We’ve wrapped up what felt like an eternity of a year in the City Beautiful, and now we’re already looking forward to some of the biggest new things and positive changes coming to Orlando in 2026. It’s so far shaping up to be another huge year for live music, the arts, theme park happenings, hometown drag heroes, sports, food and all the rest.
Vans Warped Tour 2026
Nov. 14 and 15
After Orlando was graced with being one of only three cities to host a revamped Vans Warped Tour in 2025, the music fest is set to come back to the Camping World Stadium grounds again this year. Expect nostalgic alternative music, up-and-coming artists, huge crowds, crowdsurfers, not-so cheap beer and endless Liquid Death. Credit: Ian Suarez
Halloween Horror Nights
Select nights Aug. 28-Nov. 1
While exact dates have yet to be announced, we do know when this year’s Halloween Horror Nights kicks off and wraps up. Dates, haunted house and scare zones themes, and other details will be announced in the coming months, Universal says. Credit: Halloween Horror Nights/Facebook
Free parking in downtown
All year (or until funds run out)
Park DTO offers free two-hour parking (when users enter a code in the ParkMobile app) at all metered and non-metered parking spaces downtown. It’s part of an effort to encourage locals and visitors to patronize businesses and explore the city’s center. And as of early January, it’s been extended until Dec. 31, 2026, or until allocated funding is expended, the city says.
Credit: Downtown Orlando/Facebook
Myki Meeks reps Orlando on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18
Season airing now
Maybe you’ve seen her perform as one of the core members of Best of Orlando-winning drag night Off the Record. Maybe you’ve seen her hosting Orlando’s own take on Drag Race, YouTube series The Gig. Maybe you caught her as part of the Ren’s Nosferatu aftershow, V-Bar. Myki Meeks is one of the busiest drag artists in the City Beautiful, and her calendar got a hell of a lot more full with her recently becoming a contestant on Season 18 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Credit: Courtesy
Rolling Loud 2026
May 8-10
Hip-hop music festival Rolling Loud is rolling out of Miami for the first time ever, and it’s heading into Orlando for its only U.S. event of the year. Rolling Loud 2026 is set to take place at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium May 8 through 10. Presale tickets are on sale now at rollingloud.com. Credit: Rolling Loud/Facebook
Spooky Empire
May 29-31
Spooky Empire returns to Orlando for a weekend of chills and pop-culture fun. Founded back in 2003, the event has grown from a small gathering into one of the largest horror conventions in the country. Fans can meet celebrity guests, show off impressive cosplay and geek out all weekend. Credit: Houda Eletr
Eola Food Hall opens
April
Eola Food Hall, the two-story venue across the street from the downtown Orlando Public Library, is on target for an April 2026 opening. The 15,000-square-foot space will house 10 vendors, a “small fine dining restaurant,” a wine room/speakeasy and a cocktail bar, not to mention panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Eola Park. Credit: Image via Eola Food Hall
Orange County’s mayoral race
Primary election: Aug. 18 | General election: Nov. 3
The electoral showdown for Orange County’s next mayor is set to take place this year. Current county Mayor Jerry Demings is term-limited from seeking re-election. Candidates so far include Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, Tiffany Moore-Russell (who currently serves as Orange County Clerk) and local tech entrepreneur Christopher Messina, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2022. Credit: Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings/Facebook
Orlando Museum of art hosts a David LaChapelle retrospective
Jan. 31 to May 3
Famed celebrity photographer David LaChapelle is getting the retrospective treatment in the City Beautiful next year, courtesy of the Orlando Museum of Art. David LaChapelle: As the World Turns — opening Jan. 31, 2026 — will reportedly be the largest U.S. museum retrospective of the photographer’s works to date, presenting more than 100 of his photographs. The works featured will include well-known works and fantastical portraits of the likes of Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, Madonna, Muhammed Ali, Charli XCX, TuPac Shakur and Doja Cat, as well as a number of previously unseen shots. Credit: Courtesy OMA
Doja Cat
Nov. 14
Speaking of Grammy-winning rapper Doja Cat, she’ll be spending much of next year out on tour and that includes an arena show in Orlando. Her “Tour Ma Vie” World Tour kicks off in November in New Zealand, and a year later will land in Florida for shows in Tampa, Miami and at Orlando’s Kia Center on Nov. 14. Credit: via Live Nation
Florida’s minimum wage increases to $15
Sept. 30
After Florida’s minimum wage was raised to $14 last September, the state standard is on schedule to increase yet again this year due to inflation. Starting Sept. 30 this year, Florida’s minimum wage will rise to $15 per hour. Credit: by Monivette Cordeiro
Welcome to Rockville
May 7-10
