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One thing you should know: Philly isn’t shy. It’s an award-winning, headline-grabbing kinda town.
Having trouble keeping up with all the Philly buzz? We’re making it easy for you with a weekly roundup of our favorite Philly stories.
Bookmark this page and check back every Thursday for a fresh batch of headlines with that awesome Philly flavor.
The kids might be back in school, but Philly’s got a still-summer vibe going with all sorts of hot news.
Here are our favorite Philly stories this week:
This week, fans got a first glimpse at The Philly Arena, the soon-to-be new home for the 76ers, the Flyers and Philly’s forthcoming WNBA team.
Team owners Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Comcast Spectacor plan to foot the entire bill for the stadium, set to take over the space formerly occupied by the Spectrum. Architect firm Moody Nolan and design firm Populous drew inspiration from the old venue while adding modern features and elements to the new space.
The design needs to go through a series of approvals before any construction can begin, but the teams hope to break ground in 2027 with an anticipated opening set for 2030.
Comcast owns naming rights to the new stadium, but has yet to announce the site’s official name. Until then, sports fans can peep the designs at ThePhillyArena.com.
Score one for Philly sports fans!
Travelers looking to hit the high seas can now set sail out of Greater Philadelphia’s newest cruise terminal on the Delaware River. Norwegian Cruise Line’s permanent terminal at the PhilaPort in Tinicum Township officially opened for business this week after the company made a $66 million investment and seven-year commitment to drop anchor in the region.
It had been 15 years since cruises sailed out of Philadelphia.
Ships embarking from the new terminal include The Jewel, The Pearl and The Gem, all heading up and down the Atlantic coast to tropical destinations like Bermuda and the Bahamas or fall excursions to cooler climes like New England and Canada.
The best part? Travelers can now enjoy some pre- or post-trip sightseeing in Philly — kind of like two vacations in one.
Bon voyage!
And the nominees for best in theater are …
It’s that time of year when Theatre Philadelphia recognizes Philly’s award-winning theater scene with even more accolades through the regional Barrymore Awards.
This year, Old City’s Arden Theatre Company leads the way with a whopping 20 nominations, followed closely by Malvern’s People’s Light with 19. Inis Nua Theatre Company, the Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater and Theatre Horizon in Norristown all earned 10 or more nods.
The winners will be announced on Monday, November 16, 2026 at a ceremony inside the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Stay tuned!
In other performing arts news, Philadelphia Ballet now has a snazzy, expansive new studio space to call its own. The official ribbon-cutting at the North Broad Street location is set for Friday, September 18, 2026.
Bravo!
Cyclists looking to take some long rides can now enjoy a clear path from Philadelphia to Reading thanks to the opening of a new 1-mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail.
While a 1-mile section might seem like small potatoes in a system that will ultimately run 120 miles from Fort Mifflin to Schuylkill County, the newly opened connector in Montgomery County means cyclists looking for more adventurous rides can now avoid busy highways.
Trail planners think the opening of this section could be a game-changer in attracting more cycling tourism to the region. The official ribbon cutting for the new Pottstown section is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
And in other transit news, Philadelphia’s beloved Mural Arts organization has just released updated maps to help residents and visitors access more green spaces via public transit.
Look for the Routes to Roots maps at library branches, PhillyCAM, Cherry Street Pier, Mural Arts headquarters and select SEPTA stations.
Green looks great on you, Philly!
Her legs might not reach the pedals yet, but 7-year-old Olivia Li has “phenomenal fingers,” so much so that the pint-sized piano prodigy has earned a coveted spot to train at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music.
Li is the youngest person to study at the elite musical conservatory in more than 75 years. Out of the 154 applicants to Curtis’ piano department this year, only four made the cut, Li included. In fact, Li is one of only 14 students in the conservatory’s history to begin training there before the age of 10.
When she’s not practicing piano, Li attends third grade at Germantown Friends School. She’s also an avid reader and enjoys drawing and swimming.
Rock on, Olivia! We can’t wait to hear you play.
As fall festival season inches ever closer, we can almost taste the pumpkin-spice lattes and apple-cider donuts. Hello, September!
Get ready to roam the car-free streets and shop till you drop on Sundays this September and October, as one of Philadelphia’s top shopping and dining destinations transforms into a car-free oasis.
During Open Streets: West Walnut, pedestrians can shop, dine and mosey along seven car-free blocks while enjoying acoustic music, strolling performers and family-friendly activities.
Restaurants can also stretch their alfresco streeteries beyond the sidewalks, welcoming more diners.
Open Street’s zone runs along Walnut Street between Broad and 19th streets, and on 18th Street between Locust and Chestnut streets.
Check out the official website for the full entertainment schedule and a list of participating retailers and restaurants.
Don’t fret, Birds fans! Organizers promise to broadcast any Eagles’ games that coincide with the event. Whew!
