First held in 1958, the Kodiak Crab Festival (Crabfest) will return to downtown Kodiak Memorial Day weekend in 2026, running May 21-25 with the theme “You, Me, & the Sea.”

Vendor setup is already underway behind the scenes as organizers prepare for one of the community’s largest annual events.

According to the 2026 Vendor Handbook, all vendors must be fully operational by 12 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, when the festival officially opens. Booths will line Marine Way and the Harbormaster parking lot, with festival hours running through 4 p.m. Monday, May 25. While midway hours may extend as late as 10 p.m., depending on attendance and weather, vendors are required to staff and operate their booths during all published festival hours.

The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the festival, noted that vendor registration deadlines are firm, with applications must be submitted by April 15, with late submissions subject to additional processing fees.

While crab has always been at the heart of the celebration, the festival has evolved over the decades to include a wide range of vendors offering food, crafts, merchandise, and interactive experiences. Festival organizers emphasize maintaining a balanced mix of offerings each year, encouraging variety while ensuring the event remains welcoming and accessible to all ages.

As Kodiak Crabfest approaches its seventh decade, the 2026 event promises another chance to celebrate the island’s working waterfront, its fishing culture, and the traditions that have kept this community gathering going strong for generations.