Ongoing Developments // Arts & Entertainment // Hotels // Food & Beverage // Cruise // Sports // Transit // Convention News // Air Travel
After experiencing unprecedented growth in the last decade, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is undergoing major renovations to meet current and forecast traveler demand. The airport’s five-year, $5 billion project includes a four-floor expansion of the C Concourse with additional dining, retail, and amenities, a remodel of the S Concourse, and the addition of two new lanes to the Airport Expressway. Renovations are expected to be completed in July 2026 before Seattle hosts six matches for the FIFA World Cup 26™.
Media Contact: Chris Guizlo, [email protected]
Seattle’s 20-acre Waterfront Park officially opened on Sept. 6, featuring community piers, bike lanes, playgrounds, native landscaping, and sweeping views of Elliott Bay. A highlight of the redevelopment is Overlook Walk, an elevated pathway that connects Pike Place Market to the Waterfront with seating areas and panoramic views of the bay, Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier, and the Seattle skyline. Overlook Walk also incorporates the Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion, which opened in August 2024 as one of the most anticipated additions to the Waterfront.
Media Contact: Shiva Shafii, [email protected]
Seattle Celebrates Black History Month
Ahead of Black History Month in February, Seattle welcomes new exhibits, performances, and Black-owned business openings that honor the city’s Black community members and their contributions, cultures, and ongoing impact.
Media Contact: Sierra Takushi, [email protected]
The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation is constructing a Carving House on South Lake Union to provide education about Pacific Northwest canoe culture and to provide a space for Native carvers to participate in programing and store canoes. The Carving House is expected to open in summer 2026.
Media Contact: Karen O’Connor, [email protected]
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo will open its new Forest Trailhead exhibit featuring red pandas, kea parrots, and Matschie’s tree kangaroos on May 1, 2026. The new exhibit will include a treetop path, a forest landscape, viewing areas, and an all-seasons pavilion aimed at promoting conservation and exploring the future of forests. The Forest Trailhead exhibit was a central feature of the seven-year “Forests for All Campaign,” which the zoo completed in March 2025, raising $119.7 million from nearly 100,000 donors.
Media Contact: Gigi Allianic, [email protected]
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) presents “Farm to Table: Art, Food, and Identity in the Age of Impressionism” from October 23, 2025, through January 18, 2026. “Farm to Table” showcases over 50 works by noted Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Eva Gonzalès, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, whose works explore the intersections of art, gastronomy, and national identity in late 19th-century France. In conjunction with the exhibition, SAM will also offer a lineup of programs and interpretive in-gallery experiences.
Media Contact: Devin DeGagne, [email protected]
From June 21 to Jan. 26, 2026, The Museum of Flight showcases a multidisciplinary exhibit called “The MiG-21 Project” by South African artist Ralph Ziman. The project transforms a decommissioned Cold War-era, Soviet-designed MiG-21 fighter jet into a work of art covered in tens of millions of glass beads. The reclaimed jet turns an weapon of war into a symbol of resilience and collaboration.
Media Contact: Ted Huetter, [email protected]
The producers of Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival, New Rising Sun, partnered with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to create a new arts venue that opened to the public on August 20, 2025. Formerly a Bed Bath & Beyond location, Cannonball Arts offers two stories of contemporary and performing arts space spanning two city blocks (Third and Fourth Avenues).
Media Contact: Sara Bauchner, [email protected]
A 90-minute guided tour “Seattle Waterfront Walking Tour: From Coast Salish Roots to Civic Renewal” is a new educational experience on Seattle’s renovated Waterfront. Launched in late May 2025 by Global Family Travels, the tour is led by local guides and developed in partnership with HistoryLink.org, Washington state’s free online encyclopedia.
Media Contact: Jennifer Spatz, [email protected]
Traver Gallery relocated to a restored warehouse in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in spring 2025. The gallery presents a rotation of exhibitions. Traver Gallery is a cornerstone of Seattle’s art community, representing contemporary studio glass, painting, sculpture, and installation artists from all stages of their careers.
Media Contact: Deborah Adler, [email protected]
Tidelands, an Indigenous-owned art gallery and creative space focused on Native scholarship, storytelling, and art, welcomed visitors to its debut season in fall 2024. The gallery was opened in downtown Seattle in September by Matika Wilbur, a visual storyteller from the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of Washington. Wilbur aims to create a physical space for Indigenous creatives to showcase their work, foster community, and provide educational opportunities for future generations.