Heavyweight music festival Welcome to Rockville is confirmed to rock out for a 15th year in Daytona this spring. The lineup with a lineup features more than 160 bands including Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance, Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Staind, Turnstile, The Offspring, Parkway Drive, Bring Me the Horizon, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White, Lamb of God, A Day to Remember, Rise Against and many more. Credit: Jacquelin Goldberg
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Dates not yet announced
The signature Epcot food and bevs event kicks off in the coming months and is expected to continue providing international sips and eats through the fall. The extensive food-focused festival features more than 25 Global Marketplaces (food stalls) serving up international cuisine from six continents, including Canada, Spain and India. Credit: Photo via Walt Disney World/Instagram
“Weird Al” Yankovic
May 29
“Weird Al” Yankovic takes the stage at Orlando’s Kia Center this spring. Bring your listening ears and be ready to laugh (and maybe cringe a little). Credit: “Weird Al” Yankovic/Facebook
Florida’s gubernatorial race
Nov. 3
The race to elect Florida’s next governor will take place this fall as Ron DeSantis’ term ends. Naples Republican Byron Donalds is a front-runner with the backing of Donald Trump and Rick Scott, while leading Democratic contenders include Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and politician David Jolly. Credit: Byron Donalds/Facebook
Blue Man Group open in Orlando
May 1
After a welcome ceremony and groundbreaking in September 2024 for the blue-hued international entertainment group’s return to Orlando, the Blue Man Group will now open at its new 580-seat Icon Park theater this spring. Tickets go on sale Jan 16. and the show starts May 1, according to the Blue Man Group website. Credit: Photo via Blue Man Group/Facebook
Jack in the Box makes its Florida return in Orlando
Timeline not yet announced
California burger chain Jack in the Box announced in 2024 plans for a whopping 10 new locations in Florida, the first time the chain will call the Sunshine State home in more than 30 years. And one of those locations is set to be right here in Orlando. Credit: Shutterstock
Orlando Fringe
May 12-25
Orlando’s metric ton of local and national underground theater is heading back to town this spring. There’ll be shows for everyone and all interests, plus live music performances, interactive events and much more. Stay tuned. Credit: Photo via Orlando Fringe/Facebook
Orlando Weekly events
Various dates
Orlando Weekly is looking at yet another year packed full of our bites- and bev-heavy annual events like Whiskey Business, Brunch in the Park and Orlando Beer Fest. Credit: Patrick Scott Barnes and Jesse Ann
Orlando’s getting a UFL team
Spring
The Orlando Storm is set to debut in spring 2026, alongside two other new franchises in Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky. Home games will be played at Inter&Co Stadium, the 25,000-seat venue that serves as the home to both Orlando City and Orlando Pride (who also play football, but not American football, as the UFL does). Credit: via Inter&Co Stadium/Facebook
EDC
Nov. 6-8
Orlando’s premier electro music fest comes back to town this fall at Tinker Field. This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but we know last year’s more than 100 artists — including Zedd, Tiësto, Armin van Buuren and Green Velvet — got loud, weird and freaky. There will also likely be the return of a trippy Ferris wheel, interactive art installations, themed environments, and a sea of fans dripping in neon, glitter and more than a little sweat. Credit: by Matt Keller Lehman
Waymo
Timeline not yet announced
Self-driving taxis from the Alphabet-owned company Waymo are coming to the streets of Orlando in the coming months. This will make Orlando one of the first 10 cities in the country to offer the autonomous vehicle service. According to a city spokesperson, Waymo “has been keeping the city in the loop about their plans” to expand to the City Beautiful, but said that there are no city approvals needed for them to operate. The company, at the same time, announced plans to expand to Dallas, Houston, Miami and San Antonio this year. The cost of a Waymo ride can vary based on factors such as distance and duration.
Credit: Waymo
Peaches
Feb. 21
Musician, director, performance artist and icon Peaches heads to Orlando’s Beacham this February on the “No Lube So Rude” tour, which follows the release of her first new album in more than a decade. Credit: LiveNation
Finding out whether Epic Universe is actually planning an expansion
Unknown
After only a few months in existence, Universal Orlando’s newest park Epic Universe may already be looking toward making some changes, according to permits hinting an expansion. Universal Orlando filed for a permit on Nov. 7 detailing plans for utility and foundation work on a 150,000-square-foot building. The address listed is 1001 Epic Blvd., the official address for Epic Universe. But it is unclear whether the building is located within the park or just on Universal Boulevard property. We’re keeping our eyes peeled. Credit: Epic Universe/Facebook
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