THE GLOBAL STAGE AWAITS: LOS ANGELES INVITES THE WORLD WITH 26 REASONS TO VISIT IN 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles is setting the stage for a landmark year in 2026, defined by global events and transformative new infrastructure. Solidifying its status as a true global capital, LA will host the FIFA World Cup 26™ at the spectacular SoFi Stadium while simultaneously debuting a major cultural renaissance — including the grand opening of the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. In parallel with these developments, major infrastructure projects like the LAX Automated People Mover and the Metro D Line Extension will dramatically enhance the visitor experience.

Discover Los Angeles is thrilled to present 26 Reasons to Visit LA in 2026, a comprehensive guide to the cultural, culinary, and athletic events defining the city's future. Read on to explore how this dynamic city is delivering on its promise of bold, accessible, and unforgettable experiences.

Travel to Aid Wildfire Recovery

Nearly one year after the wildfires of early 2025, one of the best ways to aid LA’s ongoing recovery is to visit and support the local economy. Additionally, through LA Tourism’s partnership with Kind Traveler, visitors and Angelenos alike booking hotel accommodations can make a direct, positive impact, funneling crucial funds to The Change Reaction’s Wildfire Direct Giving Fund.

• Getty Villa: A Beacon of Resilience: Reopened in June 2025 after extensive clean-up and restoration, the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades stands as a testament to the region’s spirit. The museum, a stunning re-creation of an ancient Roman country estate, offers guests an immersive journey through the art and cultures of Greece, Rome, and Etruria, housed amidst magnificent architecture and Roman gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
• Dining with Purpose: Altadena’s Betsy: Betsy, Tyler Well’s new hearth-fire focused concept in Altadena, is just one example of the neighborhood’s emotional and economic rebuilding story following the Eaton Fire. Dining here directly supports a local business whose chef/owner was impacted and whose team has consistently hosted community rebuilding events for fire-affected neighbors.

Global Sports & Spectacles

In 2026, LA continues to cement its status as a global sports capital, headlined by two of the world's most-watched athletic events. Visitors can experience everything from the NBA All-Star Game at the new Intuit Dome to the FIFA World Cup 26™ at SoFi Stadium, kicking off with the US Men’s National Team’s opening game. LA’s global sports footprint is further amplified by international sports superstars, including Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to LAFC’s newcomer Son Heung-min.

• NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 13-15): The NBA All-Star Game returns to Inglewood for the first time in over forty years, hosted by the Los Angeles Clippers at the new Intuit Dome. The weekend begins with NBA Rising Stars on Friday, followed by the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night events, and culminates with the 75th All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
• U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship (June 2-7): The prestigious U.S. Women's Open comes to the nearly century-old course at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Coinciding with the club's centenary, the event will take place at the course renowned as "one of the great tests of golf" and a future host of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• FIFA World Cup 26™ (June 11-July 19): LA is a host city for the expanded FIFA World Cup 26™, which has grown to 48 national teams across three countries. Inglewood's 70,000-capacity SoFi Stadium will host eight matches, including the opening game for the U.S. Men’s National Team on June 12, four group stage matches, two knockout matches, and a quarterfinal.

Arts & Culture Unveiled

2026 is marked by the debut of several groundbreaking cultural institutions and expansions, transforming LA’s landscape and offering inclusive spaces for global and local artistic traditions.

• Frieze LA (Feb. 20-23): The sixth edition of Frieze Los Angeles returns to Santa Monica Airport, housed in a bespoke structure featuring more than 100 galleries from over 20 countries, showcasing global names alongside foundational LA spaces.
• Holocaust Museum Expansion (Spring 2026): The Holocaust Museum breaks ground on its Building Truth expansion, opening a new Jona Goldrich Campus that will double the museum's footprint and house an authentic boxcar from the Majdanek death camp.
• Dataland - Museum of AI Arts (Spring 2026): Refik Anadol Studio will open DATALAND at The Grand LA in Downtown, the world’s first Museum of AI Arts. This 25,000-square-foot "living museum" merges human imagination with machine creativity.
• David Geffen Galleries at LACMA (April 2026): The sprawling, curvy concrete-and-glass David Geffen Galleries are set for their grand opening, straddling Wilshire Boulevard and creating an inclusive space for the museum's permanent collection.
• “Gracias Gustavo” at LA Philharmonic (Through June 2026): Gustavo Dudamel’s final season as the Music & Artistic Director of the LA Philharmonic concludes in June, following an incredible 17-year tenure. His final season, “Gracias Gustavo,” is a celebration of the innovative programming, commissions, and profound community connection he has fostered since 2009.
• Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Sept. 2026): Co-founded by filmmaker George Lucas, this curvaceous construction is scheduled to open in Exposition Park, housing all forms of visual storytelling, including the arts of filmmaking.
• Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center (2026): Scheduled to open in Glendale, this 60,000-square-foot campus will educate the public on the Armenian American story, featuring a permanent exhibition devoted to the Armenian Genocide.  

Culinary Adventures

LA’s food scene is defined by its global diversity and prestige. From high-end dining to specialty groceries, LA’s culinary landscape is constantly evolving.

