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 a complete new set of causes to plan a visit, which is why it is one in every of TPG’s 17 best places to visit this year.
On July 4, the U.S. marks its Semiquincentennial (250th birthday), and the town the place the Declaration of Independence was first adopted turns into the stage for a celebration.
Philadelphia may also 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 occasion 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 the 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,” the town has loads of causes to show any lengthy weekend right into a full itinerary. Learn on for the very 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 recent 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 yr’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 up to date East Kensington-Fishtown house.
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James Beard Award-winning chef Phila Lorn and Rachel Lorn, the ability 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 Club, 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 fireplace, and it added La Jefa, a brilliant daytime cafe that morphs into an agave-forward cocktail bar and restaurant at night time. For different latest hits, try Dancerobot, Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach’s ode to Japanese-Western consolation meals, and Manong, Probability 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 recent 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.
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Should you’re utilizing the Michelin Information as a compass, begin with Friday Saturday Sunday, Her Place Supper Club and Provenance — all of which earned stars in Philadelphia’s first look within the new Northeast Cities information. Additionally, e book Pietramala, the town’s first Inexperienced Star, the place chef Ian Graye runs a critical fermenting and preserving program that turns native crops right into a vegan feast. Do not skip the information’s really helpful 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 gourmand pies and pure wine. And make sure you queue up for a cheesesteak at Angelo’s — ideally with fried onions and lengthy sizzling whiz.
A brand-new sculpture museum and might’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 anticipate main cultural openings, a packed festival calendar and recurring neighborhood programming that makes it simple 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 greatest identified for pioneering the trendy cell. The cultural establishment is greater than a standard 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 choice of Calder works that shifts regularly over time, mirroring the seasonally altering plantings.
For blockbuster cultural exhibitions, head to the Philadelphia Art 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 Fine 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 Foundation, catch “Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets and techniques” (via 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 try the National Constitution Center, 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 dwelling traditions.
A wave of recent factors lodge openings
Simply in time for the inflow of America 250 and summer season guests, Philadelphia’s lodge scene has just a few headline additions. In Previous Metropolis, The Bourse Hotel, a Hilton Tapestry Assortment property, is slated to open early 2026 with 152 rooms, simply steps from Independence Mall. For traditional Middle Metropolis grandeur, The Bellevue — an Unbound Assortment by Hyatt property within the storied Broad Road 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, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia just lately debuted its new Sky Backyard flooring. It includes a assortment of rooms and suites (plus a two-bedroom penthouse), with residential touches like kitchens and in-suite laundry — some with non-public terraces with prime views of the town skyline. Additionally on the horizon is The Waylen on the Navy Yard: It is deliberate as a 223-key Unbound Assortment by Hyatt lodge in a transformed historic naval constructing providing a number of foods and drinks ideas in addition to a spa that has six remedy rooms.
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The way to get to Philadelphia
In case you have American Airlines AAdvantage miles, attending to Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) is straightforward, as American Airways serves because the airline’s major hub within the Northeast. However if you’re loyal to Delta Air Traces, United Airways, Alaska Airways or Southwest Airways, you’ll make easy connections via their hubs as properly. From PHL, it is a 20-minute drive to Middle Metropolis. PHL can be accessible through SEPTA, the town’s public transit system. The airport line connects vacationers on to Middle Metropolis in about half-hour.
For these visiting Philadelphia from different cities on the East Coast, think about taking Amtrak to Philadelphia’s William H. Grey III thirtieth Road Station for a less expensive — and generally quicker — choice than flying.
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