Get over to Elvis Presley’s Graceland and see the all-new Graceland Exhibition Center. With early exhibits that invited visitors to journey through space and study dinosaurs, the center offers ever-changing exhibits year-round, as well as two new dining options: The TCB Food Hall and The Jungle Room Bar. Check the website to see what exhibits are up next.  

An outdoor venue known as The Grove is currently in development at Germantown Performing Arts Center. The Grove at GPAC will include the TruGreen Lawn, an outdoor space equipped with a stage, as well as the welcoming First Horizon Foundation Plaza. Expect a unique, upscale outdoor experience to enjoy local musicians, national headliners and more.  

Follow the new Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail to 25 stops honoring local “Women of Achievement.” Starting March 27, 2020, those stops will include the Equality Trailblazers monument behind the downtown campus of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The monument will include 13 spotlights on inspirational women and also be part of the TN Woman Suffrage Heritage Trail and the National Votes for Women Trail.

Theatre Memphis is turning 100 during its 2020 season. To celebrate, the theater’s planning upgrades—from a redesigned lobby and expanded restrooms to a state-of-the-art hearing-impaired audio system—and a show-stopping lineup. Check the website for the 2020 season lineup announcement.

While the vertical urban village known as Crosstown Concourse opened in 2017, it hasn’t stopped making news, winning awards for sustainability and regularly adding new restaurants, venues and hot programming. Go for a sweet treat at Lucy J’s or the cafe at Crosstown Arts (where the indulgent offerings are all plant-based). Take in live music at the new black-box Crosstown Theater or an intimate show in the Green Room. Enjoy a cocktail at Art Bar or walk across the street to the recently reopened Black Lodge for dance parties, live music, album release gatherings—and of course to get your hands on classic and cult films.

The Central Station Memphis isn’t just a hotel; it’s a representation of the city. Native sons (and James Beard Award-nominated chefs) Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman are behind the restaurant and bar on-property, a century-old railway hub transformed into a chic hotel and hangout. At Bishop, sample the duo’s freshest take on Southern cuisine with a local flair. At Eight & Sand, settle in while the DJ spins Memphis-inspired vinyl and sip a cocktail—maybe the Memphis Belle made with local vodka.

The former Memphis College of Art Building on South Main has been reimagined into the new Arrive Hotel. From sunup to sundown, Arrive has you covered. Start with locally roasted coffee and toast (almost) too pretty to eat at Hustle & Dough, the from-scratch bakery located in the Arrive lobby. In the evening, drink up carefully crafted cocktails and enjoy mouthwatering eats (we suggest the cheese & pickle board) at Bar Hustle. Then, pick up a late-night game of shuffleboard—and craveable bar snacks featuring house-made sausage—at Longshot.

Whether you’re a guest or a local, Hotel Indigo Memphis Downtown’s modern take on Memphis is a must. 3rd & Court Diner, located on the hotel’s first floor, is the newest restaurant from the Across the Board Restaurant Group—who brought you local favorites Central BBQ and 117 Prime. Their new upscale diner offers everything from all-day breakfast to glazed lamb ribs. Downstairs at 3rd & Court, also known as The Lounge at 3rd and Court, is a new Memphis hotspot. Take the Memphis experience late into the evening by visiting this retro bar and lounge to hear live music, DJs and vinyl classics.

Earnestine and Hazel’s is part of Memphis’ history. The iconic dive bar recently underwent renovations and restoration to save the foundation of its 100-year-old building. While work has been done to shore up its downstairs bar and dancefloor, this possibly haunted local favorite aimed to uphold its eccentric vibe and quirky atmosphere. See for yourself why Memphians love this joint—and don’t forget to try the “Soul Burger.”

Now when you dine at The Arcade, Memphis’ oldest café, you can order something from the full-service coffee (or liquor!) bar to go with your sweet potato pancakes. Bring as many friends as you like: The century-old institution recently expanded its waiting and dining areas.

From Elvis Presley to Jerry Lee Lewis, Hernando’s Hideaway was a common stop for Memphis’ famed musicians. Country maverick Dale Watson recently reopened this iconic music venue because of its legendary place in Memphis music history. Head over to Hernando’s Hideaway and hear the next generation of Memphis music legends. 

It isn’t just the BBQ—come see why Memphis is also known as a wing city.
The 18th annual World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival is set for April 25, 2020, at Tiger Lane (next to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium). Enjoy a competitive wing-eating contest and corn-hole tournament, sample wings from any of the competing teams and listen to live Memphis music, all in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis.

Arrow, in the Broad Avenue Arts District, is a one-stop-shop to find your inner artist. Browse locally made wares or sign up for creative classes. In The Edge District, make sure you stop by BOXLOT, a retail and music lounge crafted from shipping containers, and Nine01 II Five04, a boutique for handcrafted gifts and clothing. On South Main, shop Latino culture-inspired styles and get a sweet treat at Primas Bakery and Boutique, or peruse the eclectic Americana- and Roots-themed goods at DittyTV’s Vibe and Dime. Looking for regionally handcrafted goods or even a creative workshop? Get over to Five in One Social Club on Summer Avenue.

Snap Instagram-worthy shots with Memphis’ bold new public art. Thanks to 2019’s Paint Memphis event, The Lamar Theatre (1716 Lamar Ave.) features new murals inside and out. Look for Tennessee’s first rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Cooper and Young in Midtown. See the new mural at Arrive Hotel by Memphis muralist Birdcap, located on E. Butler Ave. (Birdcap fans: Also see the muralist’s rotating series, The Moonpie Project, in the Crosstown Arts alley between 430 and 438 N. Cleveland.) Don't miss the newest I Love Memphis mural near BOXLOT in The Edge District.

One of the biggest sporting events worldwide, the Ironman Triathlon, is making its way to the Bluff City. The inaugural St. Jude Ironman 70.3 Memphis will take place Oct. 3, 2020. Cheerlead or dare to be one of the 2,500 competitors who will endure a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race and 13.1-mile run in and around Shelby Farms Park, one of the country’s largest urban green spaces. Sign up today on the Ironman website.  

Memphis is known as a basketball city, but we’ve got everything from professional soccer to an annual PGA World Golf Classic. Last year, the inaugural World Golf Classic FedEx St. Jude Invitational brought some of the world’s finest golfers to the Bluff City. You can expect an even bigger and brighter tournament this year, as the event has been pushed up to the week of Fourth of July (July 1-5, 2020). Memphis’ professional soccer club, Memphis 901FC, is coming off of its very first season. The United Soccer League club kicks off its 2020 season in March and runs through October. Be sure to catch one of their home matches at AutoZone Park.

Hop on one of Ojo’s scooters and cruise to your favorite Memphis spots, while listening to your favorite Memphis tunes! These seated scooters are equipped with built-in Bluetooth speakers so you can ride in style. Ojo joins Memphis’ wide array of shared-mobility options, such as Bird, Bolt and Spin, as well as Explore Bike Share. Get mobile and explore the Bluff City.