Virginia International Tattoo 2026
A Salute to 250 Years of American Independence
April 16 - 19
Scope Arena, Norfolk

(NORFOLK, VA.) As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, there’s no better place to reflect on our shared story than Virginia. The 2026 Virginia International Tattoo takes place April 16 – 19 at Scope Arena in Downtown Norfolk, proudly celebrating 250 Years of American Independence.  

Tickets are on sale now and available online at vafest.org, by phone at 757-282-2822, and in-person at the Virginia Arts Festival Box Office (440 Bank Street in Norfolk).

Presented in partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation and The Hixon Family, join a cast of over 800 performers from across the globe in a dazzling display of military pageantry, precision, and passion, featuring massed pipes and drums, military bands, drill teams, dancers, choirs, and special guests. Expect heart-stirring moments of majesty and might, timeless traditions, and stirring tributes that will move and inspire.

“Each of the 2026 Tattoo’s seven performances will be just under two hours long but the staff, cast, crew, and volunteers of the Tattoo will collectively spend more than 60,000 hours in order to make those two-hour performances happen,” said Scott Jackson, Producer/Director of the Virginia International Tattoo since 2002. “Our performers in 2026 come from five different nations and eight different time zones. That means every hour of every day from now until opening night, someone somewhere in the world will be preparing for the Virginia International Tattoo. Every hour of every day somewhere in the world people will be preparing to share their very best with you, the audience!”

Don’t miss the Virginia International Tattoo – America’s International Military Tattoo

Tickets are available and on sale now at www.vafest.org, by phone at 757-282-2822, or in person at the Virginia Arts Festival Box Office located at 440 Bank Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

What is the Tattoo?

The centuries-old tradition of Tattoo originated as a signal from drummers instructing Dutch innkeepers near military garrisons to “Doe den Tap-too” or “turn off the tap”. Hearing the call “Tap-too” soldiers would return to their barracks for an evening roll call. The ensuing parade of soldiers evolved into a military marching band performance now known worldwide as “Tattoo.”

The Tattoos seen across the world today are ceremonial performances of military music by massed bands. Each Tattoo is influenced by the culture of the country they represent.  Fans of these massed spectacles of music and might flock to the world's great Tattoos including Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, and Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Canada. But the greatest Tattoo in the United States, and rivaling the largest in the world, is the Virginia International Tattoo.

Attending the Virginia International Tattoo:

When: 
Thursday, April 16, 7:30 pm
Friday, April 17, 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 19, 2:30 pm

Where: Scope Arena, 201 E. Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia

Tickets and Information: www.vafest.org, by phone at 757-282-2822, or in person at the Virginia Arts Festival Box Office located at 440 Bank Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

Stay up to date: Follow the Virginia International Tattoo on social media platforms @VaTatt and subscribe to our Virginia International Tattoo YouTube page for the latest and greatest exclusive content, behind-the-scenes, cast takeovers, and more!

Virginia International Tattoo 2026 Participating Nations

CANADA
Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums

FRANCE
Musique de la Marine Nationale (National Band of the French Navy)

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Republic of Korea Army Military Band and Honor Guard Battalion

UNITED KINGDOM
Dougie Anderson
King's Color Squadron of the Royal Air Force

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums
Hampton Roads Police Color Guards
Kilgore College Rangerettes
The Kiltie Band of York
Norfolk Fire-Rescue Honor Guard
Norfolk Public Schools Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
Old Dominion University Concert Choir
Rhodes Academy of Irish Dance
Rhythm Project
Tidewater Pipes and Drums
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band
U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
U.S. Marine Corps FAST Company
U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus
*Subject to changes and additions.  
As of 2.2.2026

About Virginia International Tattoo
As it has been since 1997, one of the anchor events of the Virginia Arts Festival is the Virginia International Tattoo.  Led by J. Scott Jackson, the Virginia International Tattoo has become the largest such event in North America and numbers among the largest Tattoos in the world.  Selected by the American Bus Association—the nation's premier travel organization—as the top event in the United States in 2016, the Virginia International Tattoo has drawn visitors from across the country and around the world and has welcomed performers from 31 nations.  There simply is no comparable experience in the United States and no greater voice for expressing our nation's gratitude to those who serve.  Some of the most memorable of the 25 past Virginia International Tattoos have saluted the Tuskegee Airmen, Vietnam Veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and women in the military.  Each show is a moving lesson in history and patriotism for every generation, including the more than 20,000 students who attend the Tattoo every year.

About Virginia Arts Festival 
The Virginia Arts Festival celebrates its 29^th Anniversary in 2026. The largest and most prestigious performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, Virginia Arts Festival has transformed the region's cultural scene, presenting great performers from around the world and making this historic region a cultural destination for visitors from across the United States and around the world. Over the past 26 years, the Festival has welcomed visitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 25 foreign countries. The Festival has presented over 1,438 performances, free community events, and student matinees and workshops with a reach of over 1.2 million attendees. Each season, millions more are reached through international broadcasts of Festival performances on American Public Radio's Performance Today, nationally on PBS TV, and regionally on WHRO TV. Over 32% of ticket sales come from outside the region, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to local museums and attractions and filling regional hotels and restaurants. The estimated annual economic impact of the Virginia Arts Festival exceeds $25 million. 

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Media Contact:
Alli Pereira
apereira@vafest.org
757-282-2804