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Philly’s street artists jumped into action as soon as news broke that LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, embracing the city’s title as the best in the country for street art to create some new works fit for a king.
From a glimmering glass outline at the intersection of 8th and Market streets to a full-blown mural at 10th and Arch showing James riding a cresting wave alongside Billy Penn, artists are channeling this moment in sports history to create works of street art that welcome James’ arrival — Philly-style.
LeBron will don his No. 23 Sixers jersey in the season opener in New York against the reigning-champion Knicks squad before a full Philly welcome at Xfinity Mobile Arena for the home opener on Thursday, October 22, 2026 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here. They. Come.
Philadelphia native Kahleah Copper spent much of her youth shooting hoops on the courts near 33rd and Diamond streets.
Now, the Phoenix Mercury guard/forward is slated to represent her Philly roots with Team USA as players vie for a fifth consecutive gold medal in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany from September 4 to 13, 2026.
Copper’s no stranger to winning gold. She and Team USA took first place at the 2024 Paris Olympics and defeated China to bring home the gold in the 2022 Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
A win in 2026 would bring Team USA’s total number of gold medals in the Women’s World Cup to 12.
We’re rooting for you and Team USA, Kahleah!
Philly’s boldest and most adventurous artists burst onto Philly’s theater scene each fall for the annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Spread out across 20 days, the festival showcases more than 350 alternative, cutting-edge and avant-garde performances throughout the city — ranging from theater and dance to film screenings and immersive gallery installations to cabaret shows and stand-up comedy.
With so many options, planning to take it all in can become a bit overwhelming.
Thankfully, our friends over at Billy Penn at WHYY curated a guide with tips to help you wade through the schedule so you can enjoy as many “Fringe benefits” as possible.
Want a sneak peek at what’s on tap? Check out sample pop-up performances at Cherry Street Pier on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Fringe on, Philly!
Philadelphia Distilling — maker of Bluecoat Gin — wants you to raise a glass to 20 years of homegrown spirits, so they’ve crafted a collaborative cocktail menu to thank all the Philly bars and restaurants that have made the brand so popular.
To prepare for the months-long celebration, Philadelphia Distilling partnered with hot spots like Bok Bar, Parc, Suraya, Zahav and 16 others to capture each location’s vibe in a cocktail.
The distiller plans to launch its fall menu on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at its Fishtown location, with pop-up events in the works at participating venues throughout the season.
To see a full list of locations, check the official website and follow along on social media.
Cheers to 20 years of Philly-made spirits!
As we prepare to bid farewell to August, we’re savoring every last morsel of summer, with sunny news always in the forecast.
Two award-winning Philly restaurants — Honeysuckle and Sao — have made Bon Appétit’s list of the best new restaurants in the nation.
The non-ranked list showered Honeysuckle owners Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate with praise, saying they “deliver a showstopping walk through nostalgia, pop culture, Philadelphia and Black American history through dishes that spark new reflection and conversation.”
On Sao, the reviewers likened the James Beard Award-winner to a knockout punch: “Tucked in South Philly’s Passyunk Square, Sao’s understated presence belies a tendency to serve dishes that hit like uppercuts.” Kapow!
And, in other foodie news, New York-based agave bar Mixteca is bringing a more-expansive menu to its new Philly location, which opens this weekend. Expect small bites (think tacos) and large entrees (like branzino asada), plus an impressive cocktail menu. Yum!
When a busker from France got tired of being ignored by passersby, he decided to take his show on the road. And he figured animals might make a better audience.
Fast forward to today: Musician Loris Assadian (aka Plumes) now has millions of followers on social media, and people can’t get enough of his videos, which feature sweet songs for animals.
Plumes stopped by the Philadelphia Zoo last week with his signature pink guitar to serenade the flamingos, gorillas and tortoises, all seemingly excited to hear him play.
The musician says he prefers to play love songs for his animal audience, because he thinks they can feel the positivity.
Merci! Thanks for stopping by Philly, Plumes. Come back any time.
The wait is over, music lovers.
Gregory Alan Isakov will be this year’s headlining act at Philly Music Fest in October.
It’s an annual tradition for the festival organizers to keep the headliner under wraps until the performer’s other scheduled Philly gigs have passed. For Isakov, that meant the announcement couldn’t be made until after his performance with the Philly Pops at the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts last week.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the hyper-local music festival, with Isakov performing two shows at Ardmore Music Hall on October 12 and 13, 2026.
Over the course of seven nights, 25 bands and musicians take the stage at independently owned venues across Greater Philadelphia.
Check out the full lineup at the official festival site, and grab your tickets soon, as some shows are already sold out.
If only it were sunny every day in Philadelphia.
For more than 30 years, Philadelphians and tourists alike have turned to 6ABC’s Cecily Tynan to find out if sunshine is indeed in the forecast ahead of travel plans, sporting events, parades, holidays and all-important weekends.
