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Media Information from the Virginia Tourism Corporation

What to Do in Virginia 2026

Last Updated August 26, 2026

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What to Do

Central and Southern Virginia

  • The Federal Club in Glen Allen will be the new home of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, set to take place October 5-11. Spectators can take in all the action of the season finale in person or by watching live on the Golf Channel.
  • The minor league Richmond Flying Squirrels began playing in their new home in April 2026. As a multi-use entertainment venue, CarMax Park plans to host hundreds of events in addition to Squirrels games, from concerts and boxing matches to corporate gatherings and fundraisers.
  • The Science Museum of Virginia debuted a new hands-on exhibition called “Rescue” in July 2026 that puts guests in the role of first responders through interactive land, sea and air rescue scenarios. Featuring helicopter and jet ski simulators, firefighting challenges, drone rescues and other STEM-focused experiences, the exhibition explores the science and teamwork behind emergency response. During its run through January 17, 2027, visitors can also try Virginia’s first public CPR training kiosk in partnership with the American Heart Association.
  • Chesterfield County’s new Park at River City Sportsplex opened in June 2026, adding a 2,000-square-foot splash pad along with a zipline, rope course, trails, playground features, and picnic and game areas as part of a $17 million enhancement project.
  • Southampton County is bringing a pivotal chapter of American history to life with the Nat Turner Trail, a self-guided experience that explores the causes, events, and aftermath of the 1831 Southampton Slave Insurrection. Anchored by the restored Rebecca Vaughan House, the trail will feature historic artifacts, interpretive signage, and access to more than 40 sites connected to Nat Turner’s rebellion and its lasting impact on the nation’s history.
  • The Southern Virginia Wild Blueway continues to grow with the addition of a new canoe and kayak launch in Brunswick County. The regional paddling trail spans Halifax and Mecklenburg counties and now extends into Brunswick, connecting visitors to scenic river and lake experiences across Southern Virginia.
  • Danville’s new Riverfront Park opened in May 2026, transforming the Dan River waterfront with a splash pad, playground, public art, scenic overlooks, and direct access to the 13-mile Riverwalk Trail. The $14 million park serves as a vibrant community gathering space for outdoor recreation, events, and family-friendly fun.
  • Virginia International Raceway has launched Off Track Productions, a new 70-acre outdoor event venue designed to host concerts, festivals, expos, and large-scale cultural events. Located on VIR’s 1,300-acre campus in Southern Virginia, the venue expands the region’s entertainment offerings.
  • Richmond’s Brown’s Island will reopen in October 2026 after undergoing a major renovation. The riverfront space will feature river terraces, play areas, shaded seating, restrooms, accessible pathways, and potable water.
  • The former Nordstrom location at Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County will become House of Sport in late 2026. The experiential concept from Dick’s Sporting Goods will include facilities like batting cages, rock climbing walls, and fields.
  • Chesterfield locals and visitors will be able to catch waves at a new, six-acre surf park in 2026. The Lake will be part surf park, part retail hub, complete with a 13-acre artificial lake for wakeboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more.
  • Lynchburg’s new amphitheater at Riverfront Park opened in spring 2026. The venue seeks to attract national touring acts and will host 10-20 performances annually.
  • The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will usher in a new exhibit in November 2026. The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse will remain at the museum until March 2027.
  • The Virginia Scenic Railway will expand its offerings in 2026 to include themed excursions from the renovated Louisa Depot. New events include a Sunday Brunch Train, Sip & Savor Wine Trains, and a potential Murder Mystery ride.
  • A new historic attraction, the Skipwith–Roper Cottage, will open during Jackson Ward’s Founding Week in Richmond in April 2026. The site will be the permanent home of the exhibit “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History.”
  • Atwell Place, a creative retreat in Orange County, will open in Fall 2026. The space will offer a variety of classes including cooking, art, and gardening workshops.
  • Live! Casino opened its temporary facility in Petersburg, VA, in January. The 75,000-square-foot casino features 900 slot machines and 30 live table games, with the permanent casino and resort expected to open in 2027.

