22 Jan 2025
WHAT'S NEW
Story Suggestions for Seattle and Washington State
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
COMING SOON
Seattle Museum Month Returns February 2025
For the entire month of February, visitors to the Emerald City can receive half-price admission to the region's top museums as part of Seattle Museum Month. Each pass is good for 50% off admission for up to four guests, with no limit to the number of museums guests can visit. To snag a pass, visitors can book a room at over 70 participating hotels in Seattle from February 1-28, 2025.
Media Contact: Sydney Martinez, smartinez@visitseattle.org
Seattle Art Museum Debuts, “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei” March 2025
Globally renowned artist Ai Weiwei is celebrated as a disruptor of artistic canons and a champion of free expression. The exhibit “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei” highlights the artistic strategies of his 40-year career for questioning forms of power. It marks the artist's first U.S. retrospective in over a decade and his largest-ever U.S. exhibition, running at the Seattle Art Museum from March 12 – September 7, 2025.
Media Contact: May Sakai Wildman, mwildman@cplusc.com
Cannonball Arts Music and Arts Venue Set to Open in Downtown Seattle 2025
The producers of Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival, New Rising Sun, are partnering with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to create a new arts venue that is expected to open to the public in spring of 2025. Formerly a Bed Bath & Beyond location, Cannonball Arts will offer two stories of contemporary and performing arts space spanning two city blocks (Third and Fourth Avenues).
Media Contact: May Sakai Wildman, mwildman@cplusc.com
Northwest Native Canoe Center to Open Carving House in 2026
The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation is developing a Carving House on South Lake Union to revitalize and educate people about Pacific Northwest canoe culture. According to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation's website, “For thousands of years, the Coast Salish people were stewards of the land and water. The waterways were the highways between all. This led to a vibrant and extensive canoe culture for the first peoples of this land. The Carving House will provide insight into distinctive varieties of Native American culture and be a place where Native carvers are safe, and the public is welcome. The facility will provide space for an ongoing Native American canoe carving program, and storage for canoes. Docents will also explain the Northwest Native American skills and beliefs used over generations in building canoes.” The Canoe Center is expected to open in early 2026.
Media Contact: Trae Yang, Trae.Yang2@seattle.gov
NEW AND EXCITING
Cirque du Soleil Brings “KOOZA” to Redmond's Marymoor Park
The internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil brings the production of “KOOZA” to the Big Top at King County's Marymoor Park from Jan. 19 to March 2. “KOOZA” is a signature Cirque du Soleil performance that features high-flying acrobatics, theatrical characters, lavish costumes and set, and a powerful live score.
Media Contact: Julie Desmarais, julie.desmarais2@cirquedusoleil.com
Artist Louie Gong Unveils Bruce Lee Murals in Chinatown-International District
Two new 10-by-10-foot murals of Bruce Lee, produced by artist Louie Gong after community input, were installed at the Rex Apartments and the New Central Building in Seattle's Chinatown-International District on Nov. 14, 2024. The murals, "The Journey Begins Here" and "One with Water," are part of The Office of Arts & Culture's Hope Corps Downtown Seattle Mural Project. Gong is a member of the Nooksack Indian Tribe and is an award-winning visual artist, activist, public speaker, and founder of Eighth Generation.
Media Contact: Steve McLean, smclean@wingluke.org
“Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy” Showing at Seattle Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) debuted a special exhibition, “Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy” in October 2024. The exhibit offers an in-depth celebration of the iconic artist's life, work, and activism from NYC to Seattle through 240+ Haring artworks and objects, a selection from Haring's personal art collection, 20 objects from Angel Ortiz (LAII), and a community youth partnership. The exhibition will run until March 23, 2025.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Central District Welcomes Its Own Art Walk Program
The Seattle Central District's new art walk, now held every first Friday of the month, invites pedestrians to explore the neighborhood's vibrant art scene for free. Kicking off in Midtown Square at 6 p.m., the CD Art Walk leads visitors through local art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. Launched on Sept. 6, 2024, the program joined a growing list of other Seattle neighborhoods highlighting the city's arts community.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Seattle Art Museum Receives $500,000 in New Funding to Support Downtown Seattle Arts and Culture Sector
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced on September 24, 2024, that the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has received a suite of eight grants to support the museum in energizing downtown Seattle's arts and culture sector. The $9 million investment will support SAM in increasing its programming and access, starting with extending the hours of its Free First Thursday program into the evening.
