2026 Event Program
The 2026 8th Annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week will be held on July 5-12, 2026, and will feature the following:
- Steel Guitar Sundays at Hula Grill Waikīkī.
- Evening Concerts at the Royal Grove Stage on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, featuring one-hour performances by different Hawaiian steel guitar artists and ensembles including NextGEN steel guitarists, Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi (celebrating his 93rd birthday), and Masami Sato & Makana.
- The 1st Annual Amateur Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest, Ho‘okuku Kīkā Kila, on Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30.
- The 5th Annual J-FESTA 2026 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival on Friday from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM featuring steel guitarists from Japan.
- The 16th Annnual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival on Saturday featuring various Hawaiian steel guitar artists and bands in two performance segments, 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM.
- Steel Guitar Sundays Special presentation at Hula Grill Waikīkī
- A Grand Finale concert featuring NextGEN steel guitarists and emerging artists.
- Hands-on experience for event guests to learn more about the Hawaiian steel guitar.
Program
Click here to see and download the Complete Event Schedule
Sunday - Steel Guitar Sundays presentation at Hula Grill Waikīkī
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Evening Concert Performances
Co-emcees for the weekday concerts are Monte McComber and Alan Akaka.
Wednesday - Ho‘okūkū Kika Kila - The 1st Annual Amateur Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest
Friday - 5th Annual J-FESTA 2026 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Complete festival information available at the J-FESTA 2026 Festival Website.
Co-ecees for for J-FESTA 2026 will be Masami Sato and Alan Akaka.
Saturday - the 16th Annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
Sunday
- Steel Guitar Sundays Special presentation at Hula Grill Waikīkī featuring Alan Akaka & the Islanders
- Wakīkī Beach Walk Plaza Stage Grand Finale featuring NextGEN steel guitarists and Emerging Artists
The Festival Poster
The Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week poster was designed by Addison Ching and features pictures of the master performers superimposed on a facsimile of a Rickenbacher Bakelite steel guitar. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.
Festival Archives
The Festival Archives contains program information from previous Waikīkī Steel Guitar Weeks and Festivals.