Louisiana

The Pelican State is inviting visitors to get active and venture off the beaten track as it celebrates 2026 as its Year of Outdoors.

• The year-long initiative will showcase the natural beauty, rich flora and fauna, and myriad recreational opportunities that lie alongside Louisiana's world-renowned culinary and musical scenes. Areas in the spotlight include airboat and kayak tours on the Atchafalaya Basin, America's largest river swamp; ancient landmarks such as Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site; Louisiana's network of state parks; and the Audubon Golf Trail.

• Explore Louisiana is encouraging visitors to get off the interstate and explore its scenic byways such as the 187-mile long Creole Nature Trail, spanning bayous, marshes and beaches. This All-American Road offers the perfect introduction to Louisiana's 'outback', home to untouched wetlands, wildlife viewing, including excellent birding and small fishing communities offering fresh seafood.
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• Solomon Northup statue unveiled in early January this year on the site where he was freed on January 4th, 1853. His story is told in 12 Years a Slave. There is a Louisiana Byways trail which explores this region and the story: https://byways.explorelouisiana.com/byway/northup-trail
• Foodies can enjoy the Louisiana Hot Sauce Trail. The gourmet trail visits sites such as The Louisiana Pepper Exchange and celebrates local manufacturers such as Tabasco, on Avery Island. Visitors can also check in at different stops along the trail to earn points to redeem for prizes.

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/

Tupelo

The birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll has new offerings and anniversaries that celebrate the rich history of the city.

• Tupelo Hardware turns 100 and also marks the 80th Anniversary of Gladys, Elvis' mother, purchasing his first guitar for his 11th birthday at the store. Visitors are welcome during the store's regular hours to listen to tales told by store employees, whilst standing in the spot where Elvis first strummed a guitar.

• The new Chickasaw Heritage Centre is being built in Tupelo, the historic center of the Chickasaw Nation. In a symbolic return to the Homeland, the Chickasaw Heritage Center (CHC) will be located off the Natchez Trace Parkway three miles south of the Natchez Trace Visitors Centre.

https://www.tupelo.net/

New Orleans

The newest UNESCO Creative City of Music invites all to enjoy its culinary, sporty and musical offerings.

• As the USA prepares to celebrate its 250th Anniversary in 2026, New Orleans will be the first stop on Sail 250. This major spectacle, backed by fireworks, ship tours and events including a welcome parade, will see a flotilla of tall ships – reputedly the largest the world has ever seen – descend on the port city, from May 28 to June 1, before continuing around the coast towards New York.
• Fresh from having been designated a Creative City for Music by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in November – one of only 10 US cities to hold the distinction – New Orleans is set to welcome the Rockin' 1000 next year. Featuring 1,000 musicians, the concert at the Caesars Superdome on January 31 will mark the act's North American debut. From pounding drums to soaring vocals, this global music phenomenon is bringing its stadium-shaking sound to the birthplace of jazz.
• Visitors are encouraged to check out the city's three new Michelin Star restaurants, as announced on November 3. The illustrious trio, which all feature in the new Michelin Guide American South, comprise Emeril's, which received Two Michelin stars, along with Saint-Germain and Zasu, both of which earned One Star. Emeril's, with its modern take on Creole cuisine, was opened 35 years ago by legendary local chef and TV personality Emeril Lagasse, and it's currently helmed by his son E J Lagasse who, at 22 years of age, is the youngest ever chef to lead a Two Michelin Star restaurant.
• And with North America set to welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, New Orleans is preparing to welcome an influx of global visitors via its excellent flight, rail and road connections to many of the host cities.

https://www.neworleans.com/articles/post/whats-new-in-new-orleans-in-2026/

Mississippi

Join the celebrations in every part of Mississippi in 2026 with milestone anniversaries and fun festivals.

• Hwy 49/61 Crossroads in Clarksdale 100th Anniversary – new Mississippi Blues Trail marker being unveiled 9th April as part of the Juke Joint Festival.
• Mississippi Blues Trail celebrates 20 years - the self-guided blues trail marker throughout the state. A journey through blues history in Mississippi, a state that many legends of the genre, like B.B. King and Charlie Patton, called home. The Mississippi Blues Trail is made up of a series of markers throughout the state, each telling a story for a significant person or place that helped shape the foundation of the blues. From clubs to cotton fields to cemeteries to train depots, the markers bring the history of the blues alive for visitors.
• GRAMMY Museum is 10 years – the only GRAMMY Museum outside of LA. Mississippi is known around the world as the “Birthplace of America's Music” – and for good reason. Once you've explored cultural music hotspots in Mississippi, such as the Mississippi Blues Trailand the Mississippi Country Music Trail, be sure to head over to the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi to learn about Mississippi GRAMMY Awards history and experience one-of-a-kind exhibits.
• Ship Island Ferry Excursion is celebrating 100 years. Ship Island Excursions is a Skrmetta Family owned business celebrating 100 years of transporting visitors to the Mississippi Islands.
• The 60thanniversary celebration of Margaret Walker's “Jubilee” are in planning stages to be held on September 25, 2026. The celebration will include refreshments, readings, and words from notable Margaret Walker scholars and community members. The new exhibit, "Margaret Walker & the Power of Words," located on Jack State University's Campus will also be available for tours.