Media Contact: Rachel Eggers, rachele@seattleartmuseum.org
Indigenous-Owned Gallery and Creative Space Opens Downtown
Tidelands, a new Indigenous-owned art gallery and creative space focused on Native scholarship, storytelling, and art, welcomed visitors to its debut season in fall 2024. The gallery was opened in downtown Seattle in September by Matika Wilbur, a visual storyteller from the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of Washington. Wilbur aims to create a physical space for Indigenous creatives to showcase their work, foster community, and provide educational opportunities for future generations. Wilbur is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America," which documents the experiences of Native people from more than 500 sovereign tribal nations and seeks to challenge stereotypes surrounding Native Americans. Artwork from "Project 562" is featured in Tidelands' inaugural exhibition.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Seattle Aquarium Opens New Ocean Pavilion
Seattle Aquarium's new Ocean Pavilion opened August 29, 2024. The Ocean Pavilion focuses on tropical species from the Coral Triangle in the Indo-Pacific. In tandem with the ongoing Waterfront redevelopment, the Ocean Pavilion connects Pike Place Market with the Waterfront promenade via publicly accessible observation decks, stairways, and an oculus window that allows passersby to observe sea life from below. With a next-generation sustainable design, the Ocean Pavilion is a national model for regenerative construction standards in climate impact, energy, and water use. The Ocean Pavilion is the first step in the transformation of the beloved Seattle Aquarium. The Ocean Pavilion enables people of all abilities and backgrounds to discover new corners of our one-world ocean. Visitors can witness the exquisite biodiversity of a reef ecosystem in the Coral Triangle – coming face-to-face with sharks, rays, schooling fish, mangroves, seagrasses and nearly 30 species of coral.
Media Contact: Tim Kuniholm, T.Kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org
Downtown Seattle Mural Project Unveils New Works
In August 2024, over 30 murals were unveiled across Seattle, spanning from SODO to Belltown. The murals were added as part of the Office of Arts & Culture's Hope Corps Downtown Seattle Mural Project, a key initiative of Mayor Harrell's Downtown Activation Plan. This collaborative effort aims to revitalize the heart of Seattle with murals, planned and produced by a diverse group of local artists.
The Seattle Mural Project is a collaborative effort between Visit Seattle, Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), Belltown United, CID Business Relief Team, SODO Business Improvement Area (SODO BIA), and Wing Luke Museum.
Media Contact: Sydney Martinez, smartinez@visitseattle.org
Museum of Illusions Opens in Downtown Seattle
The Museum of Illusions – a new interactive museum known for its unique approach to “edutainment” – opened on June 28, 2024, in the former Ben Bridge space in downtown Seattle's historic Skinner Building. The museum is designed to captivate senses, challenge perceptions, and ignite imagination.
Media Contact: pr@museumofillusions.com
The Museum of Flight Features New Space Station Exhibit
On June 8, The Museum of Flight premiered "Home Beyond Earth," an immersive exhibition that goes to the heart of the human experience of living in space. With a focus on space stations past, present, and future, "Home Beyond Earth" features over 50 artifacts, models, space-flow objects, and uniforms. Digital tokens allow visitors to make their own journey through the exhibit and personalize their imagined life in the space station of their choice. The exhibit's digital projections and interactive elements help visitors enjoy both the dreams and realities of living and working in space.
