What's new in U.S. cities for 2026—and how to experience it

When it comes to travel to the US, cities are set to steal the show in 2026. From Los Angeles’ long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a 27,871sq-metre space that will draw from a 40,000-strong collection, to the Hip Hop Museum, set to give the genre a permanent home in its hometown of the Bronx, there’s something to discover coast to coast. We round up organised tours and independent itineraries that take in some of the most exciting new openings, landmark anniversaries and fresh experiences.

Follow the legacy of the Underground Railroad in Pittsburgh

Once a steel mill giant, Pittsburgh is revamping its image. The Andy Warhol Museum is undergoing a multi-million-dollar expansion, while Arts Landing — a downtown city park with performance spaces — is set to open in the spring. It’s prime time to discover the city’s diverse cultural scene and the legacy of the Underground Railroad — a network of covert routes that provided escaped enslaved African Americans safe passage — creates a natural trail to follow. Start at the Strip District’s Heinz History Center, where the permanent From Slavery to Freedom exhibition tracks the city’s Black narratives through time. Continue to the Cultural District’s August Wilson African American Cultural Center, which champions Black talent. It’s named after 20th-century playwright August Wilson, who twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for chronicling the African American experience in the city. End your visit at the Hill District, a historically Black neighbourhood where he grew up. Here, the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company exclusively performs work by local writers, with shows taking place in the Carter Woodson Redwood Theater.

While here: Organised every four years by the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie International returns from May for 2026. It’s the longest-running international art exhibition in North America, and the 59th edition will be the most collaborative to date, featuring 61 artists and collectives.

Cruise Marilyn Monroe’s Los Angeles

If Marilyn Monroe were alive in 2026, she’d be blowing out 100 candles on a birthday cake. Mark this centennial with a themed journey through Los Angeles, the city where she transformed from budding actor into Golden Globe-winning superstar. Classic Experiences offers a four-hour private tour that showcases Monroe’s life in all its widescreen splendour. Opt for the vintage convertible — ideal for coasting along the palm-lined boulevards before stopping for tea at the Hotel Bel-Air, just like Monroe used to. The route explores both luxury hotels, where the star was photographed poolside, and quiet streets in Brentwood, where she lived out her final chapter in near seclusion. You’ll also pay respect to the legend at her final resting place, Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. After all, this is La La Land, where even endings are part of the show.

While here: See the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, co-founded by Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas and set to open in the second half of 2026. Expect a close-up of visual storytelling, from posters charting the history of African American cinema to self-portraits by Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Sing along with Nashville’s women

Country music’s longest-running radio show, the Nashville-based Grand Ole Opry marks its 100th year throughout 2026. Extra broadcasts — open to the public and featuring live shows — have been added to its calendar. But for a change of tune, book its backstage tour focused on the women of country, from Loretta Lynn to Carrie Underwood. Discover the stories behind their tear-jerking songs and stop for a selfie in the dressing rooms.

While here: Sleep at the Songteller Hotel, a new Downtown address jointly owned by Dolly Parton, which hosts regular performances celebrating her enduring influence. Expect a generous scattering of glitter throughout.

Beatbox around the Bronx

In autumn, hip-hop will get a forever home with the opening of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, widely recognised as hip-hop’s birthplace. Over a decade in the making, the centre will feature immersive galleries and a 300-seat theatre for live performances. Next, swing by The Bronx Museum of the Arts, whose revamped south galleries are set to open in 2026 following an overhaul. It showcases contemporary art that reflects the borough’s diverse communities, and it acts as an incubator for emerging talent. Round off your visit at the Bronx Music Hall, the first new independent music venue to open in the borough in over 50 years. Since launching in 2024, the 250-person space and adjacent outdoor amphitheatre have become a home for the Bronx’s musical legacy, from jazz and rumba to reggae and, of course, hip-hop.

While here: Head to Studio Museum in Harlem, a recently relocated museum highlighting more than 200 years of artistic achievements by artists of African descent. Sprawling across seven floors, the sleek creative space also includes a cafe and rooftop terrace with Big Apple views. 

See Washington, DC through a new lens

The US capital’s mighty museum scene gains a new landmark this summer with the opening of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration on the Society’s historic campus. A sculptural version of National Geographic magazine’s iconic yellow frame greets guests at the entrance, setting the tone for a visit rich in exploration and storytelling. Drawing from the brand’s vast archive, the museum focuses on the craft of documenting the world. There’s a display of some of its most powerful images, while a theatre screens original productions. At dusk, large-scale projections and surround sound bring subjects, like the mysteries of the ocean, to life — an all-encompassing cinematic experience. Feel inspired? Book one of Washington Photo Safari’s guided photography tours of the city. They’re especially popular during the cherry blossom bloom in March.

While here: From May, the Photographic Memory exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery explores the art and history of the medium, from early shots to digital portraiture. It’s a must-see for anyone fascinated by the power of a single frame.

Paint Memphis red

Tennessee’s largest art gallery is about to get bigger. In December, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will relocate from Midtown’s Overton Park to a Downtown location along the Mississippi River. Renamed Memphis Art Museum, the new 11,300sq-m venue will expand the institution’s space by half, putting more of the 10,000-strong collection — spanning from African ceremonial masks to American Impressionism — on show. Designed by the architects behind London’s Tate Modern gallery, the building aims to blur the line between indoors and outdoors, with a glass facade letting passersby see the art within. Design your own tour to and through the galleries, starting from the waterfront promenade, which links urban parks, and ending in the museum’s rooftop sculpture garden.

While here: Book the new Presley for a Day experience at Graceland, Elvis’s more-is-more mansion. You can’t talk about culture in Memphis without talking about music, and this after-hours tour of the house allows fans the rare chance to caress the star’s bejewelled jumpsuits.

Mellow out in San Francisco

The recently opened Counterculture Museum in Haight-Ashbury offers the perfect excuse to explore San Francisco’s offbeat underbelly. Visit the space, which explores the 20th-century movements that shaped the Bay Area, from the Beat Generation to LGBTQ+ liberation. Then, hop aboard San Francisco Love Tours’ VW campervan, decked out with psychedelic murals, shag carpets and beaded curtains. Tours take in city icons like the Golden Gate Bridge and Painted Ladies, a row of Victorian houses in rainbow hues.

While here: Catch a show at The Castro Theatre, an LGBTQ+ icon, which reopened in February after a two-year renovation. In June, the theatre will host the 50th annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Get inspired in Chicago

The Obama Presidential Center is opening in June within Jackson Park in Chicago’s South Side, offering sweeping views over Lake Michigan. Four floors of galleries examine the former president’s life and work within the wider context of democracy and civic engagement, aiming to inspire visitors to uplift their own communities — there’s even a fruit and vegetable garden. To explore further afield, join a bus tour with South Side Tours, where passionate Chicagoans share stories of the area Obama called home for 20 years.

While here: Visit the South Side Sanctuary, a former neglected lot in Bronzeville turned community hub. It opened in 2024 as a space for open-air performances, farmers’ markets and more. Last year, it won the MacArthur Creative Places Award for projects that harness arts and culture to drive social change.