Updated on October 20, 2025
2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for event-related travel, with the FIFA World Cup, global concert tours, and major cultural festivals expected to draw millions of visitors to U.S. cities. Big events like these fuel bookings, appeal to new demographics, boost profits, and showcase local offerings to guests who are willing to splurge on making lifetime memories.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 alone will span 16 host cities across the United States, from Seattle to Miami. Travelers will also crisscross the country for world tours by big names like Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, and Ariana Grande, and for long-running festivals and conventions such as South by Southwest, Jazz Fest, and Comic-Con International.
About 57% of travelers said they’re likely to attend a local sporting event while on vacation in 2026, according to Expedia Group’s Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel report. That number rises to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials combined, foretelling another banner year for event-driven travel.
“Sports travel is evolving with a new wave of fanaticism,” the Expedia Group report states. “Fans want more than stadium lights – they want authentic local experiences, cultural rituals, and genuine connections.”
“Readaways” have become the next page-turner in travel, with 91% of travelers expressing interest in trips centered around reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones, according to Unpack ’26. Mentions of reading-related terms in Vrbo guest reviews have jumped 285% year-over-year, and hosts near literary hubs may find opportunities to pair this growing trend with book festivals such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Miami Book Fair, and Tucson Festival of Books, all magnets for well-read travelers seeking calm, creative getaways.
You can capture the momentum by monitoring major event calendars like Ticketmaster or Stubhub, opening your booking windows early, and writing listings that highlight local events or activities. Below is a list of some of the big destination events coming to the U.S. in 2026, so you can get the most out of them.
Read more: What to know before short-term renting around big destination events
Major US Concert Tours 2026
Andrea Bocelli
Feb. 7 – Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 12 – Hollywood, Florida
Feb. 17 – Tampa, Florida
Feb. 20 – Raleigh, North Carolina
Feb. 22 – Birmingham, Alabama
Feb. 23 – Nashville, Tennessee
Feb. 25 – Chicago, Illinois
Def Leppard
Various dates in February – Las Vegas, Nevada
Lady Gaga
Feb. 14-15 – Glendale, Arizona
Feb. 18, 19, 22, and 23 – Los Angeles, California
Feb. 28 and March 1 – Fort Worth, Texas
March 4-5 – Atlanta, Georgia
March 8-9 – Austin, Texas
March 13 – Miami, Florida
March 19-20 – New York City, New York
March 23-24 – Washington, D.C.
March 29-30 – Boston, Massachusetts
April 9-10 – St. Paul, Minnesota
April 13 – New York City, New York
Ariana Grande, “The Eternal Sunshine Tour”
June 6, 9, and 10 – Oakland, California
June 13, 14, 17, 19, and 20 – Los Angeles
June 24, 26, and 27 – Austin, Texas
June 30 and July 2-3 – Sunrise, Florida
July 6, 8, and 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
July 12, 13, 16, 18, and 19 – Brooklyn, New York
July 22, 24, and 25 – Boston, Massachusetts
Aug. 3, 5, and 6 – Chicago, Illinois
Green Day
Jan. 17 – Inglewood, California
Eagles
Jan. 23, 24, 30, 31 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Ed Sheeran
June 13 – Glendale, Arizona
June 20 – Nashville, Tennessee
June 25 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
June 27 – Chicago, Illinois
July 4 – Denver, Colorado
July 18 – Las Vegas, Nevada
July 20 – San Diego, California
Aug. 29 – Detroit, Michigan
Sept. 4 – East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sept. 19 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sept. 25-26 – Foxborough, Massachusetts
Oct. 3 – Atlanta, Georgia
Oct. 10 – Indianapolis, Indiana
Oct. 17 – Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct. 24 – Arlington, Texas
Oct. 29-30 – Hollywood, Florida
Nov. 7 – Tampa, Florida
Major US Festivals 2026
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The “Foodie Superbowl,”
Feb. 19-22 – Miami, Florida
Mardi Gras
Feb. 17 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
March 2-22 – Houston, Texas
South by Southwest
March 12-18 – Austin, Texas
Tucson Festival of Books
March 14-15 – Tucson, Arizona
Coachella
April 10-12, 17-19 – Indio, California
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
April 18-19 – Los Angeles, California
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 23-May 3 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Gathering of Nations
April 24-25 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Electric Daisy Carnival
May 15-17 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Summerfest
June 18-20, June 25-27, and July 2-4 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicago Pride Fest
June 20-21, Parade, June 27-28 – Chicago, Illinois
San Francisco Pride March
June 27-28 – San Francisco, California
NYC Pride March
June 28 – New York City, New York
San Diego Comic-Con International
(Largest Comic-Con in North America)
July 23-26 – San Diego, California
Taste of Chicago
(One of the world’s largest food festivals)
July TBD, – Chicago, Illinois
Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 27-Sept. 7 – St. Paul, Minnesota
The Big E
(Eastern States Exposition)
Sept. 18-Oct. 4 – West Springfield, Massachusetts
State Fair of Texas
September-October TBD – Dallas, Texas
Lollapalooza
[date] – Chicago, Illinois
Austin City Limits Music Festival
October TBD – Austin, Texas
Miami Book Fair
November TBD – Miami, Florida
Major US Sporting Events 2026
Orange Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game
Jan. 1 – Miami Gardens, Florida
Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game
Jan. 1 – Pasadena, California
Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Game
Jan. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
NHL Winter Classic
Jan. 2 – Miami, Florida
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal Game, Jan. 8 – Glendale, Arizona
Peach Bowl Football Playoff Semifinal Game
Jan. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
CFP National Championship
Jan. 19 – Miami Gardens, Florida
Super Bowl LX
Feb. 8 – Santa Clara, California
Daytona 500
Feb. 12-15 – Daytona, Florida
Men’s Final Four
April 4 and 6 – Indianapolis, Indiana
The Masters Tournament
April 6-12 – Augusta, Georgia
Boston Marathon
April 20 – Boston, Massachusetts (second largest marathon in the U.S.; maybe most prestigious)
Miami Grand Prix
May 1-3 – Miami, Florida
PGA Championship
May 11-17 – Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
FIFA World Cup 26
June 11-July 19 – Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey/New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area
MLB All-Star Game
July 14 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
US Open (Tennis)
Aug. 31-Sept. 13 – Flushing, New York
Banana Ball World Tour Championship Games
Oct. 1-4 – Savannah, Georgia (first-ever???)
Chicago Marathon
Oct. 11 – Chicago, Illinois
United States Grand Prix
Oct. 23-24 – Austin, Texas
New York Marathon
Nov. 1 – New York City, New York (largest marathon in the U.S.)
Las Vegas Grand Prix,
Nov. 19-21 – Las Vegas, Nevada
Read more: World Cup 2026 host cities revisit short-term rental regs
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