Media Contact: Ted Huetter, thuetter@museumofflight.org
Frye Art Museum Announces Winter/Spring 2025 Exhibition Program
For its winter/spring 2025 exhibition program, the Frye Art Museum showcases two solo exhibitions: Alex Katz: Theater and Dance (Jan. 24 – June 22, 2025) and Dawn Cerny: Portmeirion (Jan. 25 – June 22, 2025).
New York painter Alex Katz presents "Alex Katz: Theater and Dance" as the artist's first comprehensive exploration of playful and inventive collaborations with choreographers, dancers, and members of avant-garde theater ensembles. In "Dawn Cerny: Portmeirion," Seattle sculptor Dawn Cerny presents a body of interactive sculptures newly created for the Frye presentation.
Frye Salon features more than 100 paintings from the Frye Art Museum's Founding Collection hung floor to ceiling—a display mode referred to as a salon-style hang. The installation approximates the dramatic viewing experience enjoyed by visitors to Charles and Emma Frye's Seattle home in the first decades of the 20th century. The exhibition runs until July 25, 2025.
Media Contact: press@fryemuseum.org
Seattle Art Museum Announces Winter/Spring 2025 Exhibition Program
Building on the success of “Calder in Motion,” Seattle Art Museum announced its second exhibition in the multiyear “Calder in SAM” initiative. The exhibition “Following Space; Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder” runs through June 1, 2025. The exhibit features 17 large-scale wood sculptures of contemporary artist Thaddeus Mosely, as well as Calder's iconic hanging mobiles, a standing mobile, and a wall sculpture.
Also currently showing at Seattle Art Museum is “Bethany Collins: At Sea.” Collins' conceptually driven work uses language as both subject and medium to explore the nuances and intersections of language, racial identity, and American history. Collins is the recipient of the 2023 Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize, awarded biennially by Seattle Art Museum since 2009 to an early to mid-career Black artist. Collins' exhibition will run until May 4, 2025.
Media Contact: Rachel Eggers, rachele@seattleartmuseum.org
The Henry Art Gallery Announces Winter/Spring 2025 Exhibition Program
In 2025, The Henry presents an impressive collection of exhibitions, including “Tala Madani” Be Flat. “Be Flat” is Madani's debut solo exhibition in Washington State, featuring recent and newly commissioned works that explore the influence of symbols, language, and mark-making on power dynamics and individual agency through multi-sensory experiences. The exhibition will run until August 17, 2025
Also showing in 2025, “A.K. Burns: What is Perverse is Liquid,” explores feminist and queer perspectives through a diverse range of mediums including video, sculpture, and installations. The Henry exhibition delves into the intersections of landscapes, human bodies, and water across Burns's art, particularly focusing on the Negative Space series. The exhibition runs until May 4, 2024.
Media Contact: Tanja Baumann, TanjaB@henryart.org
The Seattle Opera Announces 2025 Season
Five mainstage operas and a year-round schedule of additional performances, events, and classes offer countless ways for audiences to immerse themselves in opera's unique and powerful musical storytelling. With a slate packed with blockbusters, international stars, and important new stories, the 2025 season at Seattle Opera promises riveting, enriching experiences across the spectrum of opera.
Performances include "Les Troyens in Concert" (January 2025), "The Magic Flute" (February–March 2025), and Tosca (May 2025).
Media Contact: Joshua Gailey, Joshua.Gailey@seattleopera.org
The Paramount Brings Broadway Shows to Seattle in 2025
Seattle's theater scene is one of the most renowned in the U.S. In 2025, Broadway at The Paramount will welcome "Hamilton" (February), "Life of Pi" (April), "Six" (May), "Riverdance" (May–June), "Mamma Mia!" (June), and "& Juliet" (July–August).
Media Contact: Rachel Liuzzi, rachell@stgpresents.org
The 5th Avenue Theater Announces 2025 Season
The 5th Avenue Theatre is one of America's leading musical theater companies. In 2025, "The Last Five Years" will run from Feb. 8 to March 16, "Waitress" will run from March 11 to 30, and “Parade” will run April 16 – May 4. The summer program will feature “Bye Bye Birdie,” showing June 10 – 29, and “After Midnight” from Aug. 5 – 24, 2025.
