Des Moines recently made the USA TODAY’S 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards’ list as one of the premier cities for art and cultural festivals.
Iowa’s capital city is home to dozens of festivals every year, from music and food festivals to arts and entertainment. So out of all the festivals in Des Moines, which are some of the best in the country? Here’s what to know.
What Des Moines festivals are among the best in the country, according to USA TODAY 10BEST?
The Des Moines Arts Festival and the World Food and Music Festival each placed in the Top 10 of their respective categories.
The Des Moines Arts Festival placed 10th on for best arts festivals, while the World Food and Music Festival was rated the eighth-best cultural festival in the U.S.
Here are the best art festivals in the U.S., according to USA TODAY 10BEST:
Here are the best cultural festivals in the U.S., according to USA TODAY 10BEST:
In 2025, the Des Moines Arts Festival ranked No. 7 in the same USA TODAY 10Best cultural festival category, and the World Food and Music Festival placed fifth in the best city food festival.
What is the Des Moines Art Festival?
The annual multiday event dates back to the late 1950s and attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year to Western Gateway Park for musical performances, food and beverage stands, art exhibits and more.
The 2026 festival takes place from Friday, June 26, to Sunday, June 28.
What is Des Moines’ World Food and Music Festival?
What started as a two-dozen-vendor event in the Historic East Village in 2005 has grown into a festival that draws roughly 100,000 people to the streets of downtown to experience one of Iowa’s most vibrant international celebrations.
The festival typically takes place in August and showcases food and beverages from more than 30 countries, all alongside a three‑day lineup of music and performances from around the world.
The World Food and Music Festival runs from Friday, Aug. 28, to Sunday, Aug. 30, in 2026.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 2 Des Moines festivals rank among the best in the US
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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