Gatlinburg welcomes a new year with new adventures to delight visitors. Whether you’re hiking to a waterfall or conquering an intense thrill ride, you’ll find plenty to do here in 2026. Check out what’s new in Gatlinburg!
Anakeesta Expansion
Anakeesta launches a $100 million expansion in 2026, adding attractions, nighttime experiences, a brand new lift to access the park, and more. The changes kick off a five-year project to expand the nature-themed adventure park. This year’s additions include these:
- New scenic lift. Glide up the mountainside in one of 56 glass-bottomed cabins with 360-degree views. The four-minute journey whisks you from bustling downtown Gatlinburg to beautiful Anakeesa.
- Elevated Treetop Skywalk. Anakeesta’s popular Skywalk features additional bridges, towers, and pathways high in the forest canopy, offering visitors more expansive views.
- Nighttime firefly experience. State-of-the-art lighting and immersive design recreate the magic of the Smokies’ famous synchronous fireflies.
- A storybook village. Anakeesta reimagines its Firefly Village as a fantasy escape. Stroll down winding pathways past new water features. Gather at the new overlook with panoramic vistas of Gatlinburg and the Smokies.
Laurel Falls Trail Reopening
Laurel Falls Trail, a popular hike for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, reopens in 2026 after extensive improvements. The National Park Service is repaving the asphalt trail, installing new viewing platforms at the waterfalls, and upgrading the parking area to add 50 more spaces. Expect the trail to reopen midyear.
Firefly Hikes
Gatlinburg-based hiking company A Walk in the Woods adds new hikes this year. Join a guide to explore Smokies forests after dark, seeking rare Blue Ghost fireflies and synchronous fireflies. These famous fireflies create a breathtaking nighttime show.
Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition
The theme park opens its newest ride, a one-of-a-kind hybrid of whitewater rafting ride and roller coaster. NightFlight Expedition packs four different experiences in a single heart-pounding ride. Fly over the Smoky Mountains, plunge into wild rapids, zoom up mountain peaks, and navigate a mysterious, hidden lake. Unique ride cars swoop you onto the water and into the air on this much-anticipated ride.
Spend your vacation in a Gatlinburg cabin rental close to all these new attractions. Let us help you find the perfect cabin for your family today and start planning your 2026 vacation!
