Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Events in the Greater ABQ Area

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, celebrated each May, recognizes the rich cultures, traditions, and lasting contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders across the United States.

In 2026, this observance continues to honor the diverse histories of communities with roots in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands while celebrating their impact on American culture, business, education, public service, and everyday life. It also serves as an opportunity to reflect on the resilience, leadership, and stories that continue to shape our communities and our country.

Here are some events happening in and around Albuquerque for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month:

AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of people with roots across Asia and the Pacific Islands. That includes communities from many regions, languages, and traditions, not one singular culture (because Asia alone contains more than half the world’s population, which would make “one culture” a wildly ambitious group project).

Commonly recognized groups include:

  • East Asian cultures: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Mongolian, and others
  • Southeast Asian cultures: Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Burmese, and others
  • South Asian cultures: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bhutanese, Maldivian, and others
  • Central Asian cultures: Kazakh, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Afghan, and others
  • Pacific Islander cultures: Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Chamorro (Guam), Tongan, Fijian, Marshallese, Māori, and other communities across Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia

Many organizations now use AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) to more clearly recognize Native Hawaiian communities and the distinct identities of Pacific Islanders.

At its core, the month celebrates the traditions, languages, art, food, histories, and contributions of these communities while also recognizing that each group has its own unique identity and story.

Local Associations 

  • Asian Business Collaborative is a New Mexico 501-c3 organization focused on supporting Asian and Pacific Islander-owned businesses. Through business support, ABC helps API small business owners in a culturally competent way.
    Download the Report: The Economic Impact of AANHPI Communities in New Mexico
    A vital, yet often overlooked, growth engine. This first-of-its-kind report provides comprehensive, data-driven proof of the powerful contributions of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander business community to New Mexico’s economy. Click the image below to visit the ABS report page.
  • New Mexico Asian Family Center provides culturally sensitive programs and services, creating a Pan-Asian community that advocates for and supports itself. They provide programs supporting legal, counseling, case management, and interpretation and translation.
  • Chinese Cultural Center of New Mexico hosts an annual Chinese New Year celebration that welcomes the broader community to experience traditional performances, food, and cultural activities. The center also offers educational classes and operates a gift shop featuring imported items from China, including art, décor, and specialty goods. For more information, call 505-268-7023.
  • The Filipino American Foundation of New Mexico is a membership-based organization representing approximately 500 Filipino Americans, including families from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and surrounding communities. The foundation supports cultural preservation, community engagement, and social connection through events and outreach.

Advancing, Belonging, Community & Diversity Committee
presents this cultural heritage celebration blog