Memphis may be best associated with Elvis Presley, Sun Studios and known as the birthplace of blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll, but this year the Tennessee city is giving visitors with an interest in history and the fine arts plenty of other reasons to visit.
A series of major museum openings and milestone anniversaries are putting its visual arts and cultural scene centre stage, offering agents fresh scope to build itineraries that extend well beyond ever-popular Beale Street and Graceland.
Leading the developments is the opening on December 6 of the new Memphis Art Museum. Set on the banks of the Mississippi River, the museum has been designed by internationally renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron.
It will become the new home of the Brooks Museum’s collection of more than 9,000 works and feature galleries overlooking the river, a 50,000 sq ft rooftop sculpture park and spaces for community events, including Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the Mexican tradition celebrating the lives of loved ones who have died.
In the autumn, the Metal Museum will reopen in a new home within Overton Park. Dedicated entirely to the craft of metalworking, the expanded site will include exhibition galleries, artist studios and education spaces, while visitors be able to watch live blacksmithing demonstrations and see everything from contemporary sculpture and jewellery to architectural ironwork.
Another prominent addition this year is the new Legacy Building at the National Civil Rights Museum, which opened in May. Located at the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in 1968, the museum explores five centuries of civil and human rights history.
The new galleries draw inspiration from King’s final book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? examining the continuing fight for equality and social justice.
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens is also marking its 50th anniversary. Founded when philanthropists Hugo and Margaret Dixon donated their home, art collection and gardens to the city, it houses works by artists including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Outside, visitors can wander around nearly 20 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland. Offering free admission, it is one of Memphis’ most accessible cultural attractions.
One of the best examples of the city’s creative districts is Crosstown Concourse, a former Sears distribution centre that has been transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood combining galleries, artist studios, independent restaurants, shops, offices and residential apartments. At its heart is Crosstown Arts, which hosts everchanging exhibitions, artist residencies, live music and film and documentary screenings throughout the year.
A short distance away, the South Main Arts District stretches between Beale Street and the Mississippi riverfront.
Historic warehouses have been converted into galleries, cafés, boutiques and restaurants, while attractions including the National Civil Rights Museum, Blues Hall of Fame and Orpheum Theatre are all within walking distance.
Those in Memphis on the last Friday of each month can experience Trolley Night, when galleries stay open late and the district fills with street performances and exhibitions.
There are several milestones being celebrated within the performing arts too. The Overton Park Shell, an outdoor amphitheatre where Elvis Presley gave his first paid performance in 1954, marks its 90th anniversary this year. Still one of Memphis’ best-loved live music venues, it hosts free concerts throughout the summer and has welcomed artists ranging from B.B. King and Johnny Cash to Aretha Franklin.
Meanwhile, Hattiloo Theatre celebrates its 20th anniversary during the 2026-27 season. As the only freestanding Black repertory theatre serving the surrounding five-state region, it has become one of the American South’s leading venues for Black theatre, presenting productions that champion both established and emerging playwrights.
Where to book it…
America as You Like It offers a nine-night Music Cities of the South self-drive tour, visiting New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville. Priced from £1,675pp the deal includes flights, accommodation and car hire.
memphistravel.com; americaasyoulikeit.com
