DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — A longtime National Peanut Festival tradition is getting a new spot on the calendar.
Beginning in 2027, the Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageants will move from their traditional fall dates to July. Pageant officials said the change is aimed at better serving contestants, schools and communities while allowing the pageants to remain at the Dothan Civic Center longer.
The Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant will be held Saturday, July 17, 2027. The Miss National Peanut Festival Preliminary Competition will follow Friday, July 23, with the finals set for Saturday, July 24.
Pageant Directors Angila Brannon and Mary-Grace Martin said discussions about the future began as officials considered possibly moving the pageants from the Dothan Civic Center after the 2026 season.
“We already knew how important the layout of the Dothan Civic Center is to our pageants,” Brannon and Martin said. “It works incredibly well for everything that happens both onstage and behind the scenes, and our contestants LOVE that big stage. When we were faced with the possibility of moving after 2026, we began exploring every option available to us. Moving to July gives us the opportunity to stay at the Civic Center a little longer while also making some positive changes for our contestants.”
Officials said moving the pageants out of the school year should also reduce missed classroom time for contestants representing communities across the Wiregrass and surrounding areas.
“Our contestants are students first, and that became a very important part of this conversation,” Brannon and Martin said. “What began as a discussion about our venue ultimately gave us an opportunity to look at the entire pageant experience. Moving to July means less missed school for our contestants and less impact on the schools they represent.”
The change could also make it easier for Miss contestants who have college, athletics, cheerleading or other commitments during the fall.
“We know there are young women who would love the opportunity to represent their communities but have had to consider whether they could balance the October pageant schedule with college, cheer, athletics or other fall commitments,” Brannon and Martin said. “We hope moving to July removes some of those barriers and encourages even more young women to participate in their local preliminary pageants.”
Preliminary pageants for the 2027 season will be held between Nov. 21, 2026, and Jan. 30, 2027. Little Miss contestants must be first-time first graders and either live in or attend school in the community they represent. Miss contestants must be at least 16 years old by Oct. 17, 2027, and also live in or attend school in the community represented. Qualifying preliminary pageants must have at least three contestants in the respective division.
Officials said contestant age and competition attire requirements will not change for 2027.
The newly crowned Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival will continue serving as ambassadors throughout their year of service, including appearances and activities leading up to and during the annual National Peanut Festival.
“Changing the dates of a tradition this special is not something we take lightly,” Brannon and Martin said. “But sometimes change gives you an opportunity to make something we already love even better. We can keep the Civic Center and that big stage our contestants love a little longer, reduce missed school, create more opportunities for our Miss contestants and hopefully encourage even greater participation in our preliminary pageants. We are excited about what this next chapter will bring.”
Additional information about preliminary pageants, contestant registration and the 2027 pageant season will be released as preparations continue.
