A city on the rise: Asheville welcomes 2026 with transformational new offerings, major events and record group demand

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Dec. 11, 2025 – The Asheville area enters 2026 with strategic gains and well-timed momentum, heralding a promising year ahead for group travel. Newly recognized MICHELIN restaurants, the return of the PGA TOUR, a purpose-built bike park with North America’s largest pump track, Biltmore’s new after-dark experience and expanded dining, cultural and creative offerings all enhance the appeal for group business in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Reinforced by Explore Asheville’s record-breaking year, major destination news and a slate of booked meetings and events on the horizon, the community continues to earn its place on “best places to travel” lists from outlets such as Travel & Leisure, Fodor’s and Frommer’s. 

A monumental year for group travel 

In fiscal year 2025, meetings and group travel booked through Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority generated $67.4 million in direct spending, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. The team secured 477 events and groups, a 15 percent rise, while group room bookings grew 39 percent to 115,393 room nights across participating lodging partners. The gains reinforce Asheville's upward trend heading into 2026 and support a full calendar of high-profile conferences, sports championships and cultural moments. 

"When a community moves with purpose, it creates momentum that lasts," said Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Authority. "Today’s group travelers want experiences they can share and a destination that feels deeply rooted to its place. Asheville's artistic culture and mountain setting make immersion easy and meaningful. As we look ahead, we're focused on welcoming more groups in ways that support visitors and our community." 

Asheville enters 2026 ready for key trends and gatherings that will define the city's meetings and events story in the coming year. 

What’s new in 2026 

As Asheville’s momentum builds, several new developments are shaping what planners can expect in the year ahead. 

• PGA TOUR returns to Asheville – After more than eight decades, professional golf makes a celebrated comeback with the inaugural Biltmore Championship in Asheville, held Sept. 17–20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. The Jack Nicklaus- designed course, framed by Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway, ranks among North Carolina's finest and sits just minutes from downtown.
• High-profile sports draw fans to the Blue Ridge Mountains – In addition to the PGA TOUR, Asheville is adding major national championships that create energy and visibility for groups meeting in the city. March 5–9 marks the return of the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships to Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville and the Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championships to UNC Asheville. In May, McCormick Field hosts the Big South Baseball Championship as the ballpark – home to the Asheville Tourists – wraps a $55.6 million centennial restoration, and UNC Asheville’s renovated Karl Straus Track welcomes roughly 1,300 student-athletes for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
• Airport expansion advances with major milestone – The Asheville Regional Airport opened the first section of its new North Concourse in June, marking visible progress in its $400 million terminal transformation. The concourse features up to eight gates, expanded seating areas, refreshed concessions and modern amenities shaped by the surrounding mountain landscape. Construction on the South Concourse is underway and expected to open at the end of 2027.
• New routes strengthen air access – For groups looking to make Asheville their home, the airport now offers nonstop service from 26 destinations around the country. Allegiant’s June launch of nonstop service to Washington Dulles and Delta’s new Saturday and Sunday direct flights to Boston Logan International Airport strengthen connectivity as the airport continues to grow.
• New sensory spectacle illuminates Biltmore – An evening experience from March 26 to Oct. 18, Luminere is set to transform America’s Largest House and gardens into a luminous dreamscape. The installation projects moving imagery set to a custom score by Julian Grefe that is performed by the Asheville Symphony. Guests can enhance the evening with artisan picnics on the grounds or exclusive guided tours of the house, making Luminere a wholly immersive and unforgettable way to see Biltmore in a new light.
• Asheville Art Museum sheds light on Impressionism’s American chapter – In thoughtful harmony with Biltmore’s Luminere, the museum’s upcoming exhibition, “In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940,” brings together works by more than 75 artists to trace how Impressionism took root in the U.S. and evolved into a distinctly American style Feb. 6-June 9. The museum can support receptions, guided walk-throughs or themed breakout sessions for art-focused engagement.
• 48-hour curated Asheville visits for meeting planners – Explore Asheville will host three immersive 48-hour visits in March, August and November, each designed to highlight the region's most compelling venues and group options. The focused itineraries showcase practical ways to incorporate Asheville's venues, culinary experiences, and outdoor settings into multiday agendas. More information is available at AshevilleMeetings.com.
• Mindful movement rises in 2026 – From classes paired with a wood-fired sauna to sunrise vinyasas on a mountaintop, Asheville’s wellness scene offers a variety of ways to unwind on the mat. Goats optional.   

