The first months of 2026 in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) have been marked by cultural events, international news and developments that once again position the island as one of the most fascinating destinations in the Pacific.
Between the celebration of Tapati Rapa Nui 2026 in February, the release of the trailer for the film Wild Horse Nine, and several news stories that have once again placed the island in the international spotlight, the beginning of the year shows how history, culture and tourism continue to connect Rapa Nui with the rest of the world.
Below we review some of the most important events that took place on the island during January, February and March 2026.
Tapati Rapa Nui 2026: the island’s most important cultural celebration
The most significant event of the summer in Rapa Nui was the celebration of Tapati Rapa Nui 2026, held between February 3 and February 14.
This annual festival is the main cultural celebration of the Rapa Nui people and brings together families, artists, traditional athletes and visitors for two weeks to experience one of the most unique cultural festivals in Polynesia.
During the Tapati festival, numerous competitions recreate ancient island traditions, including:
- Haka Pei, a thrilling downhill race on banana tree trunks
- the ancestral triathlon Tau’a Rapa Nui
- traditional Polynesian dance competitions
- Takona body painting contests
- exhibitions of music, crafts and local gastronomy
As every year, two candidates represented their family alliances and competed throughout the festival:
After two weeks of cultural, artistic and athletic competitions, the Rapa Nui community crowned Heremeta Teao Manutomatoma as Ariki Vahine (Queen of Tapati), a symbolic figure within local culture.
Beyond tourism, Tapati remains a deeply community-driven celebration created to preserve and strengthen the traditions of the Rapa Nui people.
The release of the Wild Horse Nine movie trailer
Another of the most talked-about events of the first quarter was the release of the first trailer for the film Wild Horse Nine, directed by renowned British filmmaker Martin McDonagh.
The movie was partially filmed in Rapa Nui during March and April of 2025 and features an international cast led by John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell and Steve Buscemi, along with Chilean actresses Mariana Di Girolamo and Paola Giannini.
The story takes place in the period leading up to the 1973 Chilean coup d’état and follows two agents sent to the island on a mission that unfolds amid political intrigue and personal conflicts.
The film’s world premiere is scheduled for November 2026, and the release of the trailer has generated significant anticipation among film enthusiasts and travelers interested in discovering the landscapes where the movie was filmed.
Large-scale film productions like this often have a direct impact on tourism, as many travelers later seek to visit the locations they saw on screen.
Rapa Nui returns to national television
During March, the island also appeared in an episode of the Chilean television program Chile Conectado, which featured a journey through the impressive Rano Raraku volcano.
This site is one of the most important archaeological locations on the island, as its slopes are home to dozens of moai statues in different stages of construction, illustrating the ancient process used to carve these monumental sculptures.
Programs like this help promote the island’s cultural and natural heritage to both national and international audiences.
Rapa Nui remains one of the most fascinating destinations in the Pacific
During the austral summer, the island once again appeared in several travel publications as one of the most attractive destinations in Chile to visit in 2026.
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Rapa Nui is famous for its nearly one thousand moai statues, monumental sculptures created by the ancient Polynesian civilization that inhabited the island.
Many of these archaeological sites are protected within Rapa Nui National Park, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For visitors, traveling to the island is not only about seeing the moai, but also about discovering:
- Unique volcanoes and volcanic landscapes
- White-sand beaches such as Anakena
- Volcanic caves and ancient ceremonial sites
- The living culture of the Rapa Nui people
A beginning of the year that projects Rapa Nui to the world
The start of 2026 has shown that Rapa Nui continues to be a place where ancestral tradition and global culture meet.
Through cultural festivals like Tapati, international film productions and the constant media attention surrounding the island, this remote territory in the Pacific continues to capture the imagination of travelers from around the world.
For those who dream of visiting Easter Island, these events confirm that the destination remains one of the most extraordinary places on Earth to explore history, culture and nature.
