5 Biggest Events & Festivals in the Marshall Islands

Celebrated on 1 May, Constitution Day marks the adoption of the Marshall Islands’ Constitution in 1979 and brings communities together to reflect on the country’s history, achievements and national identity.

The celebrations build over around three months with sports competitions held across the islands. On the main day, winning athletes and teams receive awards, while government agencies, community groups and sports teams march around the athletics track to introduce themselves to the crowd.

Cultural dancing and local food add plenty of colour to the occasion, making Constitution Day as much a community festival as a national commemoration. It is one of the best times to see the Marshall Islands come together, cheer on local talent and celebrate its journey as a nation.

Christmas in the Marshall Islands is a lively mix of church traditions, community performances and festive events, with celebrations centred around the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, Christmas Jepta gatherings and the Annual Christmas Lighting Event.

The festivities begin with the Christmas Lighting Event on the last day of November, followed by a colourful Christmas parade featuring decorated floats. Check the RMI Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for the latest parade dates and route updates.

One of the most distinctive traditions is Jepta, a church-based singing and dancing group representing a village or church. Protestant groups create their own dance routines, known as biit, then travel between churches to perform during day-long and evening celebrations.

A major Jepta gathering also takes place on Christmas Day itself, with groups competing through singing, dancing and carefully rehearsed performances. The celebrations often end with the breaking of a wojke, a piñata-like decoration filled with gifts, which adds a suitably joyful finale to the day.

See out the year with one of Majuro’s liveliest community celebrations, the OCIT New Year’s Eve Block Party, hosted by the RMI Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism in downtown Uliga.

Usually held from 6 pm onwards on 31 December, the event transforms the streets between Misco Market and the Hotel Robert Reimers into a giant open-air party. Expect live bands and stage performances, local food stalls, carnival rides and a dedicated Kids Village (so younger partygoers do not have to miss the fun).

There is also usually a grand raffle, with past prizes including cash and return flights from the airlines that serve the Marshall Islands.

Event details, vendor registration notices and last-minute announcements are typically posted on the RMI Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism Facebook page or website.

Held in early July, Fisherman’s Day is a national public holiday celebrating the people who depend on the ocean and the sea’s importance to Marshallese culture, food and livelihoods.

The centrepiece is a highly competitive two-day fishing tournament organised by the Marshalls Billfish Club, which has hosted the event since 1982. Anglers head out at dawn in search of billfish, tuna and other pelagic species, while the neighbouring but separate Urok Club holds competitions focused on reef fish and more traditional line-fishing methods.

By late afternoon, boats return to the docks to weigh and measure their catches in front of a lively crowd. Prizes are awarded across several categories, including the heaviest fish, the largest number of catches and other tournament achievements.

Whether you manage to join a boat or watch the weigh-in from shore, this is one of the best events for seeing just how deeply fishing is woven into life in the Marshall Islands, as well as some darn big fish!

For more public holidays, check out our guide to the Public Holidays in the Marshall Islands (& Other Important Dates).

Held around every three years, Miss Marshall Islands is far more than a beauty pageant. It is a major community event that brings together contestants, government representatives, local media, performers and plenty of familiar faces from across the country.

Each contestant represents a different atoll, using the stage to share what makes her island special. Through stories, legends, traditional products, history and cultural performances, the audience gets a lively introduction to the Marshall Islands, from black pearls to the triumphs and challenges that have shaped each community.

The event usually begins with the introduction of each contestant and a performance involving a former Miss Marshall Islands, followed by several judging categories. Contestants are assessed on traditional yet highly creative attire, evening wear, stage presence and more.

Local radio, television and media students cover the event, while leading figures, including the president, typically attend. The winner is also typically contracted to work with the RMI Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism, making the title an active ambassadorial role rather than simply a crown-and-sash affair.