CORTEZ – Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board members are planning the 2026 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival and are seeking vendors and volunteers.
The festival planning committee met on Nov. 3 to discuss details for the Feb. 14-15, 2026 festival, which annually attracts thousands of visitors to the historic fishing village and features food, live music, local art and educational talks.
Application information for art vendors, food vendors and sponsorships are available at https://fishcortez.org/commercial-fishing-festival/
Volunteers to help greet visitors and assist with ticket, beverage sales and T-shirt sales can apply at https://fishcortez.org/get-involved/
This theme for the 2026 festival is “Boat To Market.”
All the proceeds from the volunteer-run festival will benefit FISH and its mission to preserve the village of Cortez and continue the conservation of the 98-acre FISH Preserve to the east of the village.
The festival will be on 46th Avenue at the end of 123rd Street in front of A.P. Bell Fish Co. and Star Fish Co.
