The Children’s Museum is partnering with Disney’s Imagineers for the first-time ever to create the first-ever Princess Tiana exhibit, debuting on March 7, 2026. This exhibit will debut in Indy and then travel the world to other museums.
26 Reasons We’re Looking Forward to Indy’s 2026
December 19, 2025
Indy is evolving fast, with new cultural experiences, $3 billion of tourism-related infrastructure, major sporting moments, and national recognition.
With this stacked line-up of new 2026 additions to the city, Indy promises to be one of America’s most memorable destinations.
And you might say we’re a bit bias (we are!), but even Condé Nast Traveler is claiming Indy to be one of the 14 best places to visit in 2026.
Here's why we’re excited for what’s ahead:
2
Eiteljorg Museum
Do you know what a nudie suit is? It’s the name for a bedazzled country western wear suit and one of the country’s most popular nudie suit fashion designers calls Indy home. The Eiteljorg Museum will open up a new “Cowboy Couture” exhibit highlighting the work of Jerry Lee Atwood. Atwood’s work has been commissioned by celebrities like Post Malone, Kesha, or Lil Nas X.
3
Conner Prairie
After a two-year renovation, Conner Prairie will unveil its new year-round museum experience that includes: six experience areas, Spark!Lab, artifacts from their Collections of over 20,000 items, year-round indoor food options, and a new entry into Prairietown.
4
National Celebrate Trails Day
On April 25th the whole country will celebrate National Celebrate Trails Day. In Indy, this will be the kick-off to a week-long celebration as the city rolls out Greater Indy Trailways, a network of 800 miles of trails throughout Central Indiana. The city has invested an unprecedented $190 million into our trail systems through trail expansions and enhancements. A new online resource will be available for trail users of all levels to navigate Indy’s expansive trail system, highlighting things you can see and do immediately off Indy’s trails. Not to mention, new wayfinding will be installed along the trailways. Alongside the great work taking place in revitalizing the White Riverway, this additional support of The Trailways will continue to propel Indy as an outdoor recreation destination.
5
Factory Arts District
Wellness will continue to be a focus in 2026 for travelers everywhere. Indy is keeping on trend with recent storefront announcements that Gina’s Juice will open in the flourishing Factory Arts District and a new matcha bar is coming on board in the Kennedy King neighborhood called Recess.
6
Georgia Street
When Indy hosted the Super Bowl in 2012, it debuted the three-block promenade that connected the Indiana Convention Center to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Since then, Georgia Street has been the home of many outdoor tailgates, fan fests, concerts, food trucks, and more. By the time Indy hosts the NCAA Final Four in April, this three-block promenade will be completely refreshed and reopened, providing a more vibrant greenspace for gathering.
7
Landmark for Peace
Perfectly timed with the 57th anniversary of the assassination of MLK Jr., this eastside park and iconic Landmark for Peace will celebrate the re-opening after an $8 million renovation. April 4th will serve as a reminder of that fateful night that RFK delivered one of the most iconic speeches from the back of a flatbed truck as word spread across the country of MLK Jr’s assassination.
8
NCAA’s basketball championship
For the first time ever, NCAA’s basketball championships will all be held in the same city: Indy. The NIT, DI, DII, and DII champions will be crowned in Indy on Easter weekend. Even without a game ticket, basketball fans will enjoy free live concerts, a fan fest, a downtown dribble event for kids, and more.
9
Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis
May 1st will mark the official opening of CAMi (Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis) in Garfield Park, complete with 40,000 square feet of a renovated old dairy factory. With free admission, visitors will enjoy an on-site café, 6 art galleries, and on-site retails shops. With the recent the surge in new businesses opening in Garfield Park (we see those lines Café Babette!) and the renovations of the historic Sunken Gardens, this addition will anchor the growth of this popular neighborhood.
10
There are two new Banana Ball teams in the league and one just happens to be the Indianapolis Clowns, named in honor of the Clowns who played as part of the Negro Leagues from 1943-54. The Clowns will debut in Florida in February, but “come home” on May 15-16 to play the Party Animals at Victory Field. It’s an honor to have this new team compete across the country in the Banana Ball league, while celebrating and bringing awareness to Indy’s baseball history.
11
America’s 250th
As the country celebrates its semiquincentennial celebration, Indy will be loaded with ancillary events highlighting America’s 250th. Even the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is going all in on the anniversary with their theme, “United We Race.”
