PRESS ROOM
“A Night In Old San Antonio®” (NIOSA®)—a four-night festival that celebrates the city’s diverse cultural legacy—will be held April 21- 24, 2026 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly during Fiesta San Antonio®. It is held in La Villita Historic Arts Village in the heart of downtown.
Celebrating its 78th presentation in 2026, NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the United States—living up to its motto as a “Celebration for Preservation.” It is solely produced by and benefits The Conservation Society of San Antonio—one of the nation’s oldest and most active historic preservation organizations that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024.
Through the magic of 150+ food, drink and atmosphere booths and entertainment stages; continuous live musical acts; decorations; souvenirs; and many dedicated volunteers, NIOSA brings the city’s heritage alive in its 14 cultural areas. San Antonians have consistently voted NIOSA as their favorite event; it was listed the #1 Fiesta event by San Antonio Current, which called it an “essential experience.”
All of NIOSA’s areas from 2025 will still exist in 2026; some will be moved around within the approximate five acres of La Villita Historic Arts Village.
NIOSA pays homage to the city’s diverse culture with food, music and décor that transforms the village into 14 distinct areas: The Mission Trail area celebrates the early years with colorful façades of the San Antonio Missions. Explore the amphitheater built in 1941 on the beautiful Riverwalk in the Arneson Theatre area. Find tastes from Asia in China Town. Enjoy beignets and escargot in French Quarter. The old west comes alive in Frontier Town with its famous Shypoke Eggs and country music. Enjoy Potato Skins in Irish Flat. Tejano sounds and famous handmade Maria’s Tortillas are found in Haymarket. Have nostalgic fun in Clown Alley. The music in Froggy Bottom rocks as you wait for the famous Chicken on a Stick. It’s always the 4th of July in Main Street USA. The Mexican Market area features great music and the very popular Anticuchos beef kabob. Find sizzling sausage and a German Oompa band in Sauerkraut Bend. Sample cuisine such as Pollo Rancho, influenced by Northern Mexico in South of the Border. Colorful Spanish murals will surround you in Villa España.
The best way to get the most discounted tickets for NIOSA is to join the Conservation Society of San Antonio by end of March 2026; discounted NIOSA member tickets are $15/pp—and new members have the added benefit and satisfaction of supporting San Antonio’s historic preservation and protection of its natural resources.
SO MANY THINGS REMAIN THE SAME (for the better!):
· NIOSA 2026 will occur again on the La Villita grounds—as it has for the past 77 years.
· NIOSA will still:
o serve NIOSA favorites including Mr. Chicken, Maria’s Tortillas, Anticuchos, its signature German sausage, Bongo-K-Bobs, Shypoke Eggs, Beignets, Fried Mushrooms, Yak-i-Tori, Steer on a Stick, Gorditas and Fajitas de Pollo
o feature NIOSA’s favorite entertainers who will be back every night for continuous entertainment
o sell its popular NIOSA souvenirs, including the 2026 NIOSA medals and signature collectible beer cups
· NIOSA will unveil its 2026 medals on January 27th in a private ceremony open to the media
· Discount tickets for 2026 NIOSA are on sale now to the public for $17 through January 4, 2026. These tickets are good for ANY night of 2026 NIOSA. These discount tickets are only sold online at https://niosa2023.ticketspice.com/a-night-in-old-san-antonio-2026.
· Children 12 and under are admitted free with paying adult.
· NIOSA occurs rain or shine; no refunds on tickets.
· No restaurants produce or sell food at NIOSA. All proceeds benefit the Conservation Society.
· All of NIOSA—including the food booths—is run by an army of 10,000 volunteers from the chairman to the booth chairs and booth workers. All booths are run by volunteers; many are second or third generations of a family to “man” a NIOSA booth. Volunteers come from all over the country to volunteer at NIOSA.
· Situated at the peak of the NIOSA organizational volunteer pyramid is 2026 NIOSA Chair Julie Terrill. She is assisted by Vice Chairs Monica Reyes, Anita Gonzalez, Lisa Pierce and Abbi Power, and DeAnna Keesee as NIOSA Treasurer.
· On average, NIOSA gives the Society over $1 million annually to fund the Society’s preservation of historic properties and parks and awards scholarships, grants, and funds to researchers and private and commercial property owners for academic purposes and to maintain or restore historic properties: education programs such as the preservation seminars, scholarships, resource library and house museums.
· NIOSA invests well over $1 million in our community by using local suppliers and paper goods. In addition, NIOSA usually pays nearly $1 million to lease La Villita; pay SAPD security; obtain health, fire and electrical permits: and donate to the La Villita restorations fund.
If you want to receive media updates about NIOSA—or free comp passes so you can cover NIOSA—please email NIOSA PR Coordinator Jeanne Albrecht at jca@jeannebiz.com.