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July 26 – August 2, 2026 | Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Some events fill a calendar. Others become part of the culture.
Legacy Week on Martha’s Vineyard, now celebrating its 10th year, is firmly in the latter category.
Founded by Howard University alumna Sheryl Wesley and powered by HBCU Brand Partners, this official HBCU Week on Martha’s Vineyard has evolved into one of the most anticipated Black cultural gatherings of the summer. More than a week of events, it is a seven-day expression of HBCU pride, Black legacy, and intergenerational community set against one of America’s most storied Black summer destinations.
For a decade, Legacy Week has brought together alumni, professionals, creatives, and tastemakers from HBCUs across the country for curated experiences that celebrate Black joy, excellence, and connection. In 2026, the milestone theme “10 Years?!!” marks not only an anniversary, but a testament to the staying power of community built with intention.
Where HBCU Pride Meets the Atlantic
There are few places in America quite like Summer in Oak Bluffs. From the historic Inkwell Beach to the Victorian gingerbread cottages that line the streets, Oak Bluffs has long stood as a symbol of Black leisure, ownership, and joy. For generations, Martha’s Vineyard has served as a refuge and gathering place for Black families, professionals, and cultural leaders, making it the perfect home for a celebration rooted in legacy.
Legacy Week taps directly into that lineage.
What began as a vision to create meaningful space for HBCU alumni to reconnect has grown into a destination experience where culture, networking, wellness, and celebration coexist. It’s where proud HBCU alumni meet, where fraternity and sorority ties are renewed, and where new relationships are built across generations.
The Experiences Defining Year 10
This year’s programming reflects the scale and significance of the 10-year milestone.
From elevated brunch experiences like Rich Aunties & Rosé, which honors the women who continue to pour into families, communities, and culture, to curated boat days and sunset sails along the Atlantic, every event is designed with intention.
Expect a mix of:
- signature brunches and social experiences
- yacht and boat excursions
- art and cultural showcases
- community-centered conversations
- networking moments for alumni and professionals
- celebrations rooted in Black joy and HBCU tradition
What makes Legacy Week stand apart is its ability to move seamlessly between celebration and substance. One moment may center pure joy and reunion; the next may spotlight civic engagement, philanthropy, or the organizations doing transformative work within Black communities.
The Vision Behind the Movement
At the heart of Legacy Week is founder Sheryl Wesley’s vision to engage, empower, and illuminate the enduring value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Through HBCU Brand Partners, Wesley has built a platform that extends beyond events into brand strategy, wellness advocacy, and social impact initiatives that connect corporations and HBCU communities in meaningful ways.
The mission has always been bigger than celebration.
Legacy Week honors HBCUs not only as academic institutions, but as cultural engines, economic pipelines, and legacy builders that continue to shape Black leadership, creativity, and community across generations.
Why It Matters
In a cultural moment where intentional travel and purpose-driven gatherings are defining how people choose to spend their time, HBCU Legacy Week continues to lead.
This is not simply a party series or summer social calendar moment. It is a living archive of Black excellence, alumni pride, and place-based history.
Ten years in, the event has garnered national recognition, with coverage from major outlets including NBC News, Rolling Stone, and the Vineyard Gazette — further solidifying its status as a destination event with cultural weight.
For many attendees, it’s more than a trip to the Vineyard.
It’s a reunion.
A homecoming.
A celebration of where we come from and where we’re going.
Plan Your Trip
The official travel partner for Legacy Week is Ariventures Consulting, offering support with flights, ferry bookings, vacation rentals, and group coordination to make the Vineyard experience seamless.
HBCU Legacy Week on Martha’s Vineyard
July 26 – August 2, 2026
Tickets and event details are available now exclusively on Eventnoire, the premier platform for culture and community-driven experiences.