Media Contact: Elisa Spears-Hampton, [email protected]
Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion opened August 29, 2024. The Ocean Pavilion focuses on tropical species from the Coral Triangle in the Indo-Pacific. In tandem with the recently completed Waterfront redevelopment, the Ocean Pavilion connects Pike Place Market with the Waterfront promenade via publicly accessible observation decks, stairways, and an oculus window that allows passersby to observe sea life from below. With a next-generation sustainable design, the Ocean Pavilion is a national model for regenerative construction standards in climate impact, energy, and water use.
Media Contact: Tim Kuniholm, [email protected]
Media Contact: Rachel Liuzzi, [email protected]
Media Contact: Becky Witmer, [email protected]
Media Contact: Shane Regan, [email protected]
Media Contact: Michelle Sanders Leyva, [email protected]
Media Contact: Gary Tucker, [email protected]
Media Contact: Storm Montunnas, [email protected]
Media Contact: Christine Wood, [email protected]
Media Contact: Joshua Gailey, [email protected]
Media Contact: Rachel Eggers, [email protected]
Media Contact: Devin DeGagne, [email protected]
Museum of History and Industry
Media Contact: Wendy Malloy, [email protected]
Media Contact: Nadia Tahoun, [email protected]
Northwest African American Museum
Media Contact: Imani Gaddy, [email protected]
Media Contact: Amy Cunningham, [email protected]
Media Contact: Joanne Matsusaka, [email protected]
Media Contact: Laura Burgos, [email protected]
Media Contact: Ted Huetter, [email protected]
Media Contact: Rahul Gupta, [email protected]
Media Contact: Tanja Baumann, [email protected]
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
Media Contact: Katie King, [email protected]
Media Contact: Ingrid Langston, [email protected]
Media Contact: Jessica Michels, [email protected]
Media Contact: Stephanie Arduini, [email protected]
On Oct. 8, 2025, Hotel 1000, Lotte Hotel and new additions to downtown Seattle, the Populus Hotel and 1 Hotel all earned MICHELIN Key distinctions, joining the prestigious list of the most outstanding hotels in the United States. Downtown’s Hotel 1000 and Lotte Hotel, as well as The Lodge at St. Edward Park in Kenmore, WA received the award for the second year in a row. Recognized for excellence in design, service, character, value, and guest experience, these properties highlight Seattle as a premier destination for travelers seeking exceptional stays.
Media Contacts: Hotel 1000: Kristin Gladfelter, [email protected], The Lodge at St. Edward Park: Joleen Zanuzoski, [email protected], Lotte Hotel: Bailey Nygreen, [email protected], 1 Hotel: Jillian Napolitano, [email protected], Populus Hotel: Jennifer Wade, [email protected]
Originally built in 1918 as the Seattle Engineering School, the MarQueen Hotel in the Uptown neighborhood of Queen Anne completed a major renovation in October 2025. MarQueen Hotel has been reimagined to honor its roots while embracing modern sophistication. The building’s 1920 engineering-era utilitarian bones are now paired with 2020s refinement, creating a balance of heritage character and eclectic style. The property features 59 guest rooms including eight suites, and onsite restaurant Tin Lizzie Lounge.
Media Contact: Tara Shepherd, [email protected]
The SOMM Hotel & Spa, a luxury Marriott Autograph Collection property with a wine and nature focus, opened in September 2025 in Woodinville wine country, just 30 minutes outside Seattle. The 164-room hotel blends thoughtful design, impeccable service, and a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest as a leading wine region. Highlights include Bin 47, a restaurant showcasing local ingredients; Vin de Spa, with rooftop treatment tents and hot tubs open to non-hotel guests; a Blending Room; and The Shed, a rooftop bar with stunning views. The property also features event spaces, including a grand ballroom for weddings and gatherings.
Media Contact: Joleen Zanuzoski, [email protected]
Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood welcomed a new carbon-positive hotel, Populus Seattle, in May 2025. The second hotel in the Populus Hotels collection, the adaptive reuse property reflects the building’s 1907 history and has been thoughtfully modernized to give it a vibrant second life. The 120-room boutique hotel features Firn, Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar, and the Salt Harvest restaurant. The property’s design evokes the feeling of a Pacific Northwest rainforest and is committed to putting the health of the planet first, including planting a tree with every night’s stay through Populus’ One Night, One Tree Program.
