Art in Bloom is making the NC Museum of Art more vibrant every March. | Photo by RALtoday
Start planning for the biggest and best events around Raleigh. Pro tip: Bookmark this article and see just how many events you can attend in the City of Oaks this year.
25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration | Jan. 30-31 | Commemorate African American history + kick off Black History Month with this celebration of the contributions African American people have made in NC.
New Dreamville Festival replacement | Spring | We don’t know much about Dreamville Festival’s successor yet, but if it’s anything like the original R&B music celebration, we’re sure it’ll be a hit.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival | Aug. 22-23 | Celebrate 50 years of this massive arts festival with over 250 artists from across the country.
First Night Raleigh | Dec. 31 | 3, 2, 1... Happy New Year! Ring in 2027 with this signature event featuring the iconic acorn drop + local performances.
New year, new home? We’re falling for this five-bedroom home along Crabtree Creek that’s a perfect sanctuary amid the Raleigh hustle + bustle. With a saltwater pool, a home theater, a well-landscaped lawn, and a fully equipped home gym, you never have to leave.
Sports
Canes defensemen Jaccob Slavin was named to Team USA for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan next month. Sebastian Aho will represent Finland, and Frederik Anderson + Nikolaj Ehlers will hit the ice for Denmark.
Pets
Wake County Animal Center is hosting an adoption event through Monday, Jan. 12 with $25 dog adoptions and $5 cat adoptions. Nearly 100 dogs + cats are at the shelter and have a fur-ever home as a new year’s resolution.
Answered
We asked our readers to settle several holiday debates, and when it comes to New Year’s Eve, the verdict is clear: stay home. A whopping 90% of our readers said they’re ringing in the new year from the couch. If our events picks don’t tempt you out, order takeout from one of these new local restaurants.
Active
Every new year, there’s typically an uptick in people searching for local gyms. If that’s on your radar entering 2026, there are lots of places to get a sweat on in the City of Oaks for people of all abilities.
Travel
We share our planet with remarkable creatures. National Geographic captured many of their extraordinary stories and journeys in its Pictures of the Year 2025. Don’t rely on the lens — make this the year you see the world for yourself, starting at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Coming Soon
RALtoday is launching The Brief, a weekly business newsletter packed with local news, jobs, events, and promotions. Help us shape it by answering a quick survey. Want the inside track? Only five industry-exclusive launch partnerships are available — email rjohnston@6amcity.com for details.
Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000 active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
The Buy
A long puffer vest with sophisticated quilted detailing. It’s under $20 and available in eight different colors.
Happy Monday Raleigh, and a happy new year from me! I’m happy to be back in Oak City, and I can’t wait for what 2026 has in store for us. Personally, I’m looking forward to festivals like Hopscotch and the new Dreamville fest — see 26 of the most anticipated.
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