What's New in Columbus

From new direct flights that make getting to Ohio’s capital even easier to major developments downtown, there’s always something new happening in Columbus. Here’s the latest news from the 15th largest city in the country.

North Market Merchant Building

Courtesy of North Market

New luxury hotel and North Market expansion coming in 2027

Columbus will soon get its first luxury hotel–The Merchant Hotel–in the spring of 2027 when The Merchant Building opens. Rising 32 stories, The Merchant Building will be home to a luxury hotel featuring 162 rooms and 44 luxury club-affiliated rooms, private residences and a private members’ social club. On the ninth floor, a 5,200-square-foot signature ballroom opens onto a terrace of its own, joined by a junior ballroom, meeting rooms and pre-function space–17,600 square feet in all. The ground floor offers private access to the historic North Market, along with destination restaurants, bars, cafés and premier event spaces. North Market celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2026 and through this project expands 18,000 square feet, growing from 35 to 42 merchants and adding a market-owned bar, expanded seating and gathering areas, a dedicated events space and a new outdoor plaza designed for farmers markets, night markets and year-round community programming.

Airport Rendering

Courtesy of John Glenn Columbus International Airport

John Glenn Columbus International Airport gets new terminal

A brand-new $2 billion terminal is currently being constructed at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Expected to open in 2029 to mark the airport's 100th anniversary, the new terminal is designed with travelers in mind and will feature centralized security, 36 gates including 2 international custom facilities, expanded dining and retail, easier parking access and a focus on sustainability. Learn more.

Capital Line Rendering

Courtesy of Downtown Columbus, Inc.

New urban pathway coming to the heart of Downtown Columbus

Phase one of The Capital Line, a nearly $100 million project is underway. This two-mile journey, exclusive to bike and pedestrian traffic, offers an intentional route to some of the city’s most vibrant attractions, connecting amenities, greenspaces, job centers and residential neighborhoods within Downtown Columbus. Proposed by city officials and a local developer, the project aims to improve connectivity between key destinations, like the Arena District, Scioto Mile and Discovery District, while reimagining existing streets. Learn more.

Woman interacts with a textile-inspired art installation at The Loom, a Columbus Fashion Alliance exhibition in Columbus, Ohio.

Courtesy Columbus Fashion Alliance; photo by David Mason III, The Dreamcatchers

New fashion incubator and cultural hub coming Downtown

Did you know Columbus is one of the biggest fashion hubs in the country? National brands like Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, DSW and Bath & Body Works all call Columbus home as well as talented independent designers. In fact, Columbus is the #1 metro in the U.S. for concentration of professionals working in the apparel and fashion industry. In 2026, Columbus Fashion Alliance will move its headquarters to the Discovery District Downtown and open The Loom. Now, that industry is becoming something visitors can actually experience with the completion of The LOOM in summer 2027. Located Downtown in Columbus’ Discovery District, The LOOM will serve as a fashion incubator and cultural hub and Columbus Fashion Alliance’s headquarters. Drawing inspiration from concepts like Soho House, The LOOM, will bring together maker spaces, design studios, workshops, exhibitions, retail activations, event space, creative offices, a café and bar under one roof inside a reimagined former linen factory. Learn more.

ASAE 2019

Photo by Kevin Seymour

Columbus to host NCAA Championships and ASAE

Columbus continues to attract top-tier sporting events and conventions, including the 2027 NCAA Women’s Final Four, 2027 Women’s Volleyball Finals and the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in March 2028. In 2030, the city will host the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition again at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, its second time hosting this prestigious “Super Bowl” of association meetings, cementing Columbus as a premier destination for to national and international events. Learn more.

Franklin Park Conservatory Rendering

Courtesy of the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

New master plan unveiled for Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

One of Columbus’ top attractions, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, has a new master plan that provides a 25-year strategic vision. Renovations are expected to begin in 2026 with future changes including a new Broad Street entrance, underground parking topped with rooftop gardens, a modern Visitor Center with dining and event space and revitalized historic glasshouses. For visitors and meeting planners, it means enhanced accessibility, upgraded amenities and stunning new gardens designed to elevate group experiences. Learn more.

Link Us Rendering

Courtesy of Central Ohio Transit Authority

Enhancing mobility and access in Columbus through LinkUS

LinkUS is a long-term transit and infrastructure initiative made possible by a voter-approved sales tax levy (Issue 47) passed in November 2024. It will fund new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, with the first three expected by 2030, along with expanded service hours and extensive pedestrian and bike infrastructure across Central Ohio. For visitors and meeting attendees, it means faster, more reliable transit, safer routes and easier access to key neighborhoods and venues. Learn more.

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