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This week, the world got yet another reminder of what we already know: Memphis is a place worth experiencing. The New York Times named our city one of its “52 Places to Go in 2026,” a list that highlights destinations around the globe for their cultural energy, creative influence, and authentic experiences.
Why does this matter? It matters because travel isn’t only about seeing new places — it’s about new experiences, and you can have plenty of those right here, probably some of them within walking distance from your home. For decades, Memphis has marked the crossroads of music and culture, shaping soundtracks that have echoed around the world. From the blues spilling out of Beale Street clubs to the revolutionary sounds recorded at Sun Studio and Stax Records, our city is a cultural mecca, a destination, and the most important chapter in American musical history. I believe that history continues in cafes, clubs, and churches all around our community, and I am committed to helping shine a stronger light on the entire cultural ecosystem.
And in Memphis, culture doesn’t only thrive in museums. It lives in local restaurants, independent retailers, neighborhood venues, festivals, places of worship, and the everyday places where we gather, share meals, and make music together. These are the venues that fuel conversations, create community, and give visitors the real Memphis experience — the Memphis that we, as locals, already know and love. Or should already know and love.
In Memphis, culture doesn’t only thrive in museums. It lives in local restaurants, independent retailers, neighborhood venues, festivals, places of worship, and the everyday places where we gather, share meals, and make music together.
Here’s the truth: tourists want to visit places that feel lived-in, loved, and local. They want to know where the locals eat when we want the perfect burger, or shop for a great gift. They want to know where locals discover new sounds, where we stop for a well-crafted cup of coffee, a memorable donut, or a smoky plate of barbecue. And, in Memphis, we have so many spectacular options for all. And when we support local businesses, whether it’s a longtime favorite restaurant or a new retail shop, we strengthen the texture of our city and create more spaces worth visiting.
Think about it this way: tourists want to do what we do every day. They want to wander the music venues. They want to taste the food that tells our story. They want to shop in our neighborhoods. And they want to feel Memphis from the inside out.
So this year, I challenge all of us to live a little more like tourists in our own city.
Enjoy more of what makes Memphis special. Engage with your neighbors and local business owners. Promote our city’s culture on your own social feeds and in conversation. Show the world what makes Memphis more than another southern destination. Show them the heart, soul, story, and community that has no rival.
Good News!
   Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov
Track Our Progress
The linked reports below provide evidence to support our public safety strategy and our work to ensure municipal fiscal responsibility. These dashboard provides a quick overview, with the ability to dive in deeper to neighborhoods and divisions. Both dashboards updates daily.
 SAFER COMMUNITIES: View the dashboard here.
 FINANCE TRACKER: View the tracker here.
Our Blight Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38109, 38114, 38118, 38128.
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
Want to know what's happening in Memphis? Explore these event calendars to stay in the loop on all the city has to offer!
Memphis Public Libraries
Memphis Parks
Memphis Travel
Arts Memphis
Choose901
I love Memphis
City of Memphis Meetings & Notices
Happy New Year, Memphis!
As we start 2026, I’m proud of the progress Memphis has made together.
We’ve stayed focused on the things that matter. Blight is being cleared, streets are being maintained proactively, infrastructure is stronger, and more young people than ever are working through MPLOY. At City Hall, we’ve increased transparency, modernized services, and made government easier to access.
In January 2024, we set a four-year goal to reduce crime by 40 percent. We reached it in two. Overall, crime is down 41 percent, violent crime is down 30 percent, and murders are down 47 percent compared to 2023, verified by an independent TBI audit. In order to keep making progress, we must support law enforcement while investing in intervention and prevention services that provide opportunities for people.
There is more work ahead, but Memphis is moving in the right direction. I’ll share more at my State of the City Address in early February.
Happy New Year, Memphis.
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