolate held in Hilo. Showcasing Hawaiʻi’s growing cacao industry, the festival brings together local farmers, chocolatiers, and culinary professionals to highlight bean-to-bar chocolate made from island-grown cacao. Attendees can enjoy tastings, chef demonstrations, educational seminars, and farm tours that explore the process from cultivation to finished confections. With a focus on sustainability, agriculture, and local entrepreneurship, the Hilo Chocolate Festival not only satisfies a sweet tooth but also promotes awareness of Hawaiʻi’s unique role as the only U.S. state that commercially grows cacao.
Big Island Jazz & Blues Festival (May 14-17th)
The Big Island Jazz & Blues Festival is an annual celebration of live music held in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. The festival brings together talented local performers and internationally recognized jazz and blues artists for dynamic performances that span classic standards, contemporary jazz, soulful blues, and original compositions. Typically hosted at venues such as the historic Palace Theater, the event offers an intimate concert experience that highlights both musical excellence and community connection. With its relaxed island atmosphere and diverse lineup, the Big Island Jazz & Blues Festival provides an enriching cultural experience for residents and visitors alike.
IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii (May 30th)
Ironman 70.3 Hawaii is a premier half-Ironman race held on the Big Island, typically starting with a swim in Kailua Bay, followed by a challenging bike leg through lava fields and the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, and finishing with a coastal run along Aliʻi Drive to the famous Kailua-Kona finish line. The course is known for hot tropical conditions, strong trade winds, and dramatic volcanic scenery, making it a demanding test of endurance and strategy for athletes of all levels. It attracts a global field of age-groupers and professionals and is a key tempo race in the Ironman circuit, often serving as a qualifier for other Ironman events.
IRONMAN World Championships (October 10th)
The Ironman World Championship is the flagship long-distance triathlon, held aloha the Kohala Coast, and is widely regarded as one of the toughest one-day endurance events in the world. Athletes must qualify at other full-distance Ironman races to earn a coveted slot, which brings an elite global field of professionals and age-group competitors to Kona each year. The race covers 140.6 miles: a 2.4-mile ocean swim off Kailua Pier, a 112-mile bike ride through hot, windy lava fields to the town of Hawi and back, and a full 26.2-mile marathon run along the coast and Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, finishing on Aliʻi Drive amid dense crowds and an iconic nighttime finish-line atmosphere. Beyond the physical demands, the event has become a symbol of human resilience and determination, with dramatic stories of perseverance playing out against the backdrop of Hawaii’s heat, humidity, and relentless winds.
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (November 6 - 15th)
This annual 10-day celebration held each November in Kona honors nearly two centuries of Kona coffee history and the multicultural community that sustains it. Established in 1970, it is recognized as Hawaiʻi’s oldest food festival and showcases the heritage of Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, and other immigrant coffee-farming families who helped make Kona coffee world famous. Events range from farm tours, coffee tastings, cupping competitions, and barista demonstrations to parades, cultural performances, and art exhibits, all designed to highlight the unique flavor of Kona coffee and the spirit of aloha that surrounds it. The festival not only promotes premium Kona coffee to visitors from around the world, but also supports local farmers, preserves traditional practices, and strengthens community pride in this distinctive Hawaiian crop.