The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially on in downtown Atlanta. Across 18 match days from June 11 through July 15, the district is running multiple simultaneous activations — and most of them are free.
FIFA Fan Fest at Centennial Olympic Park
The marquee gathering space is Centennial Olympic Park, where the city and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority are hosting the official FIFA Fan Festival through the length of the tournament. The park transforms into a fan village with big screens, activations, and the kind of crowd energy that only a World Cup can generate. No ticket required to enter the Fan Fest grounds.
Rise ATL at Centennial Yards
Steps away, Centennial Yards is running Rise ATL — a daily pop-up from 10 AM to 7 PM celebrating Atlanta culture with rotating local food and drink, a custom hat bar, and a caricature booth. Think of it as the local counterpart to the international energy in the park next door. Open every day June 11 through July 15.
Georgia, the Whole Day Through at GWCC
On each of Atlanta's match days — June 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and July 1, 7, and 15 — the Georgia World Congress Center opens a free immersive experience called Georgia, the Whole Day Through. The activation showcases the flavors, sights, and sounds of Georgia for the international visitors moving through downtown. No ticket, no reservation. Located at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, a short walk from the stadium.
The Matches
Atlanta is hosting eight FIFA World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The first is Spain vs. Cabo Verde on June 15 at noon. Additional match days follow on June 18, 21, 24, 27, July 1, 7, and 15. Check the full events calendar for kickoff times and venue details.
The Rest of the Calendar
Beyond the World Cup programming, the downtown events calendar stays active. The Fox Theatre has shows running through the summer, the Georgia Aquarium is hosting Glow Nights After Hours in July and August, and the Masquerade has nightly music at their underground stages. Browse the full events calendar for the complete picture.
