Raleigh, N.C. (July 23, 2026) – In North Carolina’s capital city, convention connection extends beyond the exhibit hall. Rather than relying solely on traditional convention amenities, Raleigh’s 90% locally owned, walkable downtown restaurant and retail scene offers attendees the opportunity to engage with independent businesses eager to embrace each event. From hosting craft enthusiasts to anime fans and beyond, the city’s entrepreneurial community transforms conventions into a citywide celebration.

The Modern Quilt Guild’s QuiltCon 2026 – the world’s largest modern quilting event – brought more than 29,000 attendees to the Raleigh Convention Center from February 19-22. Alongside extensive quilt exhibitions, educational sessions and workshops, downtown Raleigh businesses and creative

Raleigh, N.C. (June 30, 2026) – The Raleigh Convention Center (RCC) continues to elevate its reputation as a premier venue for dynamic sporting events, showcasing the flexibility and scale that sets it apart as a world-class event venue. Looking ahead, this momentum is matched by significant growth, as the RCC prepares for a dramatic expansion. With an anticipated opening in 2029, this development targets LEED Gold certification and will feature an additional 298,100-square-foot facility, bringing the RCC’s total to 798,100 sq. ft. Meeting planners can expect another 50,000 sq. ft. of divisible flex space, an 18,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 13 new meeting rooms in the expansion.

From the precision and problem-solving of CubingUSA competitions to the high-energy intensity of a premier youth

Raleigh, N.C. (June 29, 2026) At the intersection of professional skill and technological development, Raleigh is an ideal destination for high-impact meetings. For many key industries, the region’s greatest appeal is the innovative and collaborative ethos reflected in its workforce. Following the spring’s ABET Symposium, this summer the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) Annual Meeting will convene in North Carolina’s capital city, underscoring Raleigh’s role as a thriving hub for scientific and technological industry clusters. From cutting-edge educators to STEM society executives, these events reinforce Raleigh’s reputation as a marketplace for cutting-edge advancement and an ideal place to meet, work and live.

ABET held its annual symposium at the Raleigh

Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Final Generates $13.4 Million With Over 112,000 Attendees

Raleigh, N.C. (June 24, 2026) – The Carolina Hurricanes, in conjunction with Visit Raleigh and the National Hockey League, today announced the economic impact statistics from the 2026 Stanley Cup Final home games in Raleigh, N.C. Twenty years since their last Stanley Cup Final win, the dynamic Carolina Hurricanes battled fearlessly against the Vegas Golden Knights to bring the Stanley Cup home to Raleigh and generated $13.4 million in total economic impact to Wake County.

With the series wrapped up, the Stanley Cup Final brought a significant economic boost to the Raleigh area with three exhilarating home games at Lenovo Center and Hurricanes Watch Parties for away games, bringing Caniacs together to

One of the largest public tennis facilities in the Southeast, Cary Tennis Park hosts a wide range of racquet sports, including tennis championships and pickleball tournaments such as the Carvana PPA Tour, plus year-round member programming. A big highlight ahead, the Veolia Pickleball National Championships will take place at the venue Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2026, bringing globally ranked players from across the country to Cary, N.C.

"Cary Tennis Park is, without question, one of the premier tennis venues in America," says Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). "The facility is beautiful and immaculately maintained, and the service level provided by the Town of Cary is unmatched. No wonder it hosts top-notch professional tournaments, elite collegiate

Raleigh Tourism Starts the Year Strong Despite Inconsistent Travel Economy

Raleigh, N.C. (May 28, 2026) – Visit Raleigh has released the Wake County Tourism Industry Report for the first quarter of 2026. As travel to the U.S. continues to slow nationally, Raleigh’s key performance indicators (KPIs), including hospitality tax collections, have seen reliable growth. Hotel occupancy continues to exceed the state and national averages.

Highlights:
Continued Growth for Tax Collections

• Hotel lodging tax collections totaled more than $10 million through March 2026, up 3.6% over 2025.
• Prepared food and beverage tax collections totaled $11. 9 million through March 2026, up 2% over 2025.

Group Business Overview

• Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) hosted 111 events,

Immersive Trip Developed in Partnership With Brand USA Brings 12 Travel Agents and Tour Operators From Ireland and the U.K. to Experience Raleigh Firsthand

Raleigh, N.C. (May 21, 2026) – Visit Raleigh today announced its participation in a recent Brand USA Destination Immersion FAM with the support of Atlantic Joint Business Carriers American Airlines, British Airways and Aer Lingus. This is a program designed to expand U.S. travel products on offer and convert global interest into meaningful economic impact for American businesses, communities and workers. This year’s program brought together 12 highly qualified travel agents and tour operators from the United Kingdom and Ireland to Raleigh from April 23-25, competitively chosen based on their proven success in selling travel to the USA.

Upcoming events in Greater Raleigh, N.C.:

• The Soccer Tournament, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, May 27-June 1
• NCHSAA Baseball State Championships, North Main Athletic Complex, Holly Springs, May 27-30
• UNC Health Championship, Raleigh Country Club, May 28-31
• Special Olympics N.C. Summer Games, Multiple locations in Wake County, May 29-31
• The Cary Cup (youth soccer), Cary, Apex and Holly Springs sites, May 29-31
• NCAA Division II Baseball Championship, USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary, May 29-June 6
• USTA 12s Southern Championship, Cary Tennis Park, June 4-9
• Oak City Swing Softball Tournament, Walnut Creek Athletic Complex, June 6-7
• North Carolina Air Hockey State Tournament, Maywood Hall and Garden, June 12-14
• IWLCA Southeast Cup (lacrosse), WRAL Soccer Park, June 13-14

View our

Raleigh, N.C. (May 18, 2026) – International soccer is thriving at a moment when fans of the beautiful game are craving global competition beyond the World Cup cycle. This spring and summer, Raleigh and Cary will host a robust lineup of internationally influenced tournaments and festivals including The Soccer Tournament (TST), The Cary Cup and a new youth boys’ tournament, the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) IBERCUP International launching over Labor Day Weekend. Greater Raleigh offers a compelling case study in how a Southern city is embracing the world’s game on and off the pitch.

The Soccer Tournament (TST), which features a $1 million prize for both the men’s and women’s fields, will be adding a third $1 million competition for the 2026 event: TST Mixed. TST Mixed will feature teams

The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance recently partnered with students from North Carolina State University’s (NCSU's) College of Design to produce a new video highlighting esports in Greater Raleigh.

The video illustrates how Raleigh, N.C., is a premier destination for esports events and showcases our venues, including Lenovo Center, plus top dining and entertainment offerings for gamers, including The Pit, Morgan Street Food Hall and more.

The project was produced in partnership with NCSU’s new Virtual Production Lab, a state-of-the-art, 400‑square‑foot, soundproofed studio featuring a 22-by-12-foot LED wall that enables immersive, real-time filmmaking. The facility provides students with hands-on experience using cutting-edge production technology while bringing industry-relevant projects