Festival of the Diaspora 2026 (FOTD 2026)

Festival of the Diaspora 2026: A Caribbean Homecoming

Festival of the Diaspora 2026 (FOTD 2026) is confirmed for March 13–15, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the main host venue listed as the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino. It’s a high-energy gathering focused on diaspora leadership, culture, and collaboration across the Americas, blending conference-style programming with a distinctly Caribbean island setting.

The Vision: Convening Leaders Across the Americas

Festival of the Diaspora is built around convening and connecting leaders across the Americas, with an explicit mission to “convene, connect, and co-create with leaders who move communities, markets, and mindsets.” The organization highlights a multi-year journey that started in Puerto Rico and expanded across Latin America, noting past festivals in San Juan (2022), Cartagena (2023), Rio de Janeiro (2024), and Medellín (2025) before returning to Puerto Rico for the fifth edition. That return matters for 2026 because it frames San Juan not just as a beautiful island destination, but as the origin point of the movement and a symbolic homecoming.

For travelers and event seekers, this is the kind of Puerto Rico trip that feels purposeful. You’re not only coming for beaches and nightlife, you’re stepping into a community of entrepreneurs, creatives, policy thinkers, and changemakers who are gathering to talk about the future while surrounded by Caribbean warmth and Puerto Rican pride.

Key Dates and Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

The official Festival of the Diaspora website states the 5th annual festival will take place March 13th–15th, 2026 at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino in San Juan. The event’s Location page also lists an event summary with a start date of Friday, March 13, 2026 and an end date of Monday, March 16, 2026, indicating that some official programming or group logistics extend beyond the core March 13–15 festival window. To keep planning simple, treat March 13–15 as the primary festival dates, and consider March 16 as a potential departure or add-on day depending on the final schedule.

Venue Vibe: Sheraton Puerto Rico and the Convention District

The festival identifies Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino as the host hotel and venue for FOTD 2026. The location page provides the property address as 200 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907, placing it in the modern Convention District zone with easy access to event infrastructure. For island visitors, this is a strategic base because it keeps you close to downtown San Juan while still being well-positioned for quick rides to Old San Juan’s historic streets and waterfront landmarks.

One more detail matters for trip budgeting: the festival’s location page lists a special group rate range at the Sheraton of $289–$344 USD per night, and it gives a last day to book that group rate of Thursday, February 12, 2026. Since March is a popular time to visit Puerto Rico, that deadline is worth noting if you want to stay where most festival delegates are based.

What Makes FOTD 2026 Unique

FOTD 2026 is presented as “more comprehensive,” with the organization specifically highlighting additions such as a pitch competition, a fashion show, an exhibition hall, and “incredible content from the stage.” The festival also plans to unveil its inaugural FOTD100 list in 2026, described as a leadership award honoring 100 leaders across the Americas. This blend of business, culture, and recognition is what gives Festival of the Diaspora its signature feel: it’s professional, but not sterile, and it’s celebratory without losing substance.

Key Themes Shaping FOTD 2026 (Verified)

The festival’s official site lists multiple 2026 themes, including:

• Puerto Rico: Open for Business.
• The Future of Tech.
• The Future of the Philanthropic Sector.
• Public Policy & Markets.
• Funding, Finance & Generational Wealth.

For attendees, these themes signal that FOTD is not only about networking. It’s also about practical discussions on investment, innovation, and community advancement that relate directly to diaspora communities across the Americas.

FOTD's Engaging Session Formats

The festival’s content proposal call describes a structured session model across themes with three formats: a “What” panel to introduce a topic, a “Why” roundtable discussion, and a “How” workshop for skills, tools, and solutions-building. It also notes that the roundtable format does not allow audio/visual, reinforcing that the experience is meant to be interactive and discussion-driven, not just slide decks. For first-time attendees, that’s a useful expectation: come ready to participate, not just to watch.

Embrace Puerto Rican Culture During Your Trip

Even though FOTD is an organized event, you’re still on an island with rich cultural texture. Using San Juan as your base opens up easy add-ons before or after festival hours, such as:

• Exploring Old San Juan’s historic streets and plazas.
• Visiting coastal viewpoints and waterfront promenades.
• Sampling local Puerto Rican flavors between sessions.

The festival itself leans into celebration and identity, so pairing the program with Puerto Rico’s everyday culture makes the trip feel cohesive rather than split between “conference life” and “vacation life.”

Essential Travel Tips for FOTD 2026 in San Juan

The festival’s travel information notes that travelers fly into San Juan (SJU) and provides practical guidance for different passport and visa situations, stating Puerto Rico is part of the United States and that U.S. residents do not need a passport, while non-U.S. residents need a valid passport and may require a U.S. visa depending on origin country. It also notes San Juan uses U.S. dollars and follows Atlantic Standard Time (AST), and that English and Spanish are widely spoken. These details are especially helpful for international attendees who want to plan smoothly and avoid last-minute surprises.

The travel page also emphasizes booking flights and lodging early because the festival dates coincide with a peak tourism season window in Puerto Rico.

Tickets and Pricing Information

The official festival homepage references an “FOTD 2026 Festival Pass – Early Bird Sale,” but the specific price is not visible in the captured official content provided here. Because of that, ticket pricing for FOTD 2026 cannot be stated as verified in this article. The safest approach is to use the official festival registration pages and confirm current pass types and pricing directly before purchasing.

Why FOTD 2026 Belongs on Your Calendar

Festival of the Diaspora 2026 brings the energy of a global diaspora gathering to the heart of the Caribbean, confirmed for March 13–15, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hosted at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino. With its mix of future-focused themes, interactive session formats, and culture-forward programming like a pitch competition and fashion show, FOTD 2026 is designed to help attendees connect across industries while staying rooted in community and identity. If Puerto Rico has been on your island travel list, this is a rare chance to experience San Juan through a gathering that celebrates belonging, leadership, and the shared work of building what comes next, so plan your March trip and explore the festival where the movement began.

Verified Information at a Glance

Event Details

• Event Name: Festival of the Diaspora 2026 (FOTD 2026)
• Event Category: Leadership and diaspora convening (conference-style programming with cultural showcases)
• City/Island: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Key Dates

• Confirmed Main Festival Dates: March 13–15, 2026
• Event summary dates shown on site: Start Friday, March 13, 2026; End Monday, March 16, 2026

Venue & Accommodation

• Confirmed Host Venue/Hotel: Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino
• Confirmed Venue Address: 200 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
• Hotel group rate range (confirmed): $289.00–$344.00 USD per night
• Last day to book group rate (confirmed): Thursday, February 12, 2026

Pricing

• Ticket pricing: Not confirmed in captured official sources