Memphis has always been a city that creates. From the music born on Beale Street to the gardens that bloom every spring in Midtown, culture isn’t something we go looking for here, it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life. But 2026? This year is something special.

Many of Memphis’ most beloved arts institutions are celebrating major milestones this year, a packed calendar of world-class exhibitions is underway, and brand-new experiences are opening their doors across the city for the very first time. Here’s your guide to all of it.

A Year of Milestones

Nearly one million blooms are about to pop across Memphis and you’re going to want to make a day (or three) of it.

Spring in Memphis just hits different. And this year, Memphis Botanic Garden is going all out with BLOOM: A Million Shades of Spring, a season-long celebration running March through May 2026.