• Festivals Galore - The Vicksburg Hipstoric Fine Art Festival is set to take place the last weekend of 2026 with 3 days of live music, fine art, kids activities and more. At Jackson, the JXN Food & Wine Festival returns from March 20-22 expanding to a 3 day event. Elsewhere in Coastal Mississippi, Cruisin' the Coast returns for its 30th

https://visitmississippi.org/

Tennessee

• Hot properties – Set to open June 2026, the SongTeller Hotel in downtown Nashville will celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, complete with a museum, rooftop bar, live entertainment, and immersive storytelling elements. Meanwhile, over in the idyllic Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm, the sumptuous Relais & Châteaux resort in Walland, celebrates its 50thanniversary next year. 

• Marking Milestones – Staying in Nashville, Loveless cafe will celebrate 75 years as a beloved local institution, known for its Southern comfort food. Throughout the year, Loveless will host special celebrations and activations around the city to honour this milestone. This as The Union Station Nashville Yards, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, prepares to mark its 40th

• Make it Memphis – The National Civil Rights Museum will unveil its new Legacy Building in early 2026, offering deeper context and a contemporary lens on one of the most important movements in modern history. Next year will also see the opening of an exciting new outdoor music venue in the city called Grind City Amp.

• Food for thought – Meanwhile, January will see Tennessee Tourism build on the excitement around the November 3 announcement of the ratings for the new Michelin Guide American South with a new culinary campaign pairing local songwriters and chefs.

https://www.tnvacation.com/

Raleigh

• New flight route – Aer Lingus will launch its new flight service from the UK to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in April 2026. This exciting new route will connect with 13 regional UK destinations via Dublin, Ireland.

• Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, enjoys close proximity to some beautiful vacation spots, and visitors can take advantage of the new route by planning road trips to the nearby towns of Durham, New Bern, Wilmington and more.
• Coming soon, Oberlin Hotel (est. opening June 2026): The first hotel from the Curio Collection by Hilton property in the Raleigh area. The hotel will be situated in the heart of the Village District and will feature 150 guest rooms (including presidential suites), a high-end restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a courtyard for hotel guests and residents to enjoy. The hotel's decor is inspired by honoring the Black history of the neighborhood through artwork and descriptions of notable Black figures who were influential in shaping the area and Raleigh as a whole. 

For more information - https://www.visitraleigh.com/

Boston

Next year will see Boston own the spotlight for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  Celebrations commence with the inaugural year of dazzling winter activations across the city. These events will be followed by a summer of celebrations to welcome the world to this revolutionary city.

• FIFA World Cup - Boston will host seven thrilling matches during the tournament, with Group Stage play kicking off at the Boston Stadium on June 13, culminating on July 9 when Boston hosts a Quarter Final. Boston will set up fan zones and watch parties throughout the city.
• Tall Ships will return to Boston Harbor as part Sail Boston® which will be the largest maritime celebration ever to visit the USA. Boston is the fifth and final port in the US that will host Sail 250®. Running from July 11 – 16, over 100 majestic ships from dozens of countries will take part in a Parade of Sail through Boston Harbor, which is wide enough to provide ample viewing areas yet narrow enough to afford great proximity and spectacular views.

https://www.meetboston.com/

San Antonio

With new sustainable and inclusive initiatives, San Antonio is transforming travel in 2026…

• Morgan's Hotel™ coming Autumn 2026 - Located at the renowned Morgan's Wonderland Ultra-Accessible™ theme park, this new hotel aims to transform the hospitality industry with its Ultra-Accommodating™ approach. By combining intentional design, advanced technology, and a highly responsive staff, the hotel goes beyond standard ADA requirements to deliver a thoughtful, personalised experience for guests of all ages and abilities. Founded by Gordon Hartman, Morgan's Hotel™ will feature more than 90 spacious, accessible rooms, digital room keys, voice-activated controls and more.

• The new 200-room, 17-storey boutique hotel located at Hemisfair has officially been named The Monarch San Antonio, in reference to the Monarch butterfly that migrates through the San Antonio region each autumn as the Dia de los Muertos festivities take place. The hotel is designed to be a convergence point for visitors and locals alike, drawing people together through enlivened interiors that reflect the journey of the butterfly.

• Opening in late 2026, the new “Nature Playscape” is a 2-acre, nature-inspired, inclusive play area for children and families on the north end of Brackenridge Park, bordered by the San Antonio River. Designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind, it will feature slides, swings, climbing towers, water play, a riverbed canyon theme, and sensory/creative play spaces.

https://www.visitsanantonio.com/