Media Contact: Jennifer Wade, [email protected]
SH Hotels & Resorts celebrated its grand opening of 1 Hotel Seattle in May 2025. Located in South Lake Union, the 153-room property is the city’s first nature-inspired, sustainable luxury hotel. Drawing inspiration from the region’s majestic landscapes, each space reflects the imperfections of nature, with reclaimed wood finishes, stone-clad millwork, moss-inspired art installations, and live-edge furniture showcasing the craftsmanship of Seattle’s artisans. Amenities are thoughtfully curated to enhance guest comfort while minimizing environmental impact. The hotel’s design and operations reflect a deep commitment to the environment, incorporating innovative practices such as energy-efficient smart thermostats, low-VOC materials, and advanced air quality management systems. Through a partnership with Foodprint Group, the property will also aim to divert over 90% of waste from landfills, further reinforcing its dedication to sustainability.
Media Contact: Jillian Napolitano, [email protected]
Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle recently underwent $25 million in renovations just in time to celebrate its 100th anniversary in late 2024. This staple of the Emerald City, which first opened in December 1924, has revamped its social spaces, including a redesign of its lobby, bar, restaurant, and meeting spaces under the vision of Spanish design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán (LRV). The hotel’s restaurant, American brasserie The George, is known for its standout lavish design and locally sourced dishes.
Media Contact: Jen Sorlie, [email protected]
Popular cocktail bar Death & Co will open its fifth U.S. location in Pioneer Square in spring 2026. The bar will be located on the ground floor of Railspur at 419 Occidental Ave., alongside three new Sea Creatures restaurants by James Beard Award-winning chef Renee Erickson. Death & Co founder and co-owner David Kaplan is excited to honor the rich history and culture of Seattle with the bar’s menu and design.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Dewey, [email protected]
Moto, Seattle’s popular Detroit-style, Filipino-influenced pizza, will open its fifth location in the base of Seattle’s historic Smith Tower in early 2026.
Media Contact: Joleen Zanuzoski, [email protected]
In early 2026, Boon Boona Coffee will open a cafe downtown at Overlook Walk, allowing guests to sip Seattle’s staple beverage while enjoying views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Founded by Efrem Fesaha, Renton-based Boon Boona is known for its commitment to East African coffee culture, with locations in Seattle and Redmond.
Media Contact: Efrem Fesaha, [email protected]
Urban Family Brewing, a Ballard neighborhood favorite, will open a second location on the Seattle Waterfront in early 2026, just across from Ivar’s Fish Bar. The dog-friendly spot will feature indoor and outdoor seating and serve beer, craft cocktails, local wine, coffee, and an in-house food menu.
Media Contact: Andy Gundel, [email protected]
Seattle’s downtown pedestrian corridor – Skinner Hall Concourse – will welcome exciting new tenants in early 2026. Saigon Drip Cafe, a popular banh mi restaurant in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, will expand to Skinner Hall Concourse with a new location called Saigon Drip Alley. Nearby, Chef Brady Williams, who was formerly an executive chef at Canlis and was recognized as the best chef in the Northwest by the James Beard Awards, will open a new project in the concourse.
Media Contact: Sierra Takushi, [email protected]
Taste Washington, the nation’s largest single-region wine and food festival will celebrate its 26th anniversary March 21-22.
Media Contact: Averyl D. Mooney, [email protected]
More than two years after reopening, the Washington State Ferries terminal at Seattle’s Colman Dock will open a variety of food and beverage retail concepts in 2026. Confirmed are Nepalese street food vendor Kathmandu MomoCha, Puget Sound Traders convivence store, Knots Landing pretzel shop, P.S. Perks Expresso and Coffee, and a smoothie bar. The retail spaces are among the final pieces in the construction of Colman Dock, a $417 million revival project that anchors the southern end of Seattle’s new Waterfront. Built for 10 tenants, Colman Dock is looking to fill the remaining space, including a 1,000-square-foot retail space and several 200-square-foot pop-up spaces.
