In 2026, Tennessee is unveiling immersive maker experiences, outdoor adventure, unique attractions, hotels, and more.
For student groups, there’s fresh fun to be had, museums with recently arrived exhibits and renovations, and new places to stay. Here’s a look at some of the most-anticipated openings to check out in Tennessee this year.
NEW ATTRACTIONS, EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES
Gatlinburg – Anakeesta’s Making More Magic, a multi-year expansion, launches in 2026 with a next-generation scenic lift, a completely reimagined Firefly Village, an expanded Treetop Skywalk and a nighttime Firefly Experience soaking in the beauty of the Smokies.
Smoky Mountains – Local outfitter A Walk in the Woods introduces expanded Blue Ghost and Synchronous Firefly experiences for 2026. Immersive adventures in May and June include conservation-focused firefly tours, short evening interpretive programs, guided wilderness immersions and multi-day backpacking trips.
Pigeon Forge – NightFlight Expedition takes flight spring 2026 at Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove. Adventurers will fly through the Smokies, conquer raging rapids, climb mountain peaks and glide across a shimmering lake on this thrilling first-of-its-kind ride.
Cornersville & Beyond – Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop will redefine Southern hospitality on the highway. The first rebranded location in Cornersville will be under the new name by early summer 2026 with additional locations planned. The partnership will bring jobs, support communities and give an evolved experience to travelers.
Knoxville – Muralists go head-to-head in a live painting competition during the KnoxWalls Murals & Music Festival, May 30 around Emory Place. Enjoy color, creativity, community and performances by local and regional musicians.
Chattanooga – Explore America’s only National Park City, enjoy Bluegrass music and hit a home run at the new baseball stadium, Erlanger Park, opening spring 2026, adding buzz, green spaces, restaurants and family-friendly energy to the walkable Riverfront District.
Delano – Visitors to Tennessee’s new Ocoee River State Park can look forward to whitewater rafting and immersive outdoor experiences that showcase the natural beauty of East Tennessee.
Jonesborough – New for 2026, the iconic Clydesdale Draft Horse Team comes to Jonesborough’s famous St. Paddy’s Festival, celebrating Celtic culture with live Irish music, meet-and-greets with owls and Highland cows, highland games, a beer fun run and bustling handmade marketplace.
Granville – Experience the small-town charm of this historic community with a tour of the new Independence Hall featuring TN America 250 exhibits, preserving stories and artifacts that define the community, the state and the country.
Clarksville – The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum opens March 29 and will be the second largest museum in the nation’s Army-museum enterprise. Exhibits and artifacts will represent and honor the legacy of service members.
Memphis – The new Memphis Art Museum opens in the heart of downtown in December 2026 with galleries, classrooms, a café, theater and an “art park in the sky” featuring sculptures, native Tennessee plants and panoramic views of the city and Mississippi River.
NEW HOTELS & PLACES TO STAY
Nashville – Opening June 2026, the Songteller Hotel will celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton with Dolly’s Life of Many Colors museum, rooftop bar, live entertainment, and immersive storytelling elements inspired by Dolly’s songs and journey.
Chattanooga – Nestled in the heart of downtown, The Waymark Hotel is revitalized landmark inside a historic 1927 bank building blending timeless grandeur with a fresh, contemporary, locally-elevated spirit with a subterranean speakeasy called The Vault.
Jefferson County – Reconnect with nature and relax at Wyldstay Smoky Mountains, a new, one-of-a-kind luxury retreat overlooking Douglas Lake and the Smokies.
Gatlinburg – The Scoundrel Hotel, inspired by Appalachian storytelling and regional craft, is a new boutique hotel with spacious rooms, an open-air courtyard, set to open across from the
RENOVATED OR REIMAGINED
Memphis – The National Civil Rights Museum’s Legacy Building opens in spring 2026. Exhibitions take visitors on an immersive journey into pivotal moments and strategies of civil and human rights movements since Dr. King’s assassination in 1968. Meanwhile, the Metal Museum, the only institution in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the art and craft of fine metalwork, will move to its new location in Overton Park in spring 2026.
Nashville – Nashville Arcade will add Bar Roze and Sushi by Scratch as it continues its series of renovations. The historic treasure opened in 1902 and is now an authentic, urban-scale destination with over 30 restaurants, bars and shopping in the heart of downtown.
Chattanooga – The Tivoli Theatre, known as the “Jewel of the South,” reopens mid-2026 with a new 190-seat cinema and studio, expanded lobby, a restaurant, six bar spaces, additional event areas and modernized iconic marquee.
To be put in contact with any of these attractions, the Tennessee Department of Tourism is happy to help. Head to tnvacation.com or email tourdev@tn.gov.
Photo courtesy of Dollywood.
