Annual Calendar of Major Events Scheduled Across Atlanta Through 2027
Atlanta hosts a recurring sequence of cultural festivals, sporting fixtures, and civic celebrations each month, with multiple 2027 dates already locked in by organizers, according to frenchdistrict.com. From New Year college football clashes to winter light displays, the city’s annual programming draws participants across major sports venues, parks, and neighborhood cultural centers throughout the calendar year.
January Events Open the Year With College Football and Civil Rights Commemorations
The calendar opens on Friday, January 1, 2027, when the Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, frenchdistrict.com reported. Later in the month, the city marks the King Holiday Observance from January 7 to January 18, 2027, centered at the King Center on 449 Auburn Avenue NE. The observance features a commemorative service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, honoring the civil rights leader in his birthplace.
February and March Bring NASCAR Races and Spring Marathons
February highlights Black History Month through museum exhibits, concerts, and lectures hosted across local institutions and the King Center. Motor sports fans look to the EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, south of Atlanta, for the first NASCAR truck series race of the season from February 26 to 28, 2027. Moving into March, the Atlanta Marathon shifts to early spring, holding its semi-marathon and 5 km races on March 6 and 7, 2027. Meanwhile, Atlanta Streets Alive returns for select Sundays between March and November, temporarily closing major avenues to vehicle traffic for pedestrians and cyclists.
April and May Feature Dogwood Blooms and Film Screenings
Spring outdoor celebrations launch with the 91st annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park from April 9 to 11, 2027. The Inman Park Festival follows on April 24 and 25, 2027, offering free neighborhood entry alongside a paid historic home tour. Concurrently, the Atlanta Film Festival runs ten days of independent cinema from April 22 to May 2, 2027. May events include the Special Olympics Georgia summer games on the Emory University campus on May 21 and 22, 2027, alongside the free Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park over Memorial Day weekend.
June and July Mark Juneteenth Parades and Independence Day Traditions
Juneteenth Atlanta observes the abolition of slavery with a music festival and parade running from June 18 to 20, 2027, featuring its main procession on Saturday, June 19, stretching from the King Center to Piedmont Park. July opens with the traditional Peachtree Road Race on Sunday, July 4, 2027, sending 10-kilometer runners from Lenox Square in Buckhead down Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park. Marietta Square hosts its local “4th in the Park” celebration with a parade, concerts, and fireworks, while the EchoPark Speedway stages its second NASCAR night race under the lights on July 17 and 18, 2027.
August, September, and October Schedule Comic Conventions and Pride Parades
Stone Mountain Park runs summer drone and light shows throughout August, featuring its classic lasershow on select evenings. Labor Day weekend brings Dragon Con to downtown Atlanta hotels from September 2 to 6, 2027, drawing fans of science fiction, gaming, and comic books. The Atlanta Greek Festival follows from September 24 to 26, 2027, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Clairmont Road. In October, Piedmont Park hosts Atlanta Pride, recognized as the largest free pride gathering in the United States, alongside family-oriented Halloween programming at Zoo Atlanta.
November and December Conclude With Botanical Lights and Holiday Ballets
The Atlanta Botanical Garden presents Garden Lights, Holiday Nights from November 14, 2026, through January 10, 2027, illuminating the grounds for the winter season. Lawrenceville opens its holiday schedule on Thanksgiving evening with free tree-lighting ceremonies, paired with the Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving morning half-marathon. December programming includes the Atlanta Ballet performing The Nutcracker throughout the month at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra holiday concerts at Symphony Hall, and the SEC college football championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Atlanta Annual Events
Which 2027 events have official confirmed dates?
Confirmed dates include the Peach Bowl on January 1, the King Holiday Observance from January 7 to 18, NASCAR races on February 26–28 and July 17–18, the Atlanta Marathon on March 6–7, the Dogwood Festival on April 9–11, the Inman Park Festival on April 24–25, the Atlanta Film Festival from April 22 to May 2, Special Olympics Georgia on May 21–22, Juneteenth from June 18 to 20, the Peachtree Road Race on July 4, Dragon Con from September 2 to 6, and the Greek Festival from September 24 to 26.
Are admission tickets required for Atlanta Pride and the Dogwood Festival?
Both the Atlanta Pride celebration at Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Dogwood Festival offer free public entry to visitors. Specific neighborhood tours, such as the Inman Park Tour of Homes, require paid admission.
Where do the major downtown athletic and convention events take place?
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and SEC Championship games take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dragon Con occupies multiple hotels throughout downtown Atlanta over Labor Day weekend.