Media Contact: Dana Warr, [email protected]
Led by James Beard Award-winning chef Renee Erickson, the Seattle restaurant group Sea Creatures opened three new restaurants in Pioneer Square in December 2025. The trio of restaurants — Lowlander Brewery, Un Po Tipsy Pizzeria, and Mio Oh Mio— is located at Railspur, 419 Occidental Ave, just blocks away from Lumen Field, where the The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be held in summer 2026.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Dewey, [email protected]
The Ink Drinker, Seattle’s first full-service bar and restaurant dedicated to reading and discussing books, opened in the Ballard neighborhood in October 2025. The bar’s interior is inspired by the “dark academia” subgenre of literature and includes leather couches and dark wood furniture suited for a relaxed reading atmosphere. Quiet reading hours are offered on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Media Contact: Sierra Takushi, [email protected]
Rough & Tumble, Seattle’s first bar devoted to women’s sports, opened their second location in December 2025 in Columbia City, taking over the former Columbia City Ale House space.
Media Contact: Jen Barnes, [email protected]
Queen City Grill, a cornerstone of Belltown’s dining scene since 1987, reopened its doors as ‘Queen City’ on October 1, 2025, with a renewed vision that blends its historic roots with a fresh culinary direction.
Media Contact: Jen Kligerman, [email protected]
Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails opened in the Hilton Motif Seattle in September 2025. The rooftop restaurant and bar features Pacific Northwest-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, led by newly appointed Executive Chef Angel Huapaya. The restaurant blends elevated dining with laid-back charm, offering cityscape views of Seattle and year-round seating. With 132 open-air and 87 enclosed seats, the 4,000-square-foot rooftop is one of the largest in downtown Seattle.
Media Contact: [email protected]
DeLille Cellars, a pioneer in Washington state’s wine industry, opened DeLille En Ville, a Bordeaux-inspired cafe and tasting room concept, in Seattle’s University Village in September 2025. This marked DeLille’s first expansion into Seattle after more than 30 years of success crafting acclaimed wines and hospitality experiences in Woodinville. In addition to wine tasting and the bottle shop, DeLille En Ville offers weekend brunch, lunch and dinner and daily pastries and coffee-to-go.
Media Contact: Jacque Gairrett, [email protected]
The Pacific Northwest ice cream store Salt & Straw opened three new locations in the second half of 2025. After opening a Redmond location on July 4, Salt & Straw opened subsequent locations in the Queen Anne neighborhood and in downtown Seattle across from Pike Place Market.
Media Contact: Melissa Broussard, [email protected]
Seattle restaurateurs Monica Dimas and Anais Custer introduced a new women’s sports bar in the north Capitol Hill neighborhood in July 2025. The concept, Pitch the Baby, spotlights women’s sports from around the world and has a Mexico City-inspired approach to its food and cocktail menu.
Media Contact: Drew Zandonella-Stannard, [email protected]
Marin, a signature restaurant inside the newly renovated Kimpton Hotel Monaco, opened June 2025 in downtown Seattle. Marin brings global coastal flavors with a warm, maritime-inspired space, a vibrant menu, and an all-day dining experience
Media Contact: Rodian Ogbomo, [email protected]
Seattle fine-dining institution, Canlis, named James Huffman its new executive chef in June 2025—the first Seattle-born chef to hold the position in the restaurant’s 75-year history. Chef Huffman has been with Canlis for nine years, most recently serving as executive sous chef before stepping into the top role this spring. His appointment marks a shift from past head chefs recruited from Michelin-starred kitchens around the world, signaling a renewed focus on local talent and Pacific Northwest-driven cuisine.
Media Contact: Elisha Goldfarb, [email protected]
Opened in May 2025 in the new Populus Hotel, Salt Harvest brings hearth-inspired cuisine to historic Pioneer Square. The menu—shaped by open flame, smoke, and char—highlights fresh seafood, locally grown produce, and sustainably sourced meats, celebrating the best of the Pacific Northwest region.
Media Contact: Jennifer Wade, [email protected]
Seattle favorite Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream opened its newest scoop shop in May 2025 at the waterfront at the south end of Seattle’s newly renovated 20-acre Waterfront Park. Molly Moon’s is located at the Historic Washington Street Boat Landing Pergola, adjacent to the newly restored Habitat Beach, and within a short walking distance from Overlook Walk, Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Aquarium.
Media Contact: Katie Cole, [email protected]
Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar, Firn, opened in May 2025 at the Populus Hotel, offering patrons sweeping skyline views of downtown Seattle, and a menu of creative cocktails.