Media Contact: Ann Reynolds, areynolds@5thavenue.org
HOTELS
COMING SOON
RailSpur Announces 2025 Hotel Westland Opening
Seattle's historic Pioneer Square neighborhood will welcome a new hotel in early 2025: Hotel Westland. Located in RailSpur, a sustainable micro-district that includes three historic warehouse buildings, the hotel will feature 120 guestrooms and suites, a signature indoor and outdoor restaurant on activated Railspur Alley, and a rooftop bar.
Media Contact: Caroline Orlowitz, caroline@jwadepr.com
The Somm. Hotel & Spa to Open in Woodinville Summer 2025
Woodinville Hotel Partners, LLC has broken ground on The Somm. Hotel & Spa, a luxury Marriott Autograph Collection property set to open in summer 2025 in Woodinville wine country. The 164-room hotel will blend exceptional design, impeccable service, and a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest. Highlights include Bin 47, a restaurant showcasing local ingredients; Vin de Spa, with rooftop treatment tents and hot tubs open to non-hotel guests; and The Shed, a rooftop bar with stunning views. The property will also feature event spaces, including a grand ballroom, for weddings and gatherings.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
1 Hotel Seattle to Open in 2025
SH Hotels & Resorts will transform the Pan Pacific Seattle into the 1 Hotel Seattle, set to debut in 2025. Located in South Lake Union, the hotel will remain open during its comprehensive redesign, led by Studio Collective and SH Hotels' design team. The 153-room property will feature sustainable luxury, highlighted by a living wall, reclaimed timber, and nature-inspired finishes throughout.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
NEW AND EXCITING
Marriott Opens AC Hotel Seattle Downtown
AC Hotel Seattle Downtown, Marriott's new property in South Lake Union, opened in November 2024. Located off Stewart Street and Yale Avenue, this 200-room hotel is conveniently near Seattle's iconic Space Needle, Climate Pledge Arena, and Pier 42. The hotel is also strategically situated for tech and business travelers, central to Amazon, Meta, Google, and the Seattle Convention Center. AC Hotel Seattle Downtown will feature an on-site bar and lounge.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Downtown Seattle's Hotel 1000 and Lotte Hotel and Kenmore's Lodge at St. Edward Park Earn MICHELIN Keys
On Sept. 12, 2024, Hotel 1000 and Lotte Hotel in downtown Seattle earned MICHELIN Key distinctions, joining the prestigious list of the most outstanding hotels in the United States. Recognized for excellence in design, service, character, value, and guest experience, the hotels highlight Seattle as a premier destination for travelers seeking exceptional stays.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
APA Group Acquires Coast Seattle Downtown Hotel
Japan's largest hotel group, APA Group, officially launched its first directly owned U.S. property in June 2024, rebranding the former Hilton in downtown Seattle as the Coast Seattle Downtown by APA. Acquired in June for $68.8 million, the 256-room hotel represents APA's expansion into the U.S. market under the Coast Hotels banner. Founded in 1988, APA operates 800 hotels worldwide and plans to further expand its presence on the West Coast through ownership and franchising opportunities.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
COMING SOON
Taste Washington Returns in March 2025
Taste Washington, the nation's largest single-region wine and food festival, will return to Seattle in March 2025. Events are still to be announced but will be held throughout the region during the month of March. Visit tastewashington.org for more information.
