Haakaìè: Proud to be Marquesan

The Marquesas Islands Arts Festival will be held from December 15 to 19, 2025 on the island of Ua Huka, under the theme « Haakaìè »: the pride of being Marquesan. This unique quadrennial event in the Pacific brings together locals, artists, and visitors to celebrate and share Marquesan traditions through dance, song, crafts, and local cuisine.

A true celebration of Polynesian culture, the Marquesas Islands Arts Festival returns from December 15 to 19, 2025, on the island of Ua Huka, under the theme « Haakaìè »: the pride of being Marquesan.

This quadrennial event, unique in the Pacific, brings together the inhabitants of all the islands of the archipelago, artists, and travelers from around the world, united by a common goal: to preserve and promote Marquesan traditions.

A major cultural event in the Pacific

Created in 1986 by the Motu-Haka cultural federation, the Marquesas Islands Arts Festival has become the essential event for lovers of Polynesia and its traditions.

Every four years, the six inhabited islands of the archipelago come together for a week of sharing and celebration.

Visitors from all over the world come to experience the richness of Marquesan culture through traditional dance performances, singing competitions, ancient games, craft demonstrations, and exhibitions of paintings and sculptures.

Tastings of local specialties are also highly anticipated, such as raw fish caught locally, tropical fruits from the archipelago, and the traditional kaaku – an ancestral dish made with uru (breadfruit).

Dressed in traditional, handcrafted costumes adorned with feathers, shells, and Marquesan tapa cloth, the inhabitants of the archipelago recount the history and legends of their islands through dances and songs.

These performances, imbued with symbolic power, embody the values ​​of respect, solidarity, and belonging to this community.

They play a major role in preserving Marquesan identity and passing it on to younger generations.