Media Contact: Jennifer Wade, [email protected]
James Beard Award nominee Chef Oscar Amador opened 1 Hotel Seattle’s signature restaurant, La Loba, in May 2025. La Loba, meaning “the she-wolf” in Spanish, will combine the culinary traditions of Barcelona, the Mediterranean, and Japan while using ingredients local to the Pacific Northwest.
Media Contact: Darcy Jusich, [email protected]
The James Beard Foundation named 16 Seattle chefs, bars, and restaurants as semifinalists for the highly acclaimed James Beard Awards in 2025. Semifinalists for the Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific category include Janet Becerra, Pancita; Jay Blackington, Houlme (Orcas Island); Logan Cox, Homer; Aisha Ibrahim, Canlis; Ajay Panicker, Kathakali, An Indian Eatery (Kirkland); Jun Takai, Takai by Kashiba (Bellevue). Atoma and Familyfriend were named semifinalists for the Best New Restaurant category.
For more information, read the complete list of the Seattle-area 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists.
Media Contact: Cory O’Born, [email protected]
ShoMon, located in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, introduces Kappo-style fine dining that showcases the full range of Japanese culinary techniques—grilling, simmering, steaming, and frying—all unified by dashi, the umami-rich foundation of Japanese cuisine. With 95% of its fish sourced directly from Japan, ShoMon transports guests into the world of traditional Kyoto dining from the moment they step inside.
Media Contact: Michi Suzuki, [email protected]
The Port of Seattle welcomes several major debuts in 2026. Princess Cruises will introduce its largest-ever Alaska ship called Star Princess, Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady makes its Seattle debut with new Alaska itineraries, and MSC Cruises will launch its first-ever Alaska sailings with seven-night cruises on the MSC Poesia. Find more information about the 2026 schedule here: https://www.portseattle.org/page/port-seattle-cruise-schedule.
Media Contact: Chris Guizlo, [email protected]
Carnival Cruise Line will launch a new route connecting Mobile, Alabama, and Seattle, Washington, starting in April 2026. The 16-day Carnival Journeys cruise will transit the Panama Canal, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), and Cartagena (Colombia). This marks the first time the ship will connect its seasonal homeports before beginning its summer Alaska sailings. The Carnival Spirit will return to Mobile in the fall for cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Media Contact: Chris Guizlo, [email protected]
American Cruise Lines will debut a new land and sea cruise itinerary in September 2026, departing out of Tacoma. The 15 day itinerary will bring travelers to three national parks in Washington before embarking on an eight-day cruise from Tacoma to the San Juan Islands.
Media Contact: Sierra Takushi, [email protected]
Seattle experienced a record cruise season in 2025, as shown in the Port of Seattle’s newly released cruise tourism data. The Port of Seattle welcomed 1.9 million revenue passengers transiting its terminal this year, surpassing previous passenger arrival numbers in 2024 and 2023. The Port of Seattle recorded 298 ship calls–an increase from 2024’s 275 ships–and $1.2 billion in economic benefit across the region.
Media Contact: Chris Guizlo, [email protected]
Oceania Cruises debuted the Riviera in Alaska for its 2025 season starting June 17, 2025, featuring five itineraries that include Seattle, with four round-trip options and one one-way voyage from Vancouver to Seattle.
Media Contact: Chris Guizlo, [email protected]
In 2025, Cunard’s luxury ship Queen Elizabeth offers 11 roundtrip voyages from Seattle to Alaska, with itineraries spanning seven to 11 nights between June 12 and September 25, 2025.
Media Contact: Cindy Adams, [email protected]
The 2024 cruise season marked a key step in Seattle’s effort to make the Port of Seattle the greenest port in North America. The port now has three shore power-connected berths—two at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 and, starting summer 2024, one at the Pier 66 cruise berth. By using clean electricity and landside power, at-berth emissions are reduced by 80% and CO2 emissions by 66% per ship, on average. Agreements with cruise lines now require shore power-capable ships to connect when facilities are available, supporting the port’s goal of 100% shore power usage by homeport cruise ships on every call by 2030 or sooner.
Media Contact: Kathy Roeder, [email protected]
Seattle’s Lumen Field will host six matches for FIFA World Cup 2026™, including a U.S. Men’s National Team match against Australia on Juneteenth. The other group stage matches include Belgium versus Egypt on June 15, Quatar versus a qualifying team on June 24, and Egypt versus Iran on June 26. The city, home to passionate soccer fans who support the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign FC, is set to welcome teams from across the globe. FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the first to be co-hosted by three nations—the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—and the first to feature an expanded field of 48 teams playing 60 matches across North America. Sea2026.com.