Media Contact: Averyl D. Mooney, admooney@washingtonwine.org
Three New Sea Creatures Restaurants to Open in Pioneer Square
The Seattle restaurant group Sea Creatures is opening three new restaurants in Pioneer Square in early 2025. The trio of restaurants — Lowlander Brewery, Un Po Tipsy Pizzeria, and a to-be-named European restaurant concept with sustainably sourced seafood — will be located at Railspur, 419 Occidental Ave. The restaurants are led by James Beard Award-winning chef Renee Erickson.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Dewey, elizabeth@jwadepr.com
The Wayland Mill to Open Early 2025
Yasuaki Saito, the acclaimed owner of Seattle's Saint Bread—named one of the New York Times' 22 best bakeries in the U.S. in December 2024—is opening a new restaurant in early 2025, The Wayland Mill, in Wallingford. Saito, whose culinary style is influenced by his Japanese heritage and Midwestern upbringing, describes The Wayland Mill as offering “Americana food applied with Japanese ingredients and Japanese sensibilities,” or yoshoku-inspired takes on American regional dishe
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Cocktail Bar Death & Co Scheduled to Open in Pioneer Square
Popular cocktail bar Death & Co will open its fifth U.S. location in Pioneer Square in summer 2025. The bar will be located on the ground floor of Railspur at 419 Occidental Ave., alongside three new Sea Creatures restaurants by James Beard Award-winning chef Renee Erickson. Death & Co founder and co-owner David Kaplan is excited to honor the rich history and culture of Seattle with the bar's menu and design.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Dewey, elizabeth@jwadepr.com
New Washington State Wine Tasting Room to Open in University Village in Summer 2025
Delille Cellars, a pioneer in Washington state's wine industry, announced it will open a Bordeaux-inspired restaurant and tasting room concept in Seattle's University Village in summer 2025. This will mark Delille's first expansion into Seattle after more than 30 years of success crafting acclaimed wines and hospitality experiences in Woodinville. The 6,700-square-foot space will be located in the prominent southwest corner of the complex. Delille's new location will offer a concept that integrates fine dining, wine tasting, crafted beverages, retail, culinary experiences, private dining options, and event space, catering to both casual visitors and wine aficionados.
Media Contact: Heidi Witherspoon, heidiwitherspoon@comcast.net
NEW AND EXCITING
Ballard Brewed Passport Launches in the Ballard Brewery District (BBD)
The brand-new Ballard Brewed Passport is a free guide to exploring the vibrant Ballard Brewery District (BBD), where over a dozen breweries are located within a one-mile radius. After signing up, a digital passport will be delivered instantly via text and email, with no app download required. As you visit participating breweries, simply ask the bartender for the check-in code to log your stop. Each check-in brings you closer to earning a Ballard Brewed tin tacker—a fun and memorable reward for your Seattle craft beer journey.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Wine Tasting Room Featuring BIPOC-made Wines Opens in Belltown
Belltown's new wine bar, WeRise Wines, showcases wines by Black, BIPOC, and women winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. Featuring a carefully selected menu of new and old world wines and unique small plate options, WeRise Wines brings a unique flavor to the neighborhood.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Voodoo Doughnuts Now Open in Capitol Hill
As of December 2024, Voodoo Doughnuts has brought its iconic, quirky doughnut creations to the Booker Building in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Known for its playful approach to flavors, Voodoo offers combinations like bacon-topped doughnuts and cereal-coated treats which have earned a loyal fanbase.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Coffee-to-Cocktails Experience and Community Space Opens in Pike Place Market
Karoo Café, Seattle's newest coffee-to-cocktails experience and community space, opened Oct. 24 in Pike Place Market. Founded by South African native Olivia Vermaak, Karoo Café offers a unique blend of South African-inspired hospitality with a tapas-style menu and handcrafted cocktails. The café will host a variety of community-focused events, such as yoga sessions and sound baths. Just above its cafe, Karoo Cafe opened a South African-inspired space called Protea Yoga. The studio is designed to foster connection, inclusivity, and holistic well-being.
