2026 Brings Big Changes to Atlanta

By Carol Carter

Last Updated January 16, 2026

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Like any vibrant city, Atlanta isn’t one to rest on its laurels. Atlanta has a fascinating history, which includes being burned during the American Civil War. Atlanta did then what it does now: It kept going and growing. The year 2026 is no different as it brings major improvements and additions to downtown Atlanta and significant renovations at some of the city’s most popular attractions. Oh, and there’s a giant sporting event coming to our city in the summer of 2026.

Sports

Atlanta is among the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the largest edition of the world’s most popular sporting event, with 48 teams vying for soccer’s biggest prize in matches hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.  Atlanta will host eight FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Matches begin on June 11, 2026, with the final match on July 19, 2026.

All that is to take nothing away from our stellar pro sports teams: MLB’s Atlanta Braves, NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, MLS’s Atlanta United FC, WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and Major League Volleyball’s Atlanta Vibe.

Developments

Centennial Yards

There’s an area of downtown Atlanta known to locals as The Gulch. Originally part of Atlanta train yards, it has been vacant for years, primarily used for parking and pre-game rallies for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Today, The Gulch now is known as Centennial Yards, a new, eight-acre entertainment district that will be partially open in time for the FIFA World Cup Games coming to Atlanta in June 2026. Among the many developments in Centennial Yards is Hotel Phoenix, which stands on the very ground where the city began: Mile 0, the historic terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railway. Also new to the revitalizing area: CIM Group and Centennial Yards Company will open a 3,010-square-foot Shake Shack in Centennial Yards. Another announcement concerning Centennial Yards is that The Irish Exit, a bar, is expected to open in Centennial Yards by the summer of 2026.

South Downtown

Everything old is becoming new again in South Downtown Atlanta. The once bustling neighborhood began to decline with the advent of the automobile, which meant fewer people were using the city’s old Terminal Station, one of two former train stations in Atlanta. Today in the revitalizing South Downtown you can get a cuppa Joe at Spiller Park Coffee or Thai food at Tyde Tate Kitchen. Atlanta Tech Village provides space for technology startups. Crate is a record store where you can purchase used vinyl records. Set to open in 2026 are Broad Street Barbecue, El Tesero and Brewhouse Cafe.

Attractions

Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Atlanta Botanical Garden soon will be accessible from the Atlanta Beltline, becoming the city’s first major arts and cultural institution directly accessible from the Beltline. With that in mind, the garden will break ground in 2026 for an expansion that is scheduled to be complete in 2028.

Just outside the gates of the garden, there will be a space enabling a variety of free programs for the public. The new visitor center will feature an indoor/outdoor cafe, gift shop and parking space for bicycles. 

Inside the garden gates, a series of immersive experiences will be organized along a linear sightline through the center of the expansion. There will be water terraces near the arrival court, a walled garden and a fountain garden.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Renovation at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, opening in stages over the next two years, will include a new signature exhibition, another temporary exhibit gallery and an interactive science discovery zone. Content in the Star Gallery will be expanded and accessibility will be improved. The concept is to offer layered experiences that connect guests more holistically to science, nature and human culture, providing opportunities to engage all ages of learners.

The new signature exhibit, Changing Earth, will showcase our planet and its interrelated, dynamic
systems. Real specimens, touchable objects, interactive opportunities, immersive features and sophisticated technology will combine to offer a unique experience. Among the highlights is the opportunity for visitors to move earth’s plates using the Tectonic Dashboard.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most popular attractions at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. The home is undergoing renovations and will reopen in June 2026. The Queen Anne Victorian home dating to 1895 was MLK’s home until he was 12 years old.  Also at the MLK Historical Park, the Visitor Center has moved temporarily to historic Fire Station No. 6 while the permanent Visitor Center undergoes a renovation.

For things to do in Atlanta any day, check our calendar of events.

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Originally Published December 9, 2025