12
100th Anniversary of the town of Speedway
Big anniversaries continue in Indy with the 100th Anniversary of the town of Speedway, the 50th Anniversary of the Indy 500 Mini Marathon, and 30 years of IMAX Theatre and Victory Field.
13
The Odyssey
And speaking of the IMAX, movie buffs are prepping for the 2026 debut of The Odyssey, a new film from Christopher Nolan, which premieres on July 17. It is the first feature film ever to be shot entirely in IMAX 70mm film and Indy’s IMAX will be one of about 30 theaters in the entire world to present it in that format. Tickets to four early shows of The Odyssey went on sale a full year in advance this past July and sold out in a matter of hours. Tickets to watch the movie in Indy have been purchased from people all over the world.
14
Fletcher Place
As hybrid hangouts continue to trend, Fletcher Place will welcome the ultimate hybrid hangout with the opening of Lille Bonne. As restoration of this historic Danish church concludes next spring, visitors and residents will enjoy yoga, coffee shop, art classes, beer and wine in the only building in the state of Indiana to have Danish permanently inscribed in its walls. Consider it your new favorite community living room.
15
Big Ten Women’s basketball tournament and Sports Bra
Indy continues to skyrocket as the epicenter of women’s sports, Indy will host the Big Ten Women’s basketball tournament and Sports Bra will open in downtown Indy.
16
Newfields
Word on the street is that Newfields will be implementing igloos as part of their Winterlights experience.
17
Lucas Oil Stadium
Ever since Taylor Swift graced us with three nights of concerts in Lucas Oil Stadium, this venue has been on a roll with big name acts and 2026 is no different with Morgan Wallen taking the stage two nights in a row and Ed Sheeran rounding out the fall concert season.
18
Signia by Hilton
This fall will mark the opening of the 800-room Signia by Hilton hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Three new restaurants will come alongside opening, as well as a rooftop pool and deck.
19
Downtown’s Underpasses
Between the new Signia, reinvented Georgia Street, and the substantial work being done to downtown’s underpasses, we should all be overly excited. New lighting and artwork will bring vibrancy to this corner of downtown.
20
Henry Street Bridge
There will be a new gateway into the city as Henry Street Bridge opens, connecting the southwest quadrant of the city into downtown. Further enhancements of Henry Street Bridge will include an expansion of the Cultural Trail, making this bridge vehicular and pedestrian-friendly. Furthermore, the bridge will welcome giant overarching rings which will light up at night.
21
Indy Hotels
Indy has really upped its game lately with the addition of swanky hotels (like last year’s InterContinental opening). 2026 will mark the completion of the highly anticipated downtown Kimpton Hotel. Simultaneously, The Alexander will complete a $20 million refresh of their art-centric property and a new downtown Motto Hotel will debut.
22
International Violin Competition
The International Violin Competition only happens every four years. Since its founding in 1982, the competition has been held in Indianapolis and nicknamed by violin greats as “The Indianapolis.” The competition is considered the ‘Olympics of the Violin,’ and the world’s ultimate violin competition. This September, the world’s greatest violinists will descend on Indy to compete for the coveted award.
23
Indiana State Archives
For the first time ever, the state’s archives will have a proper home with the opening of the new 128,000-square-foot Indiana State Archives building located along the downtown Central Canal. For history buffs, this beautiful new building houses historical records like the original blueprints of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument or prison materials related to bad-boy gangster John Dillinger.
24
James T Morris Arena
A new sporting facility will come on board in late 2026 on IU Indianapolis’ downtown campus called the James T Morris Arena. This venue will seat 4,500 sports fans with a basketball and volleyball court, training facilities, offices for USA Track and Field and additional multipurpose spaces for additional sporting events. And in case you need a refresher on just how many sporting events take place in this city – at the same time – see #9 on this list.
25
Indianapolis Art Center’s Artspark
For those who have been missing the beloved “Twisted House” sculpture at the Indianapolis Art Center’s Artspark, wait no longer. The 9.5-acre park, which has been under construction this past year, will re-open with improvements including a new Trail system throughout the park and connectivity to the Monon Trail. The Indianapolis Art Center has been undergoing the largest fundraising campaign and renovation in its 91-year history.
26
Redaptive Spaces
Indy’s recently been the benefactor of redaptive spaces, bringing new life to old warehouses and factories – think Factory Arts, Bottleworks, what will become Traction Yards, and of course, The Stutz. As The Stutz continues to transform, all eyes are on the new restaurant hangout set to open in 2026, Montgomery’s. Craft sandwiches and signature beverages, here we come!
