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The city’s footprint is growing too, with a 15-acre expansion of White River State Park heading toward completion in July 2026 and the opening of Henry Street Bridge, a new gateway into the city from the underserved west side, by the end of the year, which will be marked by a striking design that includes massive rings over the bridge that light up at night. This new pedestrian and vehicular overpass crosses White River, where you can now enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing after what has been roughly half a century of river cleanup, making Indy America’s newest river city. Book a guided tour with or rent equipment from Frank’s Paddlesports Livery to explore the city by water.
Also in 2026, Tube Factory, an artist-run contemporary art museum and community center, will quadruple its footprint with a new, 40,000-square-foot space in a 125-year-old former dairy barn, allowing it to offer even more free programming, performances, and cultural collaborations. Alongside it, the Factory Arts District, Indy’s largest community of artists, is growing into a powerhouse destination for art, entertainment, and great souvenir shopping too. Among the new openings there are Daisy Bar (a casual but energetic complement to those who love daytime dining stalwart Milktooth), MVMT House Pilates studio, and Salt & Ash market for locally made gifts. First Friday art walks, where you can enjoy live music, dancing, and interactive workshops, are always a fun time here as well.
How to plan it: You can fly to Indianapolis from every major US airport, and in even better news, IND has been named the best airport in North America for 13 consecutive years by the Airports Council International. May through October is the best time of year to visit to enjoy outdoor activities. Stay at the new InterContinental Indianapolis on Mile Square, which opened in February after a $120 million restoration of the 100-year-old landmark Illinois Building, or the boutique Bottleworks Hotel, in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant. A new Kimpton hotel and an 800-room, skyline-changing Signia by Hilton are throwing their doors open in late 2026 as well. —Amber Gibson
Oahu
Go for: a new embrace of Hawaiian culture, a major surf moment, and urban openings
It’s been more than a century since Waikiki’s Moana Surfrider first opened its white-columned doors to travelers chasing the South Pacific dream, and in March 2026, to celebrate its 125th birthday, the “First Lady of Waikiki” will emerge from a major renovation that preserves its Victorian bones while layering in new, design-forward details. The milestone is just one reason the Hawaiian island of Oahu (home to its capital and most populous city, Honolulu) feels particularly of the moment, as it leans into a cultural resurgence that celebrates its heritage without slipping (too much, anyway) into kitsch. Other reasons to visit? Cirque du Soleil’s ʻAuana residency at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, an only-in-Hawaii performance that blends the company’s theatrical spectacle with a hula lineage fitting its location (it debuted in December 2024 and will run through 2026). Up the coast, on the North Shore, professional surfing marks its 50th anniversary in December 2026, when the World Surf League final returns to the sport’s holy ground of Banzai Pipeline, where its history and mythos converge on one stretch of reef. Meanwhile, downtown Honolulu is buzzing: The Hawaii Theatre Center which celebrated 100 years in 2022, continues with its island-inspired concerts, retro cinema nights, and other entertainment. And new nightlife spots like EP Bar, with its 3,000-strong vinyl library, and Yours Truly, a subterranean speakeasy hidden beneath a faux post office, channel Japanese hi-fi culture and Prohibition-era discretion, respectively. In short, Oahu in 2026 is set to usher in a new era for the island, one that offers a compelling experience for any kind of traveler.
