Check Out One of These 4 Iowa Renaissance Festivals in 2026

Jousting, handmade goods, giant turkey legs, costumes, honey mead, live entertainment... you can enjoy all these things and more at several Iowa renaissance festivals in 2026!

I started going to the Michigan Renaissance Festival with my family when I was a kid, and it's still one of my favorite places to go all these years later. In fact, I just went back to my home state for the festival last August! While I was too embarrassed to wear a costume as an adolescent, I'm now a proud, full-blown Ren Fest nerd. Lucky for me, I have a lot of friends here in Iowa that are also huge nerds. We're currently in a group chat discussing our outfits for the Iowa Renaissance Festival later this month. I actually just ordered a new fairy costume to wear... elf ears and all!

There are a lot of reasons I love going to renaissance festivals, but I think the main one is how fun it is to play pretend for a day. You can be anyone you want, wear anything you want, and just disconnect from the world for a few hours. It feels almost magical! Like, a bonus Halloween (my favorite holiday).

There are a few awesome renaissance festivals on the schedule for 2026 here in the Hawkeye State. Here are details on all of them:

Iowa Renaissance Festival

• Middle Amana Community Park, Amana
• 2026 Dates
  • May 23rd through 25th
  • May 30th & 31st
  • October 10th & 11th
  • October 17th & 18th
• Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day
• Prices (Adults: Ages 14+/Children: Ages 6 to 13)
  • 1-Day Pass - $20 Adults/$12 Children
  • 2-Day Pass - $34 Adults/$18 Children
  • 3-Day Pass - $45 Adults/$24 Children
  • 4-Day Pass - $55 Adults/$30 Children
  • 5-Day Pass - $63 Adults/$35 Children
  • Current/retired military get in free on Memorial Day with their military ID
• Purchase tickets online HERE - tickets are also available at the gate (cash/credit accepted)

The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow (Iowa's Largest Renaissance Faire)

• Sleepy Hollow, Des Moines
• 2026 Dates
  • September 5th & 6th
  • September 12th & 13th
  • September 19th & 20th
    • The Cannon Ball - Saturday, September 19th at 6:15 p.m.
• Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day
• Prices (Ages 12+)
  • 1-Day Pass - $25
  • Cannon Ball & Admission for Week 3 - $40
  • Season Pass - $55
  • Cannon Ball & Season Pass - $70
  • Parking - $7 (parking is FREE when tickets are purchased online)
  • VIP Parking - $15 (must be purchased online)
• Tickets will be available online HERE - tickets are also available at the gate (ticket booth & food vendors are CASH ONLY)

Greater Quad Cities Renaissance Faire

• Credit Island Park, Davenport
• 2026 Dates
  • September 26th & 27th
  • October 3rd & 4th
• Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day
• Prices (Adults: Ages 14+/Children: Ages 6 to 13)
  • 1-Day Pass - $20 Adults/$12 Children
  • 2-Day Pass - $32 Adults/$18 Children
  • 3-Day Pass - $45 Adults/$24 Children
  • Season Pass - $52 Adults/$30 Children
• Purchase tickets online HERE - tickets are also available at the gate (cash/credit accepted)

Denmark Iowa Renaissance Faire

• 502 Academy Avenue, Denmark (Lee County near Fort Madison)
• 2026 Dates/Times
  • October 31st & November 1st
  • Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Prices (Adults: Ages 18+/Children: Ages 12 to 17) 
  • 1-Day Pass - $15 Adults/$10 Children
  • 2-Day Pass - $25 Adults/$15 Children
  • Parking - $3
• Purchase tickets online HERE - tickets are also available at the gate (cash/credit accepted)

Spring Renaissance Festivals in Iowa

• Prairie Rose Renaissance Festival at 1400 South 4th Street, Ames (mid-April)
• Fairfield Iowa Renaissance Faire at Greater Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Fairfield (late April)
• Spring Fling at Sleepy Hollow, Des Moines (early to mid-May)

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