The first woman to hold the title of chief meteorologist at the station, Tynan will say goodbye to millions of viewers on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Visit Philadelphia (hey, that’s us!) honored the veteran forecaster with a billboard to say: “Thanks for bringing the sunshine even when the forecast didn’t. Happy retirement, Cecily!”
Keep your eyes peeled along I-95 and the PA Turnpike through Labor Day for a glimpse of the farewell message.
Lily Yeh, the visionary founder of the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philly, is this year’s recipient of the Goi Peace Award, a Japan-based international award that honors individuals and organizations whose actions contribute to global peace.
Yeh joins the ranks of past winners like Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra. She’ll be officially honored in November.
A native of China, Yeh came to Philadelphia to study art at the University of Pennsylvania. She later co-founded the Village here in Philly and has helped communities across the world start similar programs.
The committee was impressed by Yeh’s ability to use ”the power of art to heal people’s hearts and draw out their inner creativity … [through] programs that promote economic self-reliance and foster the revitalization of communities facing difficulties.”
Thanks for all you do, Lily! Congratulations!
We’re sailing through the waning days of summer here in Philly, as the city’s award-winning dining scene continues to stack up more accolades.
Frankie Ramirez has already won over Philly with the menu at his Fishtown Mexican restaurant Amá. Now he can add a mention in The New York Times to his growing list of accolades.
Saying, “[t]here has never been a better time for Mexican food in the United States,” The Gray Lady deemed Amá one of the greatest Mexican restaurants in the country, one of only a handful of East Coast restaurants included. The unranked list chose 41 dining destinations to spotlight.
From the chips and salsa — “crackling tostadas made with heirloom corn … with six salsas” — to the charred octopus, reviewer Regan Stevens noted how well the restaurant blends all of Mexico’s diverse flavors across the menu.
Congratulations, Amá! ¡Buen provecho, Filadelfia!
— Photo by M. Prince
No one likes us, and we don’t care.
Sure, what they say about throwing snowballs at Santa is true. And, yes, innocent little HitchBOT met his maker at the hands of Philadelphians. Allegedly. And maybe there was a wee bit too much revelry after the Phillies won the World Series in 2008.
Let’s just say that Philadelphia, or shall we say, Philly, has had an untoward moment or two in its history. We just like to think of this so-called “bad behavior” as Philly grit.
Now, you can decide for yourself this fall as all of Philly’s worst moments are on full display at the Museum of the Philadelphian, “an unapologetic micromuseum about Philadelphia’s people.”
The exhibit runs Fridays through Sundays from September 25 to November 1, 2026, and if Philadelphians have any say in it, there will likely be another run.
Philly’s always gonna be Philly.
After making the rounds up and down the East Coast to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Philadelphia’s official tall ship, Gazela, recently sailed back into its Philadelphia home port.
The 125-year-old ship docks in Penn’s Landing, and its overseers — the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild — offer events and educational programming that allow visitors to learn more about sailing and the ship’s history.
Staffed with a crew of 40 volunteers (most of whom have day jobs), the ship made recent stops in Portsmouth, NH and Norfolk, VA. The volunteers all have a shared love of preserving the history and of the tall ship — referred to along the way as “an ugly duckling” — as well as the legacy of shipbuilding in Philadelphia.
Just like Philly, Gazela and her crew have got a lot of grit and a whole lot of history.
Welcome home!
Twelve members of South Philly-based Discover Pathways Youth Dragon Boat Team are heading to Taiwan at the end of the month to compete in a world championship dragon boat competition.
What started as a small group of kids interested in paddling has blossomed into an award-winning team of more than 60 students, despite facing numerous obstacles along the way.
Teens from the group have competed with Team USA in Germany and have racked up wins in New York, Washington, D.C. and here in Philly. They’ve won enough times to earn a well-deserved spot in the world championship competition.
The team will compete in the 200-meter, 500-meter and 2-kilometer races in the “small-boat, mixed gender” category at the end of the month.
Paddles up, team! Let’s show the world what Philly grit looks like.
— Photo courtesy Discover Pathways
A car enthusiast’s dream come true will soon open up shop in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood.
The Cannonball Club has transformed a formerly blighted factory into a museum-style public cafe (think dangling displays and wall-mounted autos), with private memberships available for car lovers and those who want to store their prized cars in a secure (and swanky) spot.
Owner Chris Allen created the concept and wants people to walk in and “see the wall of crazy cars.” He’ll change them up periodically, with the 15,000-square-foot space designed to display up to 75 cars.
The public cafe opened up last week, with the club’s opening slated for Thursday, September 10, 2026. The club plans to offer memberships for both car enthusiasts without their own cars and those who want to store their car. (Motorcycles are welcome, too.)
Cheers to new spaces!
Contributing Writer
Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
Senior Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
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