Coastal Virginia – Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore

  • Norfolk International Airport continues its $1 billion Transform ORF modernization program in 2026. This spring, the airport opened a three-gate expansion of Concourse A featuring new gates, expanded seating, local dining concepts, and additional passenger amenities. A new international arrivals facility also debuted, while work continues on roadway improvements, new concessions, a consolidated rental car facility, and a future centralized TSA checkpoint as part of the airport’s long-term transformation.
  • Enjoy Smithfield in a whole new way with the newly launched 757 Tiki Tours. This BYOB adventure cruises in the calm Cypress Creek and Pagan River with music and casual fun. The boat tours are available for small or large groups at various times of the day.
  • The Greater Williamsburg Sports & Event Center celebrated its grand opening in June 2026. Located on the campus of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, the $80 million facility features courts for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, a roll-out turf system for indoor soccer and similar sports, a climbing wall and a gym. The 200,000-square-foot venue also includes a banquet hall, conference rooms with retractable walls and flexible event spaces available for a variety of functions.
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg unveiled the reimagined Verbolten: Forbidden Turn in May 2026, transforming the nearly 14-year-old coaster with a new storyline, enhanced special effects, and the park’s first animatronic characters.
  • The Williamsburg African American Heritage Trail broke ground in June 2026. When complete, the trail will guide visitors through more than three centuries of the city’s Black history over 2.5 miles with interpretive markers, public art, and digital storytelling.
  • The new Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center at Colonial Williamsburg will give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the practices of archaeology and history are linked. The center opened with a weekend celebration in April 2026.
  • A new exhibit at Mathews County History Museum will open in Spring 2026. The experience will take visitors through the history of underwater photography and exploration in the Chesapeake Bay region. An Aquascope and two submersibles will be included in the display.
  • Tappahannock and Essex County Museum are introducing the Rise & Fall Festival, a three-day celebration of Tidewater culture, history, and creativity, in September 2026. The event will include live music, a book and arts fair, poetry readings, and more community fun.
  • Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Super Girl Surf Festival makes its Virginia Beach debut over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5–7, bringing the world’s largest female surfing competition to the Oceanfront. Free and open to the public, the event features more than 4,000 female athletes across multiple sports, plus live concerts, fitness classes, and celebrity speakers.
  • Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art opened in its new home on Virginia Wesleyan University’s campus in spring 2026, expanding its exhibition space and accessibility.
  • The Palace of Pickleball, an 18,000-square-foot indoor complex opened in spring 2026 in Virginia Beach, offering seven dedicated courts, amenities and year-round clinics, leagues, tournaments and events for players of all ages and skill levels.

Virginia Mountains

  • Later this year, Black Dog Salvage will be relocating their larger architectural salvage operations to a nearby 22,000-square-foot warehouse, creating space for Roanoke Mountain Adventures to join its main campus. The partnership will establish a unique outdoor recreation and retail destination along the Roanoke River Greenway, combining shopping with bike, kayak, and outdoor equipment rentals.
  • Hayfields State Park, Virginia’s newest state park, opened for its first spring and summer season. The park is located on 1034 acres between Bullpasture and Jack Mountains and features a mix of heavily wooded land, valley pastures and several structures, including an 1800s farmhouse. The Bullpasture River flows through the park for about a mile and is home to numerous threatened and endangered species.

Northern Virginia

  • In June 2026, Mount Vernon unveiled a reimagined 21,000-square-foot education center. This $20 million redesign houses the exhibition “George Washington: A Revolutionary Life” which now includes nine galleries and six immersive media spaces that bring the first president’s world to life.
  • Five Iron Golf, an indoor golf and entertainment concept, plans to open its first Virginia location at Tysons’ Capital One Center in early 2027. The 17,000-square-foot venue will feature golf simulators, an outdoor terrace, and a full-service restaurant and bar, bringing the growing national brand’s golf-and-dining experience to Northern Virginia.
  • Vermont-based King Arthur Baking Company is opening a new retail store and baking school in Old Town Alexandria at 615 King St. this fall. Expect a wide range of baking essentials, including ingredients, mixes, tools, and kitchen appliances.
  • Ikea’s new 107,000-square-foot Chantilly store opened in June 2026 in the former Dulles Expo Center, marking its seventh location in the area.
  • A too-sweet immersive experience opened in Tysons Corner in spring 2026. The Hershey Super Sweet Adventure is a family-friendly affair with interactive experiences, hands-on activities, and plenty of chocolate.
  • Concorde, a new meeting and events venue in Arlington’s National Landing neighborhood, opened earlier this year. The venue has a total capacity of more than 470 attendees, with a 300-guest presentation hall and five additional event rooms as well as an on-site culinary program.
  • Goodstone Inn & Restaurant added a fitness center and a new on-site gift shop in 2026 in addition to its expanded spa offerings and immersive experiences.

Shenandoah Valley

  • Waynesboro’s Street Arts Trail continues to grow in 2026 with six new large-scale murals, expanding the city’s walkable collection of public art installations that connect visitors to downtown shops, restaurants, and attractions. The trail is helping establish Waynesboro as a leading arts and cultural destination in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
  • Middletown’s historic B&O train station is being rebuilt. When it opens again, the station will include a museum of local railroad history, a model train display, and space for the Winchester & Middletown Model Railroad Association to hold meetings.
  • Buena Vista opened a new Visitor Center in April 2026. Located at the Virginia Innovation Accelerator, the center provides information for guests about the greater Rockbridge area.

Southwest Virginia – Blue Ridge Highlands and Heart of Appalachia

  • Coming soon, William King Museum of Art will unveil a major expansion featuring the new Worrell Collection of Wildlife Art, one of the nation’s most significant wildlife art collections with approximately 170 paintings and sculptures by renowned artists from around the world. The project also includes a new welcome gallery, café, accessible entrance, sculpture garden, and enhanced spaces for exhibitions and collections care.
  • The upper section of the Virginia Creeper Trail is scheduled to reopen in March 2027 after nearly two years of repairs following extensive damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024. Reconstruction of the popular 34-mile trail began in late 2025 and includes major bridge and infrastructure improvements. The trail attracts about 250,000 visitors annually and generates significant economic impact for Southwest Virginia.
  • The first phase of improvements at historic Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg were completed in March 2026. The project includes refurbishing the auditorium, lighting, and sound system. In the future, improvements will be made to the building’s lobby, exterior, and accessibility.
  • The 165,000-square-foot Pulaski County Sportsplex is anticipated to open in November 2026. The state-of-the-art facility will enhance the region’s capacity to host tournaments, events, and athletic programming.