Looking for some new reasons to visit Hamilton in 2026?

There’s a lot to look forward to this year. Think new headline-making restaurants, a shiny new arena, and a packed lineup of incredible festivals and events.

Here are just some of the new and noteworthy reasons to put Hamilton on your bucket list.

New Must-Try Restaurants

Hamilton’s buzz worthy food scene is getting even tastier in 2026 with these new restaurants.

  • Piano Piano is a welcome new addition to King Street, serving up house-made pastas, pizzas and other bold Italian classics in a playful, stylish setting.
  • PER’SO’NA brings contemporary Italian dining to James Street North, balancing creative techniques with seasonal flavours in an elegant, intimate space.
  • The Iron Cow Public House is celebrity restaurateur Matty Matheson’s cozy new English-style pub at TD Coliseum, serving hearty favourites and shareable plates in a warm space perfect for pre- or -postevent hangs.
  • Aroma a Mexico is a new go-to on Locke Street for authentic Mexican favourites served in a colourful and vibrant space, with a beautiful intimate patio out back.
  • Bigs Ribbs is a meat-lover’s dream, open on James Street North, serving fall-off-the-bone juicy ribs with perfectly paired sides like mac and cheese, cornbread and slaw.
  • Niku Niku AYCE BBQ is a new all-you-can-eat Japanese and Korean BBQ restaurant on James Street North serving premium meat, seafood, and veggies, grilled right at your table. Come hungry!
  • Daphne’s is a cozy bistro with great vibes, serving up European comfort food dishes with an Italian and French influence.

Top Picks – MICHELIN Guide Restaurants

Ready for a great meal? Reserve your spot at Hamilton’s newly recognized MICHELIN GUIDE destination restaurants. Plan for an unforgettable meal at Dundas fine dining favourite Quatrefoil Restaurant, which has once again made MICHELIN’s prestigious Recommended category. Or nab a coveted seat at the new Dundas brewery, Barrel Heart Brewing, added to the Bib Gourmand list, recognizing great food at great value.

TD Coliseum – Bright Lights, Big Acts

With its much-anticipated makeover complete, TD Coliseum is now primed for a year’s worth of major concerts, sports events, and special events. This world-class 18,000-seat venue will redefine live music in the city, with acts like Rod Stewart, Cardi B and K-pop stars Twice set to take the stage. The new arena will also welcome back Lacrosse team Toronto Rock and other major sporting events.

The 2026 JUNO Awards Return to Hamilton

The JUNOS are back March 26-29, 2026, bringing national music stars to Hamilton local stages alongside homegrown talent. Expect live shows, local events, red-carpet buzz, all culminating in Canada’s Biggest Night in Music at The JUNO Awards broadcast live from TD Coliseum. Performers and guests include Arkells, The Beaches, Nelly Furtado and Joni Mitchell.

Homegrown Festivals & Events

The year ahead will be packed with local festivals and events – both returning and new. Just a few highlights include Hamilton’s marquee arts and music festival Supercrawl, Festival of Friends, celebrating its 50th year, and the 40th Annual Folk Canada Conference and Music Awards, coming to Hamilton in 2026 and again in 2027. Explore more favourite Hamilton festivals coming to the city in 2026.

Hamilton Sounds Good – City of Music

Hamilton is a city built on music, and in 2026, that story is hitting a high note. From the transformative reopening of TD Coliseum to the return of The Juno Awards, and the many homegrown festivals, events and concerts throughout the year, the City will be celebrating all things music. Check out Hamilton – City of Music for all the ways to get your music fix in the city this year.

Hamilton Children’s Museum Reopens

The much-loved Hamilton Children’s Museum in beautiful Gage Park reopens Jan 10, 2026, after an extensive renovation. Visitors can look forward to a significantly expanded footprint, featuring nearly 4,000 square feet of new space, including outdoor terraces and a fenced play yard, as well as extended operating hours, improved accessibility, and fresh new exhibits to keep children and families engaged.

Meet in Style at the Refreshed Hamilton Convention Centre

Hamilton’s downtown convention centre will unveil a top-to-bottom refresh in 2026, featuring a bold new transformed main lobby, enhanced common and meeting spaces, and new connections to the neighbouring Sheraton Hamilton Hotel.

Up Your Travel Game at Hamilton International Airport

Hamilton International Airport continues to evolve into one of the region’s most convenient travel hubs with increased service and new amentities. In addition to daily direct flights to and from Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and Vancouver, Porter Airlines is expanding seasonal service from YHM to sun destinations like Cancun, Peuerto Vallarta, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. This year, travelers will also enjoy terminal upgrades – from check-in to baggage claim – along with new digital signage, improved entrances, upcoming jet bridges, and smoother arrivals thanks to digital kiosks and NEXUS.

All Aboard – New Confederation GO Station

Getting to and from Hamilton is now even easier with the opening of the new Confederation GO Station in Stoney Creek. Located at the QEW and Centennial Parkway North, the station offers additional access to GO Transit service options, including weekday and weekend trains between Union Station in downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls.

Filmed in Hamilton

Hamilton has a starring role in one of the year’s hottest TV shows. “Heated Rivalry” follows the steamy and complicated romantic relationship between two rival hockey stars.

Filmed in Ontario and Quebec, fans will spot many familiar Hamilton locations in the hit show, including Dundurn Castle, Le Tambour Tavern, LIUNA Station, Ciao Bella, Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, McMaster University, and Relay Coffee. And great news for dedicated fans – season 2 is now confirmed.

More Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

The new Talking Forest App from Hamilton Conservation Authority connects visitors more deeply with nature while making Hamilton’s many trails more enjoyable and accessible. Download the mobile app on your next visit to access fascinating details about local wildlife and ecology on popular hiking trails at Christie Lake, Spencer Gorge, Valens Lake, and Westfield Heritage Village.

New Must-See Shows & Exhibits

  • Launching in January, Punching In, presented by Hamilton Civic Museums, is a year-long exhibit at the Visitor Experience Centre, celebrating Hamilton’s thriving music scene and the work that powers it.
  • Must-visit new exhibits at the Art Gallery of Hamilton include Beads in the Blood: A Ruth Cuthand Retrospective (Feb 21 – May 24), exploring a range of works by the Saskatchewan-based Indigenous artist and a new Shary Boyle Exhibition (Feb 14 – May 10) focused around White Elephant a nine-foot-tall sculpture exploring white identity and the impact of colonialism.
  • This year’s winter exhibit at Royal Botanical Gardens – Bloomland in OZ (Jan 31 – April 6) – leads visitors on a captivating journey inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of OZ and features spectacular botanical displays and 25,000 real blooms.
  • The much-anticipated original production by Theatre Acquarius – It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken (April 22 – May 16) – will bring audiences a powerful story accompanied by The Tragically Hip’s timely and heartfelt hits.