Media Contact: Griffin Idelman, [email protected]
The Professional Women’s Hockey League expanded to Seattle for the 2025–26 season, making it the league’s eighth team and second expansion franchise. The team, named Seattle Torrent in November, plays at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
Media Contact: Ruby Dworkin, [email protected]
The ultimate recreation destination opened in the heart of the Pacific Northwest winter 2025. Located at Urbanworks in Seattle’s SODO area, Picklewood redefines the country club experience with pickleball for all and as well as courtside food and drinks from acclaimed Seattle chef and restauranter Ethan Stowell.
Media Contact: [email protected]
North America’s fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise opened in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood in December 2025. The 27,000-square-foot facility features 11 courts, a full pro shop and private event space. Members of the facility will have access to unlimited open play, league play, tournaments and an option to enroll in private and semi-private lessons and clinics by The Picklr’s certified trainers.
Media Contact: [email protected]
In June 2025, Seattle’s semi-professional soccer teams Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC opened a shared team store in Ballard’s new retail space called Smål Market. The market is part of a broader small business incubation program by the Ballard Alliance and features a variety of local makers and merchants. Fans can place orders and pick up Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC merchandise at the team store year-round.
Media Contact: Sam Zisette, [email protected]
Salmon Bay FC is the new USL W pre-professional women’s soccer team based in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle and the women’s equivalent team to Ballard FC. Matches began in May 2025 at Interbay Stadium. The Salmon Bay is a vital waterway that connects the communities around Ballard to the sea. The team’s name and badge design pay homage to this local landscape as a symbol of connection and growth.
Media Contact: Sam Zisette, [email protected]
The Seattle Storm and Climate Pledge Arena unveiled a statue honoring Sue Bird, Seattle Storm legend and WNBA Hall of Famer in August 2025. The Storm is the first franchise in WNBA history to dedicate a statue to a former player. At the unveiling ceremony, Mayor Bruce Harrell and representatives for Govenor Bob Ferguson proclaimed Aug. 17, 2025 to be Sue Bird Day in Washington state.
Media Contact: Sarah Alamshaw, [email protected]
Tom’s Watch Bar brings a new sports-watching experience to Seattle with a new location opening at the old Bressi Garage, south of Seattle Center. Founded in 2014, the Tom’s Watch Bar chain has brought sports fans their favorite programming to locations across the nation for more than a decade. Tom’s Watch Bar offers a central “stadium screen,” surrounded by hundreds of high-definition screens that provide 360-degree viewing in the bar.
Media Contact: Lisa Willis, [email protected]
Climate Pledge Arena, the world’s first net-zero carbon arena, hosts a steady lineup of critically acclaimed performers and world-class events, including music, comedy, and sports. The arena is also home to the NHL’s Kraken, the WNBA’s Storm, and the PWHL’s Torrent. See here for a full lineup of events.
Media Contact: De’Aira Anderson, [email protected]
Seattle’s WNBA team, the Seattle Storm, opened the Storm Center for Basketball Performance in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood in April 2024. Marking a significant milestone in women’s professional sports, the $64 million new build is the first dedicated WNBA practice facility designed and built from the ground up. The Center boasts two indoor professional basketball courts, two outdoor 3×3 courts, and an exclusive suite for the Seattle Storm that includes a locker room, a nutrition center, and a player lounge.
Media Contact: Sarah Alamshaw, [email protected]
Sound Transit’s 1 Line extended service to Federal Way in December 2025, extending the line by eight miles with three new stations at Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown.
Sound Transit’s East Link Starter Line, also known as the 2 Line, opened two new stations in downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village in May 2025. The extensions add 3.4 miles to the light rail network, which will eventually connect Bellevue to the 1 Line in Seattle. The light rail system will expand to Everett, the Tacoma Dome, Federal Way, and the Ballard and West Seattle neighborhoods.
Sound Transit opened the East Link Starter Line, also known as the 2 Line in April 2024. In August 2024, Seattle’s light rail system was extended by 8.5 miles, adding four new stations to the 1 Line. The extension includes stops at South Shoreline, North Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood City Center.