• Dine LA Restaurant Week (Jan. 23-Feb. 6): Kicking off the year, the 15-day event invites visitors and locals to experience the diverse culinary offerings available throughout L.A. County. As one of the largest restaurant weeks in the country, Dine LA features over 400 restaurants offering special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus across a wide range of global cuisines. The summer edition of the biannual event will take place in mid-July 2026.
• Noma Pop-Ups (Spring 2026): Celebrated Danish chef René Redzepi, of Copenhagen’s three-Michelin Star Noma, has chosen LA for hugely anticipated pop-ups over the course of five to six months. Redzepi is famous for reinventing Nordic cuisine with dishes like fried moss and fermented ants, and his arrival is considered the culinary equivalent of the city hosting an Olympic Games.
• Notable New Openings: T&T Supermarket, the cult Canadian Asian grocery store known for its fresh seafood and bakery, is set to debut its flagship in Chino Hills in Fall 2026. Joining the retail excitement is the massive 10,000-square-foot Maydan Market in West Adams, bringing together diverse global concepts centered around live-fire cooking. Celebrated chefs are also debuting new local spots: Larchmont welcomed Max & Helen’s, a classic diner concept from Phil Rosenthal and Nancy Silverton and Melrose Hill’s Chainsaw launched a permanent café location for its sought-after pastries and grilled dishes.

Hotel Milestones & Openings

2026 is poised to bring several anticipated hotel debuts and significant upgrades to the LA area, further enhancing the city’s hospitality landscape.

• Hotel Lucile (Spring 2026): The Silverlake boutique hotel will be housed in a beautifully reimagined 1931 church building, blending historic architecture with modern luxury. The property will feature 25 thoughtfully designed rooms, a sun-drenched pool, rooftop lounge, and restaurant and bar set within the building’s main chapel with original stained-glass windows.
• Pan Am Hotel (Spring 2026): Set to open within the Citadel Outlets, the hotel, part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection, will embody the mid-century modern elegance and jet-set spirit of the iconic Pan Am, directly referencing the golden era of flight in its stylish design.
• Fairmont Century Plaza’s 60th Anniversary (Summer 2026): The hotel celebrates its 60th anniversary by welcoming the opening of three new, high-profile restaurants: Sushi Noz, Milos, and Kyu, further elevating Century City as a premier culinary destination.
• Kali Hotel and Rooftop, Autograph Collection (Fall 2026): The landmark 300-room lifestyle hotel will be located within the Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, an ideal stay for visitors to major sports and entertainment venues, situated within walking distance of SoFi Stadium and the YouTube Theater.

Festive & Community Events

LA's calendar is full of annual festivals and events, celebrating its diverse communities, from cultural ceremonies welcoming the new year to international exhibitions.

• Lunar New Year (Jan. 29): Historic Chinatown celebrates with the Midnight Temple Ceremony and culminates with the 126th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and festival, the oldest celebration of its kind in the U.S.
• LA Pride (June): LA Pride is one of the world's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, with the annual LA Pride Parade and festival in Hollywood, amplified by celebrations, concerts and events throughout the entire region.
• Juneteenth Freedom Ride & Festival (June 19): Commemorate the day of emancipation at the heart of L.A.'s Black culture. Festivities are anchored by the annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride, a community bike tour showcasing historical sites, which concludes at the larger Leimert Park festival featuring live music, food, and vendors.
• Día de Los Muertos (Nov. 1-2): Angelenos honor ancestors and loved ones with vibrant, multi-day celebrations, featuring traditional ofrendas (altars), processions, music, and food. Visit the historic Olvera Street for their annual three-day celebration, featuring a candlelit procession, or the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for one of the largest annual Día de Muertos events in the world.

Major Infrastructure Updates

These major public works programs, which dramatically improve connectivity and the visitor experience, underscore LA's commitment to building a world-class, accessible future for residents and tourists alike.

• LAX Automated People Mover (2026): A multi-billion-dollar modernization project at LAX culminates with the opening of the APM train. This key infrastructure upgrade will provide time-certain access to terminals and parking, finally integrating the airport with the Metro Transit Center.
• Metro D Line Subway Extension, Section 1 (Winter 2026): The first segment of the long-awaited D Line extension is anticipated to open, running from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega. This extension will dramatically cut travel times and provide easier access to the Miracle Mile's most prominent destinations.
• West Harbor - San Pedro (Early 2026): Occupying the old Ports O’Call site, the $170-million West Harbor complex is set for completion, creating a vibrant 42-acre destination along the San Pedro seafront, complete with retail, restaurants, and a roughly 6,200-seat amphitheater.

###  

ABOUT LOS ANGELES & LOS ANGELES TOURISM  

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is the non-profit destination marketing and sales organization for the Los Angeles tourism industry and the ultimate resource for where to stay and play in the LA area. Los Angeles is a dynamic, ever-evolving destination – where diversity thrives, and everyone is welcome. Discover the true LA by exploring its more than 30 culturally rich neighborhoods, each one offering a distinct vibe. LA is home to more than 300 days of warm sunshine, 75 miles of idyllic shoreline, more museums and performing arts venues than any other U.S. city, and an innovative culinary scene led by influential tastemakers. A global creative capital and the epicenter of the sports universe, LA presents limitless possibilities for visitors from around the world. For more information, visit discoverlosangeles.com, follow at facebook.com/DiscoverLosAngeles, or @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.  

PHOTO ALBUM: Click Here  

MEDIA CONTACT  

Melissa Yunk, LA Tourism: myunk@latourism.org