New spaces to gather inspire creativity and connection  

• Retreat setting with room and a view – AutoCamp Asheville draws teams into a quiet 16-acre riverside landscape where modern Airstreams, cabins and suites sit among trees overlooking the ancient French Broad River. Its meeting room, riverside lawn and midcentury clubhouse set the tone for relaxed off-sites, layered with wellness breaks, bikes and room to spread out.
• Iconic venues broaden Asheville’s meeting options – Biltmore continues to serve as Asheville’s signature setting for polished meetings and now offers a group VIP access and private loggia reception, available April through October for groups of at least 25. The experience includes a 45-minute guided tour of Biltmore House, followed by a 45-minute reception on the loggia off the back of the house with sweeping views, award-winning wines and passed canapés. Nearby, Grand Bohemian Lodge adds a new dimension with a 450-square-foot meeting room inside its restored Manor House in historic, walkable Biltmore Village.
• Creative spaces shaped by community – Ace & Eagle, set on Hi-Wire Brewing’s River Arts District campus, blends recreation and camaraderie with cutting-edge golf simulators, pickleball, billiards and private formats that work well for team activities. The venue now offers rentable lounge areas, simulators, on-site event coordination with catering support, private beer tastings and expanded rental access across the campus, with covered and heated pickleball courts and an additional court on the way in 2026. The RAD’s Marquee Asheville reintroduced its full 50,000-square-foot design marketplace this fall, surrounding upgraded event space with work from hundreds of artists and makers. Opening in 2026 in West Asheville, ReMix It adds a colorful, community-forward option for meetings with a 10-by-20 workshop room for interactive sessions and volunteer projects tied to imaginative reuse, as well as full-store rentals and mobile programming planned for later in the year.
• Music-forward venue for memorable off-sites – Revival Asheville, a 350-capacity concert hall for conference programming and events, is located beside Ninja Spirits distillery in downtown’s South Slope neighborhood and pairs a restored setting with a restaurant, outdoor patio and bar built around small-batch cocktails. 

• Active programming with purpose – In Swannanoa, Beacon Bike Park and Events Lawn is turning a former blanket mill into a hub for renewal and recreation. The complex features a public walking trail, North America’s largest Velosolutions pump track and a 4,000-capacity outdoor venue with new ways to weave movement, outdoor activity and team connection into retreat agendas. 