Learn more about the expansions and projected timelines at Sound Transit.
Media Contact: Bruce Gray, [email protected]
Seattle welcomed Washington’s first hybrid-electric ferry in July 2025. The Wenatchee, a ferry that travels between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, is the first of three diesel-to-hybrid-electric conversions set to take place at Seattle’s Harbor Island, and the first step in the state’s project to completely convert its ferry fleet to electric power.
Media Contact: Dana Warr, [email protected]
The Seattle Convention Center has continued to secure major industry accolades, earning best convention center awards from the World Travel Awards, World MICE Awards, Meetings Today, Smart Meetings, and more in 2025. See the full list of accolades here, including 2024 awards.
The Seattle Convention Center’s newest addition, The Summit, opened and welcomed its first groups in January 2023. The Summit added approximately 250,000 square feet of exhibition space, 160,000 square feet of meeting room space, including a 60,000-square-foot ballroom. In January 2024, the Summit building became one of the few U.S. convention centers to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Summit occupies a pinnacle design position in the next evolution of convention centers rooted in the urban core context and supported by a vertically organized flow. The stacked configuration maximizes the efficiency of the urban site, effectively bringing interior and exterior spaces together. Skylights bringing daylight deep into the event spaces, the layering of soft and hard landscape elements, and expansive views of the city in all directions enhance the urban nature of the facility. Air handling units are equipped with economizer functionality, meaning they can run at 100 percent outside air, not recycled air, under moderate temperature conditions. Storm water treatment in outdoor planting areas will feature innovative sustainable strategies. The design pays homage to Seattle with The Hillclimb: The Pine Street facade features a suspended stair and escalator system that provides event attendee access from street level to the ballroom level on top. The Hillclimb is an iconic design element authentic to the Pacific Northwest made of wood with seating elements for guests. It enlivens the convention experience while providing respite from activities. Learn more at visitseattle.org/meeting-professionals/convention-center/summit-overview.
Media Contact: Joey Thompson, [email protected]
Delta will begin daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on May 7, 2026.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Starting April 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch direct service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Rome (FCO). Alaska Airlines will also launch direct routes from Seattle to London (LHR) and Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) in May 2026.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Starting in May 2026, Delta Airlines will introduce new nonstop flights between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and two of Europe’s most popular destinations: Barcelona (BCN) and Rome (FCO). Seattle to Rome will operate four times a week and Seattle to Barcelona will operate three times a week.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Cathay Pacific Airlines has announced the return of nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Hong Kong in 2026. Cathay Pacific previously debuted service between SEA and HKG in 2019, before ending due to the worldwide pandemic. This marks the last pre-pandemic carrier to return to SEA and will boost international offerings from SEA to more than 60 in the coming year.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Philippine Airlines enhanced its connectivity between Manila (MNL) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). In November 2025, the airline increased its weekly direct services from three to five flights on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Alaska Air Group launched Hawaiian Airlines service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Seoul in September 2025. The route operates five times weekly with Airbus A330-200 aircraft featuring a business class and an economy cabin.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
In addition to expanding its international routes, Delta is elevating the SEA airport experience with the debut of two new premium lounges: the Delta Sky Club and the Delta One Lounge. Located in a separate but connected two-story space, the lounges span more than 24,000 square feet and offer panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, along with a concierge-style Delta One check-in. Guests can enjoy elevated dining menus that spotlight Pacific Northwest seafood and local Seattle brands.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
In June 2025, Switzerland’s leisure airline Edelweiss, along with its parent company Swiss International Air Lines, began offering two weekly nonstop flights between Seattle and Zurich, Switzerland. This service is the first direct connection between Seattle and Zurich.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
In May 2025, Scandinavian Airlines launched five weekly nonstop flights to Copenhagen, Denmark from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). With these additional services, travelers departing from SEA have nonstop access to three Nordic capitals: Reykjavik, Iceland; Helsinki, Finland; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
Hawaiian Airlines began daily nonstop flights from Seattle (SEA) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) in May 2025. The first flight departs Seattle at 1:30 PM and arrives in Tokyo the following day at 4:00 PM. The return flight departs Tokyo at 6:25 PM and arrives in Seattle at 11:30 AM.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
WestJet launched new daily flights between Kelowna, B.C., and Seattle in January 2025. The new route – operating five times a week – connects the Okanagan region to the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, [email protected]
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