Media Contact: Jillian Napolitano, jillian@onpublicrelations.com
Chef Kristi Brown of COMMUNION and That Brown Girl Cooks! Launches Lil' Brown Girl
Lil' Brown Girl opened Oct. 16, 2024, at Métier Brewing Company's Cherry Street taproom in Seattle's Central District. Created by James Beard-nominated chef Kristi Brown, the quick-service restaurant pairs MBC's award-winning beers with favorites from That Brown Girl Cooks! (TBGC!) and COMMUNION. The menu, inspired by family traditions and the Central District's diverse heritage, features dishes like a golden chicken sandwich and TBGC!'s black-eyed pea hummus, celebrating community and flavor.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
New Filipino Pop-Up Restaurant Launches at Astra Hotel
On Sept. 30, 2024, chef Gerald Gutierrez launched SALO SALO, a Filipino pop-up restaurant at the Astra Hotel in South Lake Union. Inspired by his childhood memories and a family tradition of using food to express love and unity, Gutierrez brings the vibrant flavors of the Philippines to Seattle.
Media Contact: Joleen Zanuzoski, joleenz@greenrubino.com
ShoMon Kappo Sushi Opens in Belltown
ShoMon Kappo Sushi opened in Belltown September 2024, launched by the owners of the legendary Shiro's — executive chef Masaki Nishioka, but not namesake Shiro Kashiba, who sold the restaurant a decade ago. The restaurant offers a hyper-intimate dining experience, with a 14-seat L-shaped chef's counter as the focal point. A side dining room will accommodate 12 additional guests and feature a washi paper lantern installation and Sekishu tiles. The concept is designed to evoke the ambiance of an authentic kappo restaurant in Japan.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
CRUISE
COMING SOON
Luxury British Cruise Line Announces 11 Seattle-to-Alaska Voyages for 2025
In 2025, Cunard's luxury Queen Elizabeth will offer 11 roundtrip voyages from Seattle to Alaska. The voyage itineraries will range from seven to 11 nights, taking place between June 12 and September 25, 2025.
Media Contact: Cindy Adams, cindy@mgamediagroup.com
Oceania Cruises to Debut Riviera in Alaska in 2025 with Seattle Itineraries
Oceania Cruises will debut the Riviera in Alaska for its 2025 season, featuring five itineraries that include Seattle, with four round-trip options and one one-way voyage from Vancouver to Seattle.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Holland America Offers New Seattle Roundtrip Voyage in 2025
Holland America Line's "Glaciers & Volcanos: Alaska to Hawaii" cruise is a new offering for 2025. It combines visits to Alaska and Hawaii, a rare pairing in the cruise industry. This new itinerary is part of Holland America's "Legendary Voyages" series, designed to offer extended journeys to sought-after destinations. The cruise will depart roundtrip from Seattle on Aug. 31, 2025, aboard the Westerdam.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Princess Cruises Launches Star Princess Summer 2026 in Seattle
Princess Cruises will introduce its largest-ever Alaska cruise ship, the 4,300-passenger Star Princess, in the summer of 2026.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
Virgin Voyages' New Ship Brilliant Lady Offers Seattle to Alaska Itineraries in 2026
Virgin Voyages' newest vessel, Brilliant Lady, will sail to Alaska from Seattle starting in summer 2026. A variety of itineraries between Seattle and Alaska will be available from May through September.
Media Contact: Michelle Estevam, media@virginvoyages.com
Carnival Announces 16-day Cruise from Mobile to Seattle in 2026
Carnival Cruise Line will launch a new route connecting Mobile, Alabama, and Seattle, Washington, starting in April 2026. The 16-day Carnival Journeys cruise will transit the Panama Canal, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), and Cartagena (Colombia). This marks the first time the ship will connect its seasonal homeports before beginning its summer Alaska sailings. The Carnival Spirit will return to Mobile in the fall for cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
MSC Cruises to Debut in Alaska in 2026
MSC Cruises will make its Alaska debut in 2026, with the MSC Poesia offering a series of seven-night cruises departing from Seattle.
