Last updated: September 2, 2026
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, diverse cultures, achievements and contributions of Latinos whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
This year’s recognition theme, Together, We Are More, pays tribute to community strength, shared values and the collective impact of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
The first nationally recognized Hispanic heritage observance began in 1968 as a weeklong commemoration. It was expanded in 1988 to a full 30 days, running from September 15 to October 15.
September 15 holds special meaning because it marks Independence Day for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. Many Spanish speaking countries also observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Día de la Raza during this period.
The word Hispanic is generally a linguistic category, referring to people from the 21 Spanish-speaking countries and territories, including Spain. Latino is more of an ethnic and cultural category, describing people descended from Latin America, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and Central and South America. Which term people use to describe themselves is often a personal choice.
Latino cultural heritage in the Pacific Northwest dates back to 1774, when Spanish and Mexican explorers began a long period of discovery and cartography along the coast. Place names like the San Juan Islands and the Strait of Juan de Fuca carry the legacy of this exploration forward.
According to 2020 US Census data, about 13 percent of Washington residents identify as Hispanic or Latinx.
Not everyone whose heritage traces back to Central or Latin America speaks Spanish as a first or even second language. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, French is an official language in some Caribbean nations, and many indigenous languages are spoken across the region as well.
Hispanic heritage at UW
Leadership Without Borders, a program of the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, is dedicated to building a comprehensive pathway for undocumented students’ access and success at UW and beyond. Learn more about their Undocu Ally Training program and their digital campaign DACA Myth Busters.
Head over to Kane Hall for a look at Mexican American artist Pablo O’Higgins’ monumental work The Struggle Against Racial Discrimination, painted in 1945 for a Seattle maritime workers’ union hall as a symbol of Mexican and American cooperation. Several murals by Latinx artists are also part of the Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center collection.
The Burke Museum’s contemporary culture and ethnology collections include textiles and other artwork from Mexico, Central and South America, such as the Fred Hart pottery collection, the largest of its kind in North America.
The UW Latinx Faculty & Staff Association is an advocacy, leadership development and social network that addresses Latinx issues in higher education, including the educational concerns and advancement of the UW Latinx community
In Health Sciences, the Latino Center for Health provides leadership for community engaged research through capacity building and authentic partnerships with community stakeholders, promoting impactful improvements in the health and well-being of Latinx communities in Washington state and beyond.
Save the date for UW Tacoma’s Celebrando Comunidad: Latinx Awards + Celebration on Friday, Oct. 16
Explore Hispanic history and culture through the College of Arts & Sciences’ collection of art, media, writing, programs and communities by Latinx faculty, students and alumni.
Learn more
- There are more than 50 National Park Services sites that have Hispanic connections celebrating more than 500 years of Hispanic heritage.
- Save the date: The 18th annual Seattle Latino Film Festival of Chicanx and Latinx cinema will feature screenings of films from a variety of countries. The festival runs from October 9-17.
- Celebrate: the 2026 Mexam NW Festival celebrating Mexican and Mexican-American culture runs from September 10 to October 31 at multiple venues in Seattle.
There are a variety of engaging events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month throughout the region. Check them out.
Support: Give through the UWCFD
Consider making a one time gift or setting up a monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD to one of our member organizations providing services and encouraging social empowerment in Latinx communities across Washington and beyond.
Your gift makes a difference.