thursday 13: things to do in 2026

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1. the 2026 Winter Olympics, aka the Milan Cortina Games

when: 6-22 February

I’m all about the hockey, first and foremost. I set my alarm at all hours of the day and night to watch it. Next up is snowboarding, then a hefty handful of whatever’s airing at any particular moment. (Olympics)

2. the Iceland Eclipse Festival

when: 12-15 August
where: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

This will be the first eclipse in Iceland since 1954, the next one not occurring until 2196, so it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. The peak of the Perseids meteor shower also aligns with the eclipse, too. There are all kinds of events planned: concerts in caves, tours, music, science conversations, spiritual ceremonies, art exhibits, and more. (Iceland Eclipse Festival)

3. Tomorrowland in Thailand

when: 11-13 December
where: Wisdom Valley, Pattaya, Thailand

This EDM music festival is a first for Asia, the first full-scale festival taking place in a gorgeous tropical valley. There will be at least six stages and a full line-up of musicians and events over the three-day festival. (Tomorrowland Thailand)

4. Passage to the Peaks

when: June/July 2026
where: Canadian Rockies

The Rocky Mountaineer is a luxury day train specifically made for sightseeing. This summer, the train has a limited-time route, Passage to the Peaks. The route begins and ends in Banff and Jasper in Alberta, traveling into British Columbia and back again. Different packages offer different experiences, but they all take passengers through gorgeous landscapes. (Passage to the Peaks)

5. The Hand & The Eye

when: TBD, spring 2026
where: Chicago, IL

The historic, Gilded Age-era McCormick Mansion has recently undergone a massive renovation to the tune of $50 million. The renovation was done by the Rockwell Group, who have also created some of Broadway’s most iconic sets. They’ve turned it into a illusionary venue, naming it The Hand & The Eye. There will be magic parlours, theatres, lounges that change, and all kinds of illusions and magic. (The Hand & The Eye)

6. the King Charles III Coastal Path

when: spring, 2026
where: England

The path will be, once fully opened, the longest managed coastal path in the world, going all around the coast of England, around 2700 miles. In many of the sections of the past, trail users also have the right to explore both beaches and coastal margin areas along the path. The trail is partially open now, opened in section with the final ones due to open this spring. (King Charles III Coastal Path)

7. Route 66

when: 30 April
where: Springfield, MO

The iconic Route 66 turns 100 this year, with a celebration starting on 30 April in Springfield. But the celebration continues with events and exhibits in different states all along the route. Various locations have driving experiences, historical presentations, music, art, and more. (Route 66 Centennial)

8. New York Rangers Centennial

when: any home game
where: selected dates (link below)

The New York Rangers celebrate 100 years in the NHL as of this year. The celebration kicked off at the end of 2025, but there are plenty of events coming up, including some that involve some of the team’s most iconic players. I would love to go to any of these events, but alas, it isn’t in the cards (New York Rangers Cenntennial)

9. Uzumasa Kyoto Village

when: 28 March
where: Kyoto, Japan

The village has been an iconic movie set since 1975, as many as 200 movies filmed in a single year at its peak. Modeled on authentic Edo-period villages, now it will be opening to the public as an immersive theme park where visitors can explore the sets, take in live shows, experience tea ceremonies and other aspects of Japanese culture, and shop and eat. (Uzumasa Kyoto Village)

10. PokéPark KANTO

when: 5 February
where: Tama Hills, Tokyo, Japan

PokéPark KANTO is part of an amusement park, Yomiuriland, taking up over 26,000 square meters in a corner of the larger Yomiuriland. It is the first permanent outdoor Pokémon attraction in the world. There are two sections for visitors, Sledge Town and Pokémon Forest. There are all kinds of shows and activities for fans. (PokéPark KANTO)

11. Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

when: 22 September
where: Los Angeles, CA

There is a building in Exposition Park in LA that deeply resembles a spaceship. Turns out that building is the future home of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the project of George Lucas of Star Wars fame. It will house a Lucas Archive, a collection of props, concept drawings, and more from the filmmaker’s career. But will also showcase the art of many others, including Frida Kahlo, Norman Rockwell, and Beatrix Potter, as well as many others. (Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

12. World Book Day

when: 23 April/all year
where: Rabat, Morocco

On World Book Day this year, 23 April, Rabat becomes Unesco’s World Book Capital for 2026.There are 54 publishing houses in the city, and Africa’s third-largest international book/publishing fair takes place there. The fair is set to become the largest yet this year. To celebrate the title, the city is hosting all kinds of literary-themed events, including a grand opening ceremony that will feature international authors and workshops, as well as public reading marathons.

13. UBS Digital Art Museum

when: early 2026
where: Hamburg, Germany

This museum is part of teamLab, which is a Japanese art collective of “ultra-technologists.” In other words, artists, engineers, programmers, animators, mathematicians, and others. They create huge, immersive digital-art installations that blend together art, tech, and science to explore the connections between human beings and the world. This newest museum will be the largest immersion art collection in Europe. (UBS Digital Art Museum)