How Indy tourism plans to level up in 2026
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Indianapolis' record-setting tourism year in 2024 was always going to be a tough act to follow, but the Circle City still managed to set new highs with a strong encore performance in 2025.
The big picture: Things are tougher and budgets are tighter nationwide in 2026, and the people powering Indy's biggest parties say they're working hard to live up to the standard of being named one of Condé Nast Traveler's top 14 places to visit this year.
Driving the news: During Visit Indy's annual State of Tourism event Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, former Colts punter turned podcaster and WWE Superstar Pat McAfee announced that the city has secured the NFL Combine through 2028.
- McAfee said keeping the Combine here is a big deal considering the NFL's desire to turn it into a touring, consumer-facing experience like the NFL Draft.
- Indy has hosted the event since 1987. The 2026 NFL Combine runs from Feb. 23-March 2 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.
What they're saying: "Bottom line is, there's major uncertainty globally in 2026. Especially for international travel into the U.S.," said Visit Indy president and CEO Leonard Hoops.
- "There'll definitely be a positive bump for those cities that are hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Indy is not one of those cities, and there are hopes that a lot of Americans will stay home and explore their own cities for the America 250 celebration we're doing this year."
- "These are very uncertain times … but when you take a look at the things we can control on our own in 2026, it looks really great."
By the numbers: Indianapolis attracted 30.5 million visitors in 2025 who spent $6.4 billion, which supported more than 78,000 jobs, paying $3 billion in wages/salaries.
- 2025 also set a new record with 1,080,905 weekend hotel room nights.
- Events like the WWE Royal Rumble, WNBA All-Star Weekend and a sold-out Gen Con were among the big contributors to those totals.
What's next: Outside of a certain race in May, the biggest event hitting the city in the first half of the year is the 2026 NCAA men's Final Four on April 4-6.
- The Division II, Division III and NIT championships, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention will be here at the same time.
- The celebration will include the revitalization of the Christian Park Family Center's basketball court.