2026 Assemblage
November 4-8 in Phoenix, AZ
FANA in the Valley of the Sun
The 2026 FANA ASSEMBLAGE COMMITTEE takes great pleasure to welcome FANA members and guests to Phoenix, Arizona, known as the Valley of the Sun, for a few days of friendship, learning and the shared appreciation of the art and history of HAND FANS.
Conference Registration will be available in late August or early September, but we encourage you to book your hotel room now (see below for details).
HOST CITY: Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the US, is known for its warm hospitality, abundant sunshine and striking Sonoran Desert landscape. Early November is one of the nicest times of the year in Phoenix and a wonderful time for visitors. You can typically expect afternoon highs of 80°F (27°C) and morning lows of 60°F (16°C) with very low humidity. Rain is uncommon and most days are dry and sunny. Surrounded by majestic Saguaro cacti, rugged mountain preserves and spectacular desert vistas, the city blends its rich Native American and Southwest heritage with world class museums, outstanding dining and a vibrant cultural community. Phoenix is easily accessible, with convenient nonstop flights from major cities throughout the US and nonstop flights from London and Paris for our international members. During your stay, we hope you will enjoy not only our assemblage programs, exhibits, lectures, fan sale and auction and fellowship, but also the unique beauty and character of Arizona. Whether this is your first visit or a return to the desert, we trust you will discover why Phoenix is a truly memorable destination.
Conference Hotel
Our conference hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown North, is conveniently located in the heart of Phoenix’s financial and cultural district and is the only all-suite hotel in downtown Phoenix. The FANA GROUP RATE is $239/night plus taxes, and the PARKING FEE is $10/day (usually $30/day), applicable 3 days before and after the Assemblage.The hotel reservation link is now available and we encourage attendees to make your reservations early through the official FANA hotel discount page or by calling (602) 200-1111 and mentioning FANA. HOTEL BOOKING DEADLINE is OCT 5, 2026 to obtain the FANA group rate, and we recommend that you make your reservation soon. Click here to book your hotel room for the FANA 2026 Phoenix Assemblage.
HOTEL CANCELLATION POLICY: Individual reservation must be cancelled 48H prior to arrival to avoid charges. There will be a $50 early departure fee if a guest who requested a room in the assemblage block and checks out before the reserved check out date.
TRANSPORTATION TO HOTEL: Uber or Lyft are good options, although you can also take the light rail. Uber or Lyft gets you to the hotel in 20 minutes and the light rail in 45 min.
Fans will be awarded as door prizes throughout the Assemblage!
Tentative Schedule of Events
WEDNESDAY, Nov 4, 2026—Registration opens at 10am. No activities planned for today. Lunch and Dinner on your own. (Board members: meeting and dinner in early evening.)
THURSDAY, Nov 5, 2026—–Board the bus to see the FANA Library and Agnes’s Fan Collection at her home. We then take the bus to the Pink Door Tea House for Afternoon Tea / lunch, consisting of the classic fare of tea sandwiches, scones, several small desserts with a cup of their popular cheddar cheese broccoli soup and a selection of teas. Our next stop is the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) for an hour guided tour of the museum and ongoing exhibits with some time to explore the museum until closing. The MIM is the only museum in the world that has instruments from practically every place on earth. Back at the hotel, enjoy the hotel’s happy hour before FANA’s Welcome Reception and Dinner in the hotel.
FRIDAY, Nov 6, 2026—–In the morning we walk or ride to the Heard Museum for the first of the two museum visits for this day. The Heard Museum is the largest museum in the Southwest that has Native American art. We have an hour docent tour of the museum and highlights of the present exhibition. Unfortunately, the Heard Museum doesn’t have any Native American Fans, but after the tour, our group will have the opportunity to see fans from the Fred Harvey Fine Arts Collection, consisting mainly of 19th century Spanish and French fans. They have never been on display.
Lunch will be on your own, but it is recommended that you get something to eat at the Heard Museum Café before walking to the Phoenix Art Museum for our afternoon visit. There are no places to eat between the two museums.The Phoenix Art Museum visit includes a slide presentation of the museum’s roughly 200 fans to showcase the depth and breadth of their collection. FANA member Jan Krulick-Belin will present a talk on painted fans. A private gallery tour of the Colorwear Exhibit will be given exclusively for FANA. We can stay in the museum until closing time at 8pm. Dinner on your own.
SATURDAY, Nov 7, 2026—–Our Fan Sale will be held in the morning. Lunch will be on your own. The Patrons will have their meeting and lunch. The Fan Auction will be in the afternoon. This year no fans will be accepted as donations to the Fan Auction. The evening will be capped off by the FANA Banquet. Bring a favorite fan to share, or one that reflects the 250th anniversary of the USA.
SUNDAY, Nov 8, 2026—–The Board will meet for a breakfast meeting to recap the Assemblage.
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable desert experience! Registration will be available in late August or early September.
2026 FANA ASSEMBLAGE COMMITTEE:
Agnes T. Lardizabal—–Assemblage Chair
Members: Kathryn Hanna, Tina Nordstrand, Ruth Fink-Winter, Deb Weddle, Gloria Kahn
