Come Celebrate Our Chahta Spirit at the 2026 Labor Day Festival

Labor Day weekend is one of my favorite times of the year because it gives us an opportunity to come together as one Choctaw family.

From Sept. 4 through Sept. 6, the historic Capitol grounds at Tvshka Homma will once again come alive for the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival. This annual celebration is about so much more than a holiday weekend. It is a time to celebrate our faith, family and culture, honor our traditions and enjoy the fellowship of friends, relatives and fellow Chahta.

Whether you come for the cultural and heritage activities, arts and crafts, food, sports, carnival, entertainment or simply to visit with family, there will be something for everyone. This year’s entertainment lineup includes:

Country music artists:

• Saturday, 7:30 p.m. – Neal McCoy
• Saturday, 9 p.m. – Mark Chesnutt

Christian artists include:

• Sunday, 7 p.m. – Hope Darst
• Sunday, 8:30 p.m. – Ben Fuller

These entertainers along with Choctaw entertainers and other special performers throughout the weekend will take the stage at the Choctaw Capitol Amphitheater. Visit the Labor Day website for the full schedule.

But one of the most important moments of the weekend will be an opportunity for us to look beyond the celebration and reflect on the progress of our Nation.

The State of the Nation

I am especially excited to invite everyone to come watch the live 2026 State of the Nation that will be presented at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Choctaw Capitol Amphitheater in Tvshka Homma.

The State of the Nation is an opportunity to share with our tribe where the Choctaw Nation stands today, recognize the accomplishments we have made together and look toward the future we are building for generations to come.

Our Nation continues to grow and evolve, but the values that guide us remain the same. We are committed to strengthening our sovereignty and our communities, creating opportunities for our people and preserving the language, heritage, culture and traditions that make us Choctaw.

The State of the Nation will be presented live, and I invite you to watch with your Chahta family. Whether you are at the Labor Day Festival, at home with your family or watching from somewhere across the country, I hope you will take the time to join us. The State of the Nation will be online streamed live this year, so be sure to check the CNO social channels and the CNO YouTube channel so you can watch from wherever you may be. And if you’re not able to join us in person at the Labor Day Festival grounds for the State of the Union presentation, you’ll be able to watch a recording of the event beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 7 via the Choctaw Nation YouTube channel.

This is your Nation. These are your accomplishments. And the future we are building belongs to all of us. So, come to Tvshka Homma. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Enjoy the music, food, culture and fellowship. Visit with your fellow tribal members and experience the incredible spirit that makes Labor Day weekend so special.

I hope you will join me for the live State of the Nation and see for yourself the progress we are making and the opportunities ahead for the Choctaw Nation.

Labor Day is a celebration of who we are—and a reminder of where we are going. I look forward to seeing you at Tvshka Homma and sharing this special weekend with you. As Chahta we should stop, reflect and give thanks to our ancestors for the sacrifices they made to make sure we have a bright future.

Yakoke, and I will see you at the 2026 Choctaw Labor Day Festival, God Bless!