The Volunteer State is stepping up its game for travelers in 2026, and there's a dizzying array of new sights, bites, and sites for visitors to experience. A preview of what's on the horizon in Tennessee was shared by The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, which seems intent on painting every corner of the state with something new to draw crowds – from scenic lifts and firefly wonders in Gatlinburg to a night excursion at Dollywood and speakeasies hiding behind coffee shops in Memphis.
Among the plethora of new attractions, the Smoky Mountains are getting even more attention with the expansion of Anakeesta's Firefly Village, the A Walk in the Woods outfitter's firefly conservancy tours, and Dollywood's NightFlight Expedition, a ride that promises to give thrill-seekers a quasi-aerial tour of the surrounding nature's beauty however, the amount of new experiences doesn't stop there, Memphis is hosting the inaugural Memphis Art Museum with an "art park in the sky," and Jonesborough is bringing out the iconic Clydesdale Draft Horse Team to its St. Paddy's Festival for the first time.
For those looking to rest their heads in the lap of luxury or novelty, options abound. Nashville's Songteller Hotel, inspired by the one and only Dolly Parton, is set to open with a museum dedicated to the legend herself. Meanwhile, Chattanooga's history is celebrated and repackaged at The Waymark Hotel, which occupies a refurbished 1927 bank building and features The Vault, a subterranean speakeasy. The rustic charms of Gatlinburg will be embodied by The Scoundrel Hotel, positioned as a local hideout with an open-air courtyard.
The Taste-orama of the state is expanding too, with a spread of new eateries, including Knoxville's Mōkumōku, a modern Japanese restaurant that boasts an interactive sushi bar and extensive hot dish menu, over in Nashville, Junior Vo plans to add another notch to his award-winning belt with Kuya, bringing Asian flavors to the West End, and let's not forget the liquid pleasures that will be brewing, distilling, and pouring across the state - the veteran-owned Leatherwood Distillery in Clarksville is expanding to a downtown location, set to envelop patrons with warm tones and cool spirits and Chattanooga's Reading Room combining the tranquil allure of literature with the sociability of a bar.
The grand re-openings and anniversaries are worth noting too, with Memphis' Overton Park Shell hitting the big nine-o, Blackberry Farm in Walland marking half a century of pastoral pampering, and Loveless Cafe in Nashville serving up 75 years of homestyle eats. In Clarksville, the Wings of Liberty Museum unveils the storied past of service members starting March 29, creating what could be a haven for military history buffs.
