6 big things shaping Richmond in 2026
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It's a new year, and it's already shaping up to be a big one in RVA, just five short days into it.
Here are six things we're keeping an eye on this year.
🏗 Coliseum redevelopment
This could be the year the city finally makes some movement on its yearslong effort to redevelop the 9.4-acre area downtown that includes the long-shuttered Richmond Coliseum.
- City Council is expected to vote on the City Center ordinance this month.
- That's a procedural step it needs to continue negotiations with Capstone Development, and others, on demolition of the Coliseum and the city's broader City Center Innovation District plan, BizSense reported.
🏟️ Best Products Reimagined development
Speaking of concert venues, Henrico's plan for an arena-anchored development should move forward this year.
- County officials said they hope to have a recommendation for a new development team for the project formerly known as GreenCity by early this year, BizSense reported.
🏟️ CarMax Park
Richmond's all-new baseball stadium opens April 7, and promises to be more than a home for Richmond Flying Squirrels.
- It'll also be an event venue that can host up to 14,000 people, so stay tuned for (hopefully) exciting announcements.
🐐 Maymont's big birthday
Our most cherished public park and petting zoo turns 100 this year.
- And she's getting all spruced up for her big anniversary with a multimillion-dollar improvement project, complete with updated animal enclosures and reconfigured walkways. It should be wrapped up in time for the big day in March.
🏛️ Redistricting
Now that Democrats will be back in control of state government come mid-month, they'll move forward with their effort to redraw the state's political lines, statehouse Dems already announced.
- The redistricting fight will likely play out in the early part of the year and will determine which party has an advantage ahead of this year's congressional elections.
🍃 Retail weed marketplace
Speaking of Virginia Dems, they plan to re-up their push for a legal retail marijuana marketplace in Virginia this session.
- 2026 could be the year for legal retail weed sales in Virginia.