Media Contact: Cory O'Born, coborn@visitseattle.org
NEW AND EXCITING
2024 Marks Seattle's Greenest Cruise Season
The 2024 cruise season marked a key step in Seattle's effort to make the Port of Seattle the greenest port in North America. The port now has three shore power-connected berths—two at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 and, starting summer 2024, one at the Pier 66 cruise berth. By using clean electricity and landside power, at-berth emissions are reduced by 80% and CO2 emissions by 66% per ship, on average. Agreements with cruise lines now require shore power-capable ships to connect when facilities are available, supporting the port's goal of 100% shore power usage by homeport cruise ships on every call by 2030 or sooner.
Media Contact: Kathy Roeder, roeder.k@portseattle.org
SPORTS & EVENTS
COMING SOON
March Madness Comes to Climate Pledge Arena in 2025
Experience March Madness® in Seattle on March 21 & 23, 2025 at Climate Pledge Arena. The University of Washington will host the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA ® Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Media Contact: Kau'ilani Robinson, krobinson@visitseattle.org
Salmon Bay FC Brings USL W League to Seattle in 2025
Salmon Bay FC is the new USL W pre-professional women's soccer team based in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle and the women's equivalent team to Ballard FC. Matches will begin in spring 2025 at Interbay Stadium. The Salmon Bay is a vital waterway that connects the communities around Ballard to the sea. The team's name and badge design pay homage to this local landscape as a symbol of connection and growth.
Media Contact: Kau'ilani Robinson, krobinson@visitseattle.org
Seattle to Host 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field
FIFA's new premier club competition, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, will take place in June and July 2025, with 32 top teams from around the world competing in the inaugural edition. The event will feature the most successful clubs from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA, including the Seattle Sounders. Seattle's Lumen Field is one of 12 venues selected to host six of the 63 matches across the U.S.
Media Contact: Kau'ilani Robinson, krobinson@visitseattle.org
Picklewood Paddle Club to Open Summer 2025
The ultimate recreation destination is coming to the heart of the Pacific Northwest in summer 2025. Located at Urbanworks in SODO Seattle, Picklewood will redefine the country club experience with pickleball for all and courtside food and drinks from acclaimed Seattle chef and restauranter, Ethan Stowell.
Media Contact: May Sakai Wildman, mwildman@cplusc.com
Seattle to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field
Seattle's Lumen Field will host six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a U.S. Men's National Team match on Juneteenth. The city, home to passionate soccer fans who support the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign FC, is set to welcome teams from across the globe. The 2026 World Cup will be the first co-hosted by three nations—the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—and the first to feature an expanded field of 48 teams playing 60 matches across North America. Sea2026.com
Media Contact: Kau'ilani Robinson, krobinson@visitseattle.org
NEW AND EXCITING
Climate Pledge Arena Welcomes an Incredible Lineup of Artists and Sporting Events
Climate Pledge Arena, the world's first net-zero carbon arena, hosts a steady lineup of critically acclaimed performers and world-class events, including music, comedy, and sports. The arena is also home to Seattle's NHL team, the Kraken, and the WNBA's Storm. See here for a full lineup of events.
Media Contact: De'Aira Anderson, danderson@seattlekrakenhockey.com
OL Reign Unveils Official Name and Brand Transformation
Ahead of the 2024 season, Seattle's women's soccer team returned to its roots, rebranding as Seattle Reign FC. The club's iconic 2013 crest has been reimagined for a new era, featuring a queen emblem that symbolizes the growth of professional women's sports. The refreshed crest incorporates the team's original colors—Seattle Reign Blackened Blue and Seattle Reign Blue—paying tribute to the club's history while reflecting the deep hues of the Seattle environment.
Media Contact: pr@reignfc.com
TRANSIT
COMING SOON
Seattle's Light Rail to Expand Further in Coming Years
Seattle's Light Rail system will expand with new extensions to downtown Redmond, Everett, the Tacoma Dome, Federal Way, and the Ballard and West Seattle neighborhoods.
The remaining portion of the East Link, connecting the east side to the 1 Line in Seattle, is scheduled to open in 2025, extending from the International District/Chinatown station to South Bellevue station.
Learn more about the expansions and projected timelines at Sound Transit.
