Louisville’s Top 16 Lineup: Citywide Events Anchor 2026
Louisville Tourism releases annual events list by impact
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 15, 2026)— As Louisville ushers in a new year, the city continues to shine as a premier destination for major conventions, sporting events and signature experiences. The 2026 calendar is packed with attendee and spectator gatherings that underscore Louisville’s reputation as a hub for industry-leading expos and nationally recognized entertainment.
From the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, which remain the crown jewels of Louisville’s event lineup, to the TFN Run 4 Roses Classic and Championship, the nation’s largest girls’ basketball exposure event, Louisville is poised to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors and generate significant economic impact.
Bourbon City’s music festival scene continues to shine with September’s Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life—two of Louisville’s signature music and culinary events. In 2025, Bourbon & Beyond earned Pollstar’s “Global Music Festival of the Year,” while Louder Than Life set new attendance records. Both festivals are nominated for the 2026 Pollstar Awards’ Global Music Festival of the Year.
Other marquee events include 60th year of the National Farm Machinery Show & Championship Tractor Pull and Equip Exposition, the largest trade show for outdoor power equipment and lawn and garden equipment in the country, recently recognized by Trade Show Executive as the ‘Greatest Trade Show of 2024.’
Ace Hardware Corporation will bring its Spring Convention to Louisville for the first time this February, while the American Legion National Convention—last hosted in the city in 2009—will return at the end of the summer.
Louisville is set to host several other prominent events and strategic meetings in 2026, including the Paralyzed Veterans of America Wheelchair Rugby Invitational in January, USA Gymnastics Winter Cup in February, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Annual Conference in December and College Board Advanced Placement Reading in June, which spans two weeks and has committed to meet in Louisville through 2028.
In April, Louisville will host the Connect Spring Marketplace which draws nearly 1,800 industry professionals and meeting planners from association, corporate, incentive and international market segments to the city.
May will be action-packed with sporting events including the ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional, National Archery in the Schools Program Eastern National Tournament and American Blind Bowling Association National Tournament, further solidifying Louisville’s reputation as a premier destination for athletic competitions.
The Top 16 events* are projected (at this time) to have the largest estimated economic impact (EEI) for the Louisville area this year:
*Louisville’s Top 16 is in honor of the city’s namesake, French King, Louis XVI
“As we look ahead to 2026, we’re thrilled to welcome back Louisville’s most iconic and impactful events while also introducing new and dynamic gatherings that further elevate our city’s reputation as a premier destination for world-class experiences,” said Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism President & CEO. “Hosting these tradeshows, meetings and events not only demonstrates Louisville’s vital role in driving economic impact but also provides a platform to share our city’s unique charm with visitors from across the globe.”
