(MVA) — Boat rides from Saipan to the 22nd Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival in the Marianas next month are now available for booking.
The festival — affectionately called “Pika (spicy) Fest” by locals — is organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority in cooperation with the Tinian Mayor’s Office and will be held on Feb. 13-14, 2026, at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose, Tinian, bringing food, fun, and flaming-hot island flavor to the island. The festival honors the island’s small but mighty donni’ sali, a hot pepper so fiery and flavorful that it has become a cultural icon of Tinian itself.
The Tinian Hot Pepper “Pika” Festival is a proud celebration of our island’s culture, community, and world-famous donne’ sali — the hottest pepper in the Marianas. Pika Fest Boat Charters are available on Feb. 12-15 for $50 one way or $80 round trip per person. Boats depart Saipan at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. and depart Tinian at 9:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. For reservations, contact James Roberto at 670.285.3110. Star Marianas and Micronesian Air Connection Services operate ten-minute commuter flights between the islands.
The Pika Fun Run 5K will be held on Feb. 14 at 6:30 a.m., with on-site registration starting at 6 a.m. at Jones Beach adjacent to the Fiesta Grounds. Registration is $15, and the first 100 registrants on the day will receive a Pika Fun Run 5K t-shirt. The short course will traverse historic Broadway Ave. constructed by the U.S. Seabees during World War II. For more information about the race, contact race co-organizer Tinian Jr./Sr. High School JROTC Battalion at (670) 433-7682.
“The Tinian Hot Pepper ‘Pika’ Festival is a proud celebration of our island’s culture, community, and world-famous Donne’ Sali — the hottest pepper in the Marianas,” said Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan. “As we mark the 22nd Annual Pika Fest, we honor not only a unique agricultural treasure but also the traditions, resilience, and unity of the people of Tinian. This annual event brings together families, visitors, and our local community to enjoy the best of what our islands have to offer, from live entertainment and delicious local food and drinks to beautiful arts and crafts from local artisans. The exciting competitions — including the renowned hot pepper eating contest, spicy burger eating contest, Pika cooking contest, the Pika Fun Run, and the 2026 Wahoo Fishing Derby — highlight both our love for friendly competition and our pride in our cultural heritage. From land to sea, Pika Fest captures the true spirit of island life and the traditions that continue to bring our people together year after year.”
Vendors will be open for lunch on Feb. 13, with the festival firing up full force from 6-11 p.m. On Saturday, following the early morning Pika Run Run 5K, festival activities will run from 12-11 p.m. Festivalgoers can look forward to food sales, live entertainment, competitions, arts and crafts, and more.
“We are putting together all the exciting pieces of another great Pika Fest next month, working closely with the Tinian Mayor’s Office, as always,” said MVA Tinian Field Operations Supervisor Vida Borja. “Hotel rooms are filling up fast, so for people wanting to enjoy a day trip, this year we are moving some activities earlier in the day on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. such as the Estafao (spicy stew) Cooking Contest and kids Umang (hermit crab) Race. Stay tuned for the full schedule of events, and we’ll see you on Feb. 13 and 14 in Tinian!”
Tinian is known for its diverse historic sites — including the latte stone monoliths of the ancient Chamorro people, shrines and other ruins from the Japanese administrative era, and North Field — the busiest airport in the world during World War II. Pristine beaches, quiet roadways, and friendly locals add to the feeling of stepping outside of time. The celebration is steps away from the picturesque Jones Beach and the historic House of Taga, a U.S. National Historic Landmark featuring latte stones found nowhere else in the world other than the Marianas.
Free camping will be available at Jones Beach and Taga Beach, (with toilets, barbecue pits, and outdoor showers), as well as a 10 minute walk away at nearby Tachogna Beach (with barbecue pits, outdoor showers, and toilets).
Hotel accommodations on Tinian include: Bay View Hotel, Flametree Villa, Fleming Hotel, Lorilynn’s Hotel, Lucky Homes Hotel, Marpo Valley Inn, Tinian Ocean View, Tinian Diamond Hotel and Casino, Tinian Diamond Suites, and Tinian Western Lodge Hotel.
For more information, contact Tinian Field Operations Supervisor Vida Borja at vborja@mymarianas.com or (670) 433-9365, MVA Community Projects Coordinator Sherman Santos at ssantos@mymarianas.com/, or the Tinian Mayor’s Office at (670) 433-1802.
Follow Marianas Visitors Authority on Instagram at @marianas.visitors.authority or on Facebook at @marianasvisitorsauthority for additional details as confirmed.
