As the USA 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.
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!”
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 The 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.
This year’s performers include Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums (Canada), Musique de la Marine Nationale (National Band of the French Navy), Republic of Korea Army Military Band and Honor Guard Battalion, King’s Color Squadron of the Royal Air Force (UK), and from the USA Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Hampton Roads Police Color Guards, The Kiltie Band of York, Norfolk Fire-Rescue Honor Guard, Rhodes Academy of Irish Dance, 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 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band, Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus and more.
No comparable experience in the United States
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.
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 St, Norfolk, VA 23510.
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