Media Contact: Bruce Gray, bruce.gray@soundtransit.org
NEW AND EXCITING
Seattle's Light Rail System Expands
In April 2024, Sound Transit opened the East Link Starter Line, also known as the 2 Line, connecting South Bellevue to Redmond Technology Center. This line is set to be connected to Seattle in 2025.
On August 30, 2024, Seattle's light rail system was extended by 8.5 miles, adding four new stations to the 1 Line. The extension includes stops at South Shoreline, North Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood City Center.
Media Contact: Bruce Gray, bruce.gray@soundtransit.org
CONVENTION NEWS
NEW AND EXCITING
Seattle Convention Center Secures Multiple Awards in 2024
The Seattle Convention Center has continued to secure major industry accolades, earning best convention center awards from the World Travel Awards, World MICE Awards, Meetings Today, BizBash, Smart Meetings, and more this year. See the full list of accolades here, including 2023 awards.
The Seattle Convention Center's newest addition, The Summit, opened and welcomed its first groups in January 2023. The Summit added approximately 250,000 square feet of exhibition space, 160,000 square feet of meeting room space, including a 60,000-square-foot ballroom. In January 2024, the Summit building became one of the few U.S. convention centers to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Summit occupies a pinnacle design position in the next evolution of convention centers rooted in the urban core context and supported by a vertically organized flow. The stacked configuration maximizes the efficiency of the urban site, effectively bringing interior and exterior spaces together. Skylights bringing daylight deep into the event spaces, the layering of soft and hard landscape elements, and expansive views of the city in all directions enhance the urban nature of the facility. Air handling units are equipped with economizer functionality, meaning they can run at 100 percent outside air, not recycled air, under moderate temperature conditions. Storm water treatment in outdoor planting areas will feature innovative sustainable strategies. The design pays homage to Seattle with The Hillclimb: The Pine Street facade features a suspended stair and escalator system that provides event attendee access from street level to the ballroom level on top. The Hillclimb is an iconic design element authentic to the Pacific Northwest made of wood with seating elements for guests. It enlivens the convention experience while providing respite from activities. Learn more at visitseattle.org/meeting-professionals/convention-center/summit-overview.
Media Contact: Jared Dionne, jdionne@visitseattle.org
AIR TRAVEL
COMING SOON
Scandinavian Airlines to Introduce Direct Flights to Copenhagen from SEA Airport
Starting in May 2025, Scandinavian Airlines will offer five weekly nonstop flights to Copenhagen, Denmark, from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). With these additional services, travelers departing from SEA will have nonstop access to three Nordic capitals: Reykjavik, Iceland; Helsinki, Finland; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Edelweiss to Launch Direct Flight to Zurich from SEA Airport
On June 2, 2025, Switzerland's leisure airline Edelweiss, along with its parent company Swiss International Air Lines, will begin offering two weekly nonstop flights between Seattle and Zurich, Switzerland. This service will be the first direct connection between Seattle and Zurich.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
NEW AND EXCITING
WestJet Launched New Kelowna-Seattle Route
WestJet launched new daily flights between Kelowna, B.C., and Seattle starting in January 2025. The new route connects the Okanagan region to the Pacific Northwest and beyond, operating five times a week.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Alaska Airlines Adds Three New Direct Flights from SEA Airport
Alaska Airlines expanded their winter travel options with 18 new nonstop routes in December 2024. Three of these routes are new direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). A nonstop service between SEA and Liberia, Costa Rica will run once a week from December 21, 2024, to May 11, 2025. Additionally, direct service between SEA and Nassau, Bahamas, is also be available. Direct service between SEA and Vail, Colorado is offered three times a week from December 20, 2024, to March 16, 2025.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Hainan Airlines Resumes Service to China from SEA Airport
In April 2024, Hainan Airlines resumed its direct flights to Beijing (PEK) from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with three weekly departures. In May, Hainan Airlines launched SEA's first nonstop service to Chongqing, Seattle's sister city.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Alaska Airlines Adds New Nