(February 25, 2026 – Yap Visitors Bureau, Yap, FSM): The annual Yap Day celebrations are one of the largest and most authentic of all of Micronesia’s cultural events. Each year Yap Day is hosted at one of Yap’s traditional village sites, and this year Tamor, in Tamil Municipality, will showcase the Yap Day performances and major land-based events for the first two days of the Festival. On the third day , March 02, the Festival will move to Mapp, by the sea in Wacholab Municipality, for the ceremonial launching of a traditionally handcrafted sailing canoe to celebrate Yap’s ancient maritime skills and prowess as master navigators.
The festivities always begin with the traditional conch shell blowing and presentation of stone money, which is then followed by a number of Yap’s carefully chosen and well-rehearsed traditional dance routines. The colorful and rhythmic dances are performed with song, both sitting and standing, by men, women and children who practice relentlessly in the months before each Yap Day.
Over the course of the celebrations, groups from all of Yap’s local communities of Maap, Rumung, Rumuu, Rull and Gagil will perform at venues all over the island.
The whole island transforms into a festive display of Yapese Culture with demonstrations and competitions featuring local crafts, food, drinks, sailing, fishing and other traditional skills each day. Competitions include coconut husking and grading, log-pulling, betel nut tree climbing, and weaving, while there will be demonstrations of traditional attire, ceremonial dress, traditional tattooing, canoe and bamboo-raft building, carving, rope and net making, as well as grass skirt, kafar, basket and fan weaving, and jewellery making. Artifacts, handicrafts and other souvenir items will be available for sale and visitors can enjoy a taste of local food and drink delicacies from local stalls and outlets.
These events are organised and coordinated by the Yap and Outer Islands Women’s Associations, Men’s Groups, Historical Preservation Office, Marine Resources and the Agriculture and Land Grant Department, supported by the Yap Visitors Bureau and Yap’s tourism enterprises
Attending International dignitaries include the Ambassadors from the Australian, United States and Japanese Embassies, who will be hosted by FSM’s Vice President, Aren Palik, and second lady, Adelita Palik.
A visit to Yap Day would not be complete with a swim, dive or snorkel with Yap’s famous resident al Manta Ray population.
Yap Day coincides with the peak of the manta ray mating season, which runs from December to April, making for the most exciting manta diving of the year. Groups of mantas congregate in Yap’s lagoon and dance over the reef in courtship displays. These can also be glimpsed from tour boats on the surface for less water sports inclined visitors.
For more information, please email
info@visityap.com
or visit
https://www.visityap.com/
For information about diving or Manta Ray tours visit
https://mantaray.com/the-manta-ray-bay-resort/special-events-regional-partners/yap-day-2026/
Traditional Yap Sailing Canoe / Master Navigators
Yap Stone Money / Yap Unique Culture
Yapese traditional food and drink
Yapese handicrafts and artifacts / weaving / carving / shell jewelry
Yap’s pristine protected Marine Life / Year-round home to resident Manta Rays