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Guests have new options to stay in Memphis in style this fall. Hotel Pontotoc offers new apartment-style hotel units, as well as a swanky wine bar and restaurant, The Dame. Built in 1906, the hotel has undergone many transformations, having previously been a Turkish bathhouse, followed by a recording studio, nightclub, and a private residence. The Peabody Memphis, also known as the South’s Grand Hotel, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation of its 400+ guest rooms and suites. Upgrades include new furnishings, fixtures, and decor.

The food scene in Memphis continues to grow at an accelerated level with several restaurant openings. Local favorite Felicia Suzanne’s recently reopened in a new location in the South Main Arts District. The restaurant combines an upscale casual atmosphere with elevated Southern classics. Amelia Gene’s offers fine dining in Downtown with a contemporary menu with globally inspired dishes. JEM Dining (Just Enjoy the Moment) in Memphis' historic Edge District is bringing a unique and refined menu in an inviting way. Their vision is to make fine dining approachable and comfortable. The Edge District has also welcomed a new bar and lunch spot. At Bar Limina, guests step into a contemporary space that serves craft cocktails, many with hyper-seasonal combinations. Hard Times Deli is the Edge District’s new neighborhood sandwich spot serving up delicious creations packed with flavor. More new restaurants are popping up in East Memphis and Midtown, offering everything from casual to upscale dining options.

Memphis is honoring what would've marked B.B. King’s 100th birthday with celebrations bringing live blues, barbecue, and more. The festivities kick off with a free outdoor music festival on Beale Street on September 14th featuring Eric Gales, Rodd Bland & Friends, Corey Lou & Da Village Band, and more. On King's official birthday, September 16th, B.B. King’s Blues Club’s intimate dinner and a show featuring special appearances from Bobby Rush, Carla Thomas, Boo Mitchell, and David Porter.  The Annual Southern Heritage Classic returns to Memphis from September 25-26. The annual event will showcase HBCU football programs from Alcorn State University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in a face-off at the Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl Stadium. A host of events are scheduled ahead of the 36th annual football game, including a golf tournament, comedy show at the Orpheum Theatre, a parade in Orange Mound, and a tailgate at Liberty Park. 

Hundreds of artisans from across the country are expected to attend the 36th Annual Cooper-Young Fest on September 13th. The neighborhood festival brings music, arts, crafts, and delicious food to thousands of residents and visitors each year. Gonerfest, a lively multi-day rock festival, returns for another year in Midtown Memphis at Wiseacre Brewery and the Overton Park Shell. Over 30 bands, DJs, and MCs from Memphis and around the world will perform at this year’s event on September 25-28. Mempho Music Festival is returning to Radians Amphitheater at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Widespread Panic and Tyler Childers are headlining the 3-day music festival. 

RiverArtsFest returns to the downtown riverfront for a two-day celebration of original art and live music on October 18-19. The festival is one of the largest fine arts festivals in the region. Travel through the Memphis Zoo for the annual Zoo Rendezvous on September 5th. Grab bites and a cocktail from dozens of local restaurants and see live performances as well as hundreds of wildlife exhibits. 

As the days grow shorter, the list of fall activities in Memphis grows. Zoo Boo is back at the Memphis Zoo. On select nights, kids are invited to dress and trick-or-treat their way through the zoo. Parents can grab a stein during Zootoberfest every Saturday and Sunday in October. History comes to life at Elmwood Cemetery - Memphis’ oldest active cemetery. Each October, visitors can take special tours and attend Soul of the City, where long-passed residents of Elmwood return to tell their stories. Travel through some of the most haunted places in Memphis with BackBeat Tours' walking ghost tours.

Black history is Memphis’ history. From the struggles to the triumphs, experience the music and movements, and discover the legends and unsung heroes of Black History. The National Civil Rights Museum, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, is one of the nation’s premier museums with exhibits from 1619 to the present day. It is one of eight historical locations in Memphis designated in the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Currently, a portion of the museum's campus is under construction for what is to be named the Legacy Building. The extended space will include exhibits with themes drawn from Dr. King’s last book, Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community. 

The region’s sole Black theater, Hattiloo Theatre, features plays and musicals year-round. As one of the largest dance companies in the country, Collage Dance Collective aims to increase the diversity of dance with expanded access to classical training to communities of color. Take a ride in A Tour of Possibilities to discover all the Black historical and cultural gems in Memphis.

The historic Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, located on Beale Street, is the city’s newest site to be designated as a part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. This marks the 15th site in Tennessee and Memphis' eighth location. The Withers Collection Museum & Gallery features the work of acclaimed civil rights photographer Ernest C. Withers. His most famous work includes coverage of the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike in 1968, the events that culminated in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While most known for documenting the Civil Rights Movement, Withers' 60+ years of work also documented everyday life, including sports, music, and politics. It is estimated that the collection comprises 1.8 million photographs of notable figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Elvis, and B.B. King.

Memphis has a growing outdoors scene with new experiences and activities, and a revitalized riverfront. Tom Lee Park allows the public to walk, run, or bike along the Mississippi River, play recreational activities, and connect with family and friends, all in Downtown Memphis. A new outdoor experience, Mississippi River Expeditions offers guided canoe trips during the day and overnight camping trips - allowing the public to engage directly with the river. Shelby Farms Park has several outdoor activities to choose from. From bike riding and paddle boarding to kayaking and zip lining, there's plenty to explore in one of the largest urban parks in the country. Big River Crossing is the longest public pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi, and it allows visitors to view the Memphis skyline from a new perspective.

Memphis was included in AFAR’s 52 Places to Travel in 2025. It was named one of the top five places to visit in 2024 in Travel Lemming’s annual 50 Best Places to Travel list. Memphis was named one of the best places to travel in May by Travel + Leisure in 2024. The publication also featured Memphis as one of 4 American cities with new and improved waterways to explore.