Lincoln High School junior Anika Rigby crowned 2026 Rose Festival Queen
Published 12:38 pm Friday, June 5, 2026
Future diplomat and student leader will represent Portland in one of the city’s most recognized civic traditions
Anika Rigby, a junior at Lincoln High School, was crowned the 2026 Rose Festival Queen on Friday during the annual Queen’s Coronation ceremony, marking her selection as Portland’s newest Rose Festival ambassador.
Rigby was chosen from the 2026 Rose Festival Court, which brings together student leaders from high schools across the Portland metro area to participate in one of the city’s long-running civic traditions.
In this role, Rigby will represent Portland and the Rose Festival over the next year at events throughout the region, across the United States and internationally.
“Anika represents curiosity, leadership, service and a deep love for Portland,” Dayna Kirk, Rose Festival Court Chair, said in a statement. “Her commitment to civic learning, her global perspective and her genuine connection to the community will make her an outstanding ambassador for the Rose Festival and for our city.”
Rigby plans to study government and journalism at a four-year university before pursuing a master’s degree in foreign relations at Tsinghua University in China, followed by law school. She said her career goal is diplomacy.
Her academic and extracurricular record includes first-place finishes at both the state and national levels in the 2025 We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition, as well as first place in Oregon’s district in the 2025 Ninth Circuit Court Civics Video Contest.
In her Rose Festival bio, Rigby wrote that participating in constitutional debate gave her a deeper appreciation for the Constitution while also teaching her how to remain composed under pressure.
Rigby serves as co-president of Lincoln High School’s Asian Student Union, secretary of the National Chinese Honor Society, president of the Pink Valley Dance Team and a member of the girls varsity golf team. She is also a National Honor Society member, a Chinese language teacher aide and a Red Cross volunteer.
Her experiences outside the classroom include studying criminal trial proceedings under Judge Stacie Beckerman, participating in Stanford University’s SPICE program focused on Chinese and American politics and volunteering at the Oregon Zoo.
In her Rose Festival bio, Rigby described Forest Park as her favorite place in Portland, citing childhood hikes with family and its role as a place of reflection. She also noted a personal connection to the International Rose Test Garden, saying one of her middle names is Rose and that the garden is tied to family tradition. Rigby said the Grand Floral Parade is her favorite Rose Festival event, recalling childhood memories attending with family and the event’s ability to bring the community together.
The 2026 Rose Festival Court includes 15 princesses representing high schools across the Portland metro area, who participate in community events, service projects, and leadership development throughout the festival season.