  Asheville’s Foodtopia continues to broaden its horizons 

• 15 Asheville restaurants get MICHELIN Guide honors – Asheville’s food scene garnered impressive recognition in the “MICHELIN Guide to the American South,” with a mix of full private-dining venues, catering options and strong dine-around choices. Cúrate, Soprana, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, Golden Hour, Mother and Luminosa all have reservable spaces or full buyout options. Little Chango offers intimate dining and can also cater for groups of 20. Good Hot Fish accepts private fish fry inquiries, while Sunny Point Café provides catering and has a 50-person private event space. The Admiral, Leo’s House of Thirst, Tall John’s, Addissae, All Day Darling and Table deliver high-quality neighborhood dining that works well for small-group meals.
• Elevated evenings and Botanical Beverages – Periscope offers a refined space on the mezzanine of one of Asheville’s Art Deco icons, the S&W Market, pairing craft cocktails, natural and organic wines, pies by James Beard nominee Ashley Capps and rotating art from local creators. The space can host groups up to 120 or a private room for up to 25. On the South Slope, Plant Bar has expanded with the addition of NightShade, creating a shared venue for nonalcoholic gatherings that serves zero-proof botanical cocktails, exotic coffees and teas. NightShade can host private events for up to 70 guests, with access to the Plant Bar lounge for more space.
• Neighborhoods and districts add group dining with atmosphere – In the River Arts District, Piccolina brings the feel of an Italian enoteca to its 22-seat space, available for full buyouts, and partners with nearby Trackside Studio for larger groups with custom menus featuring fire-kissed pizzas, focaccia sandwiches and Italian wines. Across town, Posana, the downtown mainstay known for its seasonal, locally sourced menus, opens its second location in Biltmore Park with a newly built event venue suited for social gatherings, business meetings and celebrations. The refined space offers indoor and outdoor dining, a large bar and lounge, and a meeting room with AV capabilities. The meeting room, patio or the entire restaurant can be reserved for events of up to 160 guests, with customizable menus available. Expanded lunch and brunch service will launch in 2026. New options include Xico, an upscale Mexican restaurant that opened downtown in late 2025 with a separate room for up to 24, and Gemelli, which relocates to Biltmore Village in February, will offer a private dining room along with a chef’s table and a dedicated menu.
• Asheville’s catering scene grows with concepts suited for every gathering – Easy Tiger expands group catering with elevated pub favorites and late-night flexibility, offering burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and shareable snacks that work well for casual or after-hours meetups. For receptions with a coastal flair, The Lobster Trap [Mobile] Raw Bar has fresh oysters, lobster and other seafood-forward selections suited for cocktail hours and larger events. Groups seeking an alcohol-free choice can choose Oui’d Bar, an LGBTQ-owned mobile bar with adaptogen-infused, zero-proof beverages that encourage relaxation and clarity.  

For a complete list of new and returning restaurants and culinary updates, see the release titled “Asheville Brightens 2026 With Immersive Art Experiences.” 

Asheville Meeting Highlights 

• Confirmed 2026 meetings signal a prosperous year ahead – Asheville will welcome thousands of attendees through a mix of high-profile, professionally diverse programs that highlight the area’s culture and community values, with ties to sustainability, voluntourism and the outdoor, culinary and craft sectors.
• Winter: The Southern States Spring Kickoff, Jan. 7-8 at Embassy Suites Asheville Downtown, will convene more than 100 leaders from agriculture and food production.
• Spring & Summer: The travel media company AFAR will hold its all-employee retreat in early March, bringing its full team to Asheville for planning sessions at the Grand Bohemian Lodge and opportunities to experience the area. MO Summit, March 16-18, convenes CEOs of high-growth, purpose-driven companies for conversations on regenerative, inclusive leadership, with Asheville selected as the backdrop for programming focused on environmental and social impact. Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Summit, April 14-16, connects travel leaders with Asheville makers, nonprofits and small businesses through collaborative learning and community-impact projects, and chose the area for its commitment to environmental stewardship and alignment with this sustainability-focused program. MINI Meet East, June 24-28, brings enthusiasts from across the East and Midwest for scenic drives, group activities and events that underscore Asheville’s appeal as a destination for automotive experiences.
• Fall: The 10th anniversary Outdoor Media Summit, Sept. 28-30 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, will attract hundreds of media, marketers and outdoor-industry leaders for product showcases, industry sessions and curated outdoor experiences. Set against the backdrop of the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville’s thriving outdoor economy and creative culture make it a natural fit for this high-profile event. 

Plan with Explore Asheville  

Asheville presents a mix of hybrid-ready spaces, wellness-focused retreats and culinary choices that work well for groups, often with customizable activities, such as voluntourism opportunities, that teams can do together. Explore Asheville provides fast RFP turnaround and will recommend venues that fit group needs. Visit AshevilleMeetings.com for more information, including financial support for eligible programs. 

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About Asheville 

Asheville is where unrivaled natural beauty and bold creative expression meet. Tucked away in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, the city is steps away from some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and the tallest peaks in the East.  The region offers meaningful group gatherings infused with history, nature, art, and community, with nearly 10,000 hotel rooms ranging from grand resorts to colorful boutique hotels. For generations, Asheville has nurtured and inspired a compassionate community that’s deeply rooted and ever evolving – just like the ancient French Broad River that runs through it.