Your 2026 Texas
Travel Bucket List
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A YEAR OF STATEWIDE THRILLS
From beaches to deserts to mountains and plains, Texas has no shortage of places to explore in 2026. The state’s numerous cultural backgrounds, food scenes, and landscapes offer travelers plenty of options to choose from, and we’ve gathered a bucket-list activity for each month of the year to give you a bit of inspiration. From dive bars and dark skies in West Texas to South Texas’ natural wonders and Panhandle fun, here’s to a year of experiencing all of what the state has to offer.
in January…
Flip out over Lucha Libre in Laredo.
Part sport and part performance, lucha libre is a type of professional wrestling originating from Mexico. Performers wear colorful masks and use aerial moves while putting on a show inside the ring. At Sames Auto Arena in Laredo on Jan. 24 , fans of high-flying action can witness opening night of the MaskedMania tour. An intense feud from the 1990s between L.A. Park and his archrival, Pirata Morgan, is reignited, and this time, they’re bringing their sons for a familial war. Legends of Lucha Libre World Champion Tinieblas Jr. also defends his title against Sam Adonis, and Demus, one of the best mini luchadores of all time, challenges any luchador up for a brawl.
In FEBRUARY…
Toast to love at the Valentine Texas Bar during Valentine’s in Valentine.
In Far West Texas, celebrate love on Feb. 14 with Valentine’s in Valentine, an annual event that quadruples the tiny town’s population. Visitors from all over gather at the Old Mercantile Building for an evening of live music, food, dancing, and community where the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker and Shane Smith and the Saints once performed. Stop by the Valentine Texas Bar on State Highway 90, where dollar bills adorn the walls and pets—including horses—are welcome. It’s a dive-lover’s dream, where Christmas lights and rules, like “what happens at the bar stays at the bar,” keep patrons coming back each year.
In march…
Stop and smell the flowers in Tyler.
As spring flowers bloom across Texas, stop in Tyler for the annual Azalea & Spring Flower Trail Ten miles of trail sprawl through residential gardens and historic homes. It all began in 1929, when Maurice Shamburger planted the first azaleas in Tyler, inspiring her neighbors to do the same. News of Tyler’s flowers blossomed, and by 1960, marked routes were established for navigation. From March 20-April 5, see tulips, azaleas, wisteria, dogwood, and other blossoms. Make sure to stop by the Azalea National Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In april…
Laugh until you cry at the Paramount Theatre in Austin.
Open since 1915, the historic Paramount Theatre has hosted legends such as the Marx brothers, Harry Houdini, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, and President Barack Obama. But beginning in June, the theater will close for at least eight months while interior paint, chandeliers, and plaster molding are restored, and all 1,200 seats are replaced. See the theater before work begins by attending the Moontower Comedy Festival from April 8-19 , where top comedians including Albert Brooks, Vir Das, Kathy Griffin, and Leslie Jones take the storied stage.
In may…
Catch a game at the “Best Little Ballpark in Texas.”
This spring, you could head to Arlington and catch a Texas Rangers game or Houston to see the Astros. But do either of those teams boast Davis Mountain views from what Sports Illustrated called “The Best Little Ballpark in Texas (Or Anywhere Else)?” The Alpine Cowboys, members of the independent professional Pecos League, play at Kokernot Field, a scaled-down replica of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Grab a seat and a hot dog May 29, to watch Cowboys play their first home game of 2026.
In june…
Hit the Mother Road in the Panhandle.
In 1926, Route 66 was created to meet demand for increased automobile traffic. The 2,400-mile stretch of highway from Chicago to Santa Monica—dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck—made the great American road trip a reality. The Texas Panhandle contains part of the route, and Amarillo celebrates the centennial anniversary of Route 66 with the Texas Route 66 Festival from June 4 -13. Expect rodeos, a Wild West-style shootout, lowrider cruises down the highway, music, vendors, a film screening, bus tours, the Miss Texas Route 66 Pinup Pageant, eating contests, and more.
In july…
Kick it at the World Cup in Arlington and Houston
FIFA adds to the growing Texas soccer craze this summer with numerous World Cup games held in Arlington and Houston. The tournament begins in June, with Houston hosting seven matches at NRG Stadium, including one on the Fourth of July. DFW gets nine games, with a semifinal match on July 14 at AT&T Stadium. FIFA Fan Festivals, where fans can watch live matches outside of stadiums, take place in Dallas and Houston as well. Stay tuned for details about Dallas’ Fan Festival at Fair Park, and Houston’s Fan Festival, which sprawls through the EaDo (east downtown) neighborhood.
In august…
See the stars under big Texas skies.
Known for its bright fireballs, the Perseids is the most popular annual meteor shower, usually peaking in mid-August. The Perseids leaves long streaks of light and color behind, with around 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour. This year, a new moon during the Perseids means that you’ll have a moonless sky to gaze at the meteor shower. The Big Bend region, including Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park, are both International Dark Sky Places and excellent for catching the meteor shower, and Mustang Island State Park is a beachy dark-sky alternative. The Perseids meteor shower is predicted to peak on August 13; watch for information as the date gets closer.
In SEPTEMBER…
Walk on water at La Sal del Rey.
Near Edinburg, La Sal Del Rey is a salt lake within the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Indigenous, Spanish, and Anglo settlers extracted salt from here, and today, visitors walk the salty shoreline and—sort of—atop the shallow waters, as the still, salty lake creates a mirrored illusion. In the late summer, the white salt on the lake turns reddish due to the accumulation of a salt-loving bacteria. Hiking is popular across the 6,000-acre property here, and fauna is abundant. Rest your head at nearby Alpaquita Ranch, the RGV’s first alpaca farm, where two cabins provide solace and fuzzy friends visit for snacks and pets.
In october…
Rock out at Sick New World in Fort Worth.
On Oct. 24, metalheads and punks s unite for Sick New World—a one-day festival where more than 40 metal and punk bands take the stage at Texas Motor Speedway. Major names include System of a Down, Evanescence, Slayer, Deftones, and Marilyn Manson. Expect performances all day long from about mid-morning to midnight, including AFI, Clutch, Underoath, Knocked Loose, The Prodigy, and re-united Dallas thrashers Power Trip. Tickets are on sale now, with layaway plans available.
In november…
Straddle two states at once in Texarkana.
On State Line Avenue, you can place your left foot in Arkansas and your right foot in Texas in front of the historic State Line Post Office and Federal Courthouse. Standing in two states at once, you’ll have your picture snapped next to the second-most photographed federal courthouse in the country behind the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.. Texarkana is an easy way to explore both states, with numerous things to do along State Line Avenue alone. Grab some barbecue, museum hop, and learn about famous musician Scott Joplin and philanthropist H. Ross Perot, both from Texarkana. Our Texarkana itinerary shows you how to walk the (state) line.
In december…
Get merry and bright with Luminations in Austin.
South Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center transforms into Luminations for the month of December, with sparkling holiday magic at every turn. Stroll twinkling garden paths, walk through interactive displays, and enjoy festive snacks like churros and hot chocolate. Previous events have included glowing swings, lighted, geometric reindeer, and millions of lights dangling from trees. Photo-ops abound , and local musicians perform throughout the holiday season. Proceeds go to the Center’s conservation efforts and the protection of Texas-native plants.