Asheville Bucket List 2026: 47 New Things to Do

Each new year brings a fresh way of seeing, and 2026 invites you to slow down, look closer, and let the mountains shift your perspective. Here in Asheville, adrenaline and stillness coexist. Chase new flavors, meet the makers who shape our creative community, or step onto a trail that helps you breathe a little deeper.

From standout dining and hands-on arts to fresh outdoor adventures and neighborhood discoveries, the year ahead offers opportunities to wander with intention — to savor, to make, to reconnect.

What's New in Asheville in 2026?

Pure and Proper

New Foodtopia Experiences

• MICHELIN Guide Honors – Asheville’s culinary scene continues to shine on the national stage. In the latest MICHELIN Guide for the American South, Luminosa earned a coveted Green Star for its sustainability leadership. At the same time, Luminosa, Little Chango, and Mother were all recognized with Bib Gourmands—affirming Asheville as a place where creativity, care, and Appalachian influence meet at the table. Click here to see the complete list of Asheville eateries recommended by MICHELIN.
• Xico – The upscale Mexican restaurant’s menu draws on local ingredients and ancestral methods — heirloom corn tortillas hot off the comal and whole fish wrapped in banana leaf and roasted over the flame. Xico's bar program features an expansive agave selection and inventive craft cocktails.
• Jazmin – Chef Sreenivasan Govindarajan moved to Asheville from New Delhi to launch this Asian fusion restaurant, which brings together street food from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia – all in one setting.
• Le Parisien – Chef Gabriel Attala’s fine-dining restaurant pays homage to the culinary traditions of his native France with seasonally inspired dishes, artful presentation and hospitality that feels polished and welcoming.
• Slava Cafe – Owner Svitlanda Eadie was born in a tiny Ukrainian village and grew up baking and cooking alongside her mother and grandmother. Slava is a continuation of her family’s cooking traditions and will offer Ukrainian pastries and comforting dishes, like holubtsi, cabbage stuffed with rice and served in a cozy red sauce.
• Piccolina – Tucked between a pottery studio and a mixed-media gallery in the River Arts District, Piccolina brings the warmth of an Italian enoteca to its cozy 22-seat space, serving fire-kissed pizzas, focaccia sandwiches, and thoughtfully chosen Italian wines.
• Crusco – A few blocks away in the RAD, Crusco reflects the rhythm of Western North Carolina’s seasons with a concise, ever-changing menu shaped by close relationships with local growers. The cooking is unfussy yet deeply thoughtful, letting ingredients shine in dishes like handmade pastas and simply prepared, beautifully layered plates of seasonal fish and vegetables.
• ButterPunk – Artists who call the neighborhood home often start their day at ButterPunk, a bright, cheerful café devoted to impossibly flaky, buttery biscuits. Its pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and espresso drinks have quickly become a beloved part of the River Arts District’s morning rhythm.
• Finest Deli – Nostalgia is the house special at this Italian-American deli in West Asheville, where childhood photos line the walls and the menu carries the same warmth. Expect bodega-style breakfasts and classic sandwiches made the “finest” way—think hand-pulled mozzarella and slow-simmered Sunday gravy.
• Sistas on Montford – This counter-service soul food spot is a heartfelt tribute to the Wynns’ late mother, Sista, whose recipes anchor the menu. Fried catfish, chicken wings, and slow-simmered daily specials pair with soulful sides like collards, broccoli casserole, and potato salad.
• Eggs Rancheros Kitchen – Breakfast from both sides of the border comes together at this new Mexican-influenced diner in the South Slope. Terracotta tile and clay mugs nod to the owners’ roots, while the menu spans chilaquiles and huevos rancheros to omelets and pancakes—bridging Mexican tradition with Southern comfort.
• Finch Grocery – Biltmore Village welcomed the return of this modern bodega, stocked with artisanal goods and elevated grab-and-go staples. The deli turns out sandwiches, soups, and baked goods daily, and the patio invites guests to linger over charcuterie and a glass of wine.
• Trillium Table – Inside the cheerful Red Rocker Inn in Black Mountain, Chef Ewan Willis gives Appalachian staples a quietly elegant touch. Farm-fresh, humble ingredients meet refined sensibilities in dishes like beet carpaccio with smoked trout, Thai basil oil, and hazelnuts—farm-to-table that’s both rooted and delightfully unexpected.

NC Arboretum

Art Comes Alive

• Giant wooden trolls at the North Carolina Arboretum – The Arboretum hosts the limited-run U.S. debut of Trolls: A Field Study by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Twelve “baby trolls,” crafted from reclaimed materials, transform gardens and forest trails into an eco-enchanted adventure. Visitors can follow a custom map to uncover each troll’s personality before the exhibition closes (through Feb. 17).
• Luminere transforms Biltmore – A new evening experience, Luminere, will illuminate America’s Largest Home and gardens with moving projections set to a custom score performed by the Asheville Symphony. Guests can elevate the evening with artisan picnics or exclusive guided tours (Mar. 26–Oct. 18, 2026).
• American Impressionism at the Asheville Art Museum – In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870–1940 brings together works by more than 75 artists, exploring how painters like Childe Hassam and George Inness captured rural, maritime, and urban life with luminous color and atmospheric flair (Feb. 6–June 9).
• Conspire Studio – Founders Dani Austin and Kim Wayman guide private and community sessions rooted in “creative inquiry,” a therapeutic approach often described as “yoga for the brain.” Workshops help participants reconnect with intuition through art-making.
• Art Parties with Miranda Wildman – Guided by the belief that “art is for everyone,” Miranda Wildman hosts inclusive workshops and private art parties in mediums like cyanotype, collage, and shadow play.
• Gather Studio – Fiber artist Kimmy Tolbert offers approachable craft workshops at Local Cloth in the RAD and at Periscope, a craft-cocktail and natural-wine bar inside the S&W Market. Classes range from beaded sardine keychains to Celtic knot wall hangings and loom weaving.
• AVL Clay – A bright, 4,300-square-foot studio in South Asheville welcomes potters of all levels. Founded by ceramicist Arleen Ferrara in 2025, the space centers community, craft, and creative renewal.

Asheville Yards

Where to Find Music, Dance and New Festivals

• Salvage Station returns to the RAD – The beloved outdoor venue reopens at a new 14-site location near the French Broad River Greenway, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of the neighborhood’s live-music scene.
• New and upgraded venues amplify music across the region – A handful of new and renovated spaces welcome live music fans across the Asheville area, just in time for the return of AVL Fest – a multi-day, multi-venue music festival – in Aug. 2026. 
• Wheelhouse in the South Slope – Opened in November, Wheelhouse blends “coffee, booze, country and blues.” By day it’s a relaxed café; by night it becomes a dive bar hosting local and touring acts.
• White Horse Black Mountain expands – The nonprofit venue’s new covered deck and outdoor stage add mountain views to the listening experience, just in time for the summer music season.
• Revival Asheville – This intimate, 350-capacity concert hall opens in East Asheville beside Ninja Spirits distillery, featuring a restaurant, patio, and a bar showcasing small-batch craft cocktails.
• A new open-air venue from The Orange Peel – The iconic music club plans a 6,000-person outdoor venue in East Asheville. Its modular, climate-adaptive design responds to the riverside setting along the Swannanoa River.
• Stewart/Owen Dance premieres “The Front” – This contemporary dance work, commissioned by the American Dance Festival, explores the tension between polished public personas and messy human truth (May 1–2).
• Asheville Symphony collaborations – Three-time Grammy winner Isabel Leonard returns as artist-in-residence, sharing performances across multiple venues (Mar. 16–23). Andrew Bird debuts with the Symphony, performing The Mysterious Production of Eggs in full with orchestral arrangements, followed by fan favorites (May 29).
• Jazz & Soul Sessions at the YMI – One of the nation’s oldest Black cultural centers launches monthly Jazz & Soul Sessions with Kelle Jolly and the Will Boyd Project. The series brings the warm pulse of music back to Eagle Street (through Apr. 25).
• Asheville Crankie Fest – The inaugural Crankie Fest at The Grey Eagle celebrates Appalachia’s illustrated scroll tradition, pairing crankie storytelling with live music (Jan. 10).
• Asheville Zine Fest – Returning in 2026, this community-forward festival spotlights local creators working in zines, comics, small-press books, and artist editions. Date TBD (September).

Outdoor and Wellness

• AutoCamp Asheville  – After a year-long delay from Hurricane Helene, AutoCamp Asheville is officially welcoming bookings. Set on a serene 16-acre site overlooking the French Broad River, the property offers modern Airstreams, cabins, suites, and Bambi suites for solo travelers or couples. Amenities include a mid-century modern clubhouse, an all-season plunge pool, and daily dining at The Kitchen and General Store.
• More than 50 new outdoor climbing routes – Access Fund and the Carolina Climbers Coalition have secured 16+ acres near Chimney Rock State Park, unlocking over 50 new routes with sweeping views of Hickory Nut Gorge. Known as Lower Ghost Town, the area is expected to open half of its climbing routes by April 2026.
• America’s Favorite Drive reopens in time for 90th anniversary– The Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates 90 years since construction began in 1935, with more than 114 continuous miles now fully open from the highest peak in the east, Mt. Mitchell, through  Asheville and all the way to the Smokies. Repair following Hurricane Helene’s 2024 landslides were completed with full restoration on track for 2026. Visitors can once again enjoy the Parkway’s most popular attractions, including the Folk Art Center, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and the North Carolina Arboretum.
• Indoor climbing expands – Cultivate Climbing has opened a new bouldering gym on Foundy Street after its previous space was destroyed by flooding. In 2026, the organization will debut Highland Station, a 20,000-square-foot top rope gym beside Highland Brewing, featuring 45-foot walls, climbs from slab to steep, and the nation’s second Quantum Board training system.

• North America’s Largest Bike Park – In Swannanoa, one of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, the new Beacon Bike Park & Events Lawn transforms a former manufacturing site into a recreation hub. The complex includes a public walking trail, a massive Velosolutions pump track—the largest in North America—and a 4,000-capacity outdoor venue for concerts, races, and festivals. The pump track opens in Spring 2026. For a post-ride bite, check out the recently reopened Okie Dokie Smokehouse, a local BBQ favorite, returning to Swannanoa after the storefront was damaged during Hurricane Helene.

•  RAD Yoga – brings a bright, airy studio space led by longtime instructor Kristin Mitchell, offering classes that support strength and mindfulness.
• Blue Ghost Yoga – named for the region’s rare fireflies, blends infrared-heated Vinyasa with kettlebell-infused strength sessions and restorative classes centered on mobility and balance.
• ZenHike Women’s Retreat – (July 16–19) This retreat combines guided movement, meditative hikes, sound healing, and spacious time for reflection at a private mountain sanctuary.

ExploreAsheville.com Arena

Sports Dominate in Asheville

• PGA Tour Comes to Asheville – The PGA TOUR’s first-ever Biltmore Championship, held Sept. 17–20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, tees off in the fall, bringing professional golf to one of the region’s most iconic landscapes and signaling a standout year for sports in the mountains.
• McCormick Field Renovations –  McCormick Field, home to the Asheville Tourists for more than a century, will open its 2026 season after a historic renovation, featuring an expanded entrance and plaza, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and a new playing surface that modernizes the beloved ballpark while preserving its charm. The ballpark will host major events, including the Big South Baseball Championship (May 20–23).
• SoCon Basketball Tournament – The Ingles Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return March 5–9 to Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville, drawing fans downtown as tournament season begins.
• SoCon Wrestling– Running concurrently March 5–9, the Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championships bring elite collegiate wrestlers to UNC Asheville’s Kimmel Arena.
• NAIA Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships - Asheville hosts this prestigious event for the first time (May 20–22), welcoming roughly 1,300 athletes to the newly renovated Karl Straus Track.
• Taylor’s Wave – Opening this spring at Riverside Park, Taylor’s Wave is an engineered whitewater feature designed for surfers and freestyle kayakers. Terraced seating creates a natural gathering place for spectators and future competitions.
• Ace & Eagle – This new “urban sports club” at the Hi-Wire River Arts Campus offers golf simulators, pickleball courts, and competition-grade billiards—perfect for team outings, celebrations, or casual play. This spring, the campus will also welcome a new e-bike tour operator.
• Riverside Rink – After losing its Carrier Park rink to Helene, the Asheville Hockey League created Riverside Rink, an open-air home built with donated materials and local murals. In 2026, it expands to offer community skate nights and private event packages. Need to buy or rent skates? Check out Fishbrains Skate Shop near Riverside Rink.