With world-class museums, an ever-growing slate of lauded eating places and that famously scrappy vitality, there’s by no means a nasty time to go to Philadelphia. However 2026 brings an entire new set of causes to plan a visit, which is why it is one among TPG’s 17 finest locations to go to this 12 months.
On July 4, the U.S. marks its Semiquincentennial (250th birthday), and town the place the Declaration of Independence was first adopted turns into the stage for a celebration.
Philadelphia can even host six FIFA World Cup matches, together with one July 4, alongside Wawa’s Welcome America Celebration, with concert events, occasions and parade programming. The social gathering will not be confined to 1 fireworks-filled weekend, although. Philadelphia’s 52 Weeks of Firsts program drops a brand new neighborhood “Saturday First-ival” every week, turning town’s lengthy checklist of civic, cultural and delightfully random firsts (first bubblegum, first Slinky) into an excuse to go to in any season.
Past the weekly “first-ivals,” town has loads of causes to show any lengthy weekend right into a full itinerary. Learn on for one of the best issues to eat, see and do in Philadelphia in 2026. It is anchored by a brand new Michelin highlight on the eating scene, blockbuster exhibitions at main museums and contemporary causes to e book a keep proper within the coronary heart of the motion.
Thrilling restaurant openings and new Michelin stars
Philadelphia has lengthy been dwelling to a buzzy eating scene, and in 2026, there are much more causes to plan your days round the place to eat. One of many 12 months’s most anticipated openings is Emilia, beloved Philadelphia chef Greg Vernick’s restaurant that highlights the delicacies of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna area. It opens in early 2026 in a recent East Kensington-Fishtown area.
Associated: Find out how to spend the weekend in Fishtown, Philly’s coolest neighborhood
James Beard Award-winning chef Phila Lorn and Rachel Lorn, the facility couple behind Cambodian BYOB noodle home Mawn, are increasing their restaurant empire to South Philadelphia with Sao; it is an oyster and crudo bar on East Passyunk with a full bar program and a menu that features dishes like aged hamachi crudo and scallops with chili jam. Additionally in South Philadelphia, Joey Baldino, the chef behind members-only Palizzi Social Membership, revived old-school neighborhood spot Bomb Bomb Bar with Italian seafood classics. (Do not miss the “Lobster and Shells” and “Mother’s Stuffed Calamari.”)
Tequila’s, a Philadelphia landmark since 1986, just lately reopened after a hearth, and it added La Jefa, a vivid daytime cafe that morphs into an agave-forward cocktail bar and restaurant at night time. For different current hits, take a look at Dancerobot, Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach’s ode to Japanese-Western consolation meals, and Manong, Likelihood Anies’ Filipino-American steakhouse.
Make time to cease for a snack at Mighty Bread‘s new grab-and-go outpost, stocked with seasonal sweets and sandwiches made on contemporary baguettes, or head for the Korean-inspired pastry counter at Seaforest Bakeshop for a gochujang cheese scallion roll. And do not miss the weekend Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park — a spring-through-fall gathering of distributors providing a joyful feast of road meals.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
If you happen to’re utilizing the Michelin Information as a compass, begin with Friday Saturday Sunday, Her Place Supper Membership and Provenance — all of which earned stars in Philadelphia’s first look within the new Northeast Cities information. Additionally, e book Pietramala, town’s first Inexperienced Star, the place chef Ian Graye runs a severe fermenting and preserving program that turns native crops right into a vegan feast. Do not skip the information’s advisable and Bib Gourmand designations, together with Royal Izakaya for traditional Japanese fare, El Chingon for Puebla-style cemitas on house-baked rolls, and Pizzeria Beddia for connoisseur pies and pure wine. And make sure to queue up for a cheesesteak at Angelo’s — ideally with fried onions and lengthy scorching whiz.
A brand-new sculpture museum and may’t-miss cultural happenings in 2026
Most America 250 programming will crescendo round July 4, however in Philadelphia, there’s a lot taking place outdoors that one week. Guests can count on main cultural openings, a packed pageant calendar and recurring neighborhood programming that makes it straightforward to plan a visit in any season.
Begin on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with Calder Gardens, a brand new art-and-landscape vacation spot dedicated to Alexander Calder, the American sculptor finest recognized for pioneering the fashionable cellular. The cultural establishment is greater than a conventional museum: The Herzog & de Meuron-designed constructing, set inside gardens envisioned by Piet Oudolf (of New York Metropolis’s Excessive Line fame), homes a rotating number of Calder works that shifts regularly over time, mirroring the seasonally altering plantings.
For blockbuster cultural exhibitions, head to the Philadelphia Artwork Museum for “A Nation of Artists” (on view from April 12, 2026, to July 5, 2027): It is an expansive, three-century overview of American artwork organized with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Nice Arts. Pair it with “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,” additionally at PhAM (from April 25 to Aug. 2, 2026), timed to the movie’s fiftieth anniversary. Close by, on the Barnes Basis, catch “Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets and techniques” (by way of Feb. 22, 2026) — the primary main U.S. Rousseau exhibition in many years.
Past artwork museums, see the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society‘s “Philadelphia Flower Present” (Feb. 28 to March 8, 2026) and the world premiere of “Common Theme Parks: The Exhibition” at The Franklin Institute (Feb. 14 to Sept. 7, 2026). Historical past buffs ought to take a look at the Nationwide Structure Heart, which debuts two new everlasting galleries: one about America’s founding in February and one on the separation of powers that is slated for Could. Lastly, the Penn Museum‘s Native North America Gallery opened in late 2025, constructed round Indigenous views and residing traditions.
A wave of recent factors resort openings
Simply in time for the inflow of America 250 and summer season guests, Philadelphia’s resort scene has a couple of headline additions. In Outdated Metropolis, The Bourse Lodge, a Hilton Tapestry Assortment property, is slated to open early 2026 with 152 rooms, simply steps from Independence Mall. For traditional Heart Metropolis grandeur, The Bellevue — an Unbound Assortment by Hyatt property within the storied Broad Avenue landmark that first opened in 1904 — has accomplished a significant restoration of its public areas and 184 rooms and suites; company get full entry to the adjoining Sporting Membership. The sprawling membership features a four-lane lap pool, basketball and pickleball, sauna and steam rooms, an indoor monitor and extra.
For lofty luxurious, 4 Seasons Lodge Philadelphia just lately debuted its new Sky Backyard ground. It incorporates a assortment of rooms and suites (plus a two-bedroom penthouse), with residential touches like kitchens and in-suite laundry — some with personal terraces with prime views of town skyline. Additionally on the horizon is The Waylen on the Navy Yard: It is deliberate as a 223-key Unbound Assortment by Hyatt resort in a transformed historic naval constructing providing a number of foods and drinks ideas in addition to a spa that has six remedy rooms.
Associated: 4 causes it is price reserving a collection on the W Philadelphia
Find out how to get to Philadelphia
If in case you have American Airways AAdvantage miles, attending to Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) is simple, as American Airways serves because the airline’s major hub within the Northeast. However if you’re loyal to Delta Air Strains, United Airways, Alaska Airways or Southwest Airways, you’ll make easy connections by way of their hubs as nicely. From PHL, it is a 20-minute drive to Heart Metropolis. PHL can also be accessible through SEPTA, town’s public transit system. The airport line connects vacationers on to Heart Metropolis in about half-hour.
For these visiting Philadelphia from different cities on the East Coast, contemplate taking Amtrak to Philadelphia’s William H. Grey III thirtieth Avenue Station for a less expensive — and generally sooner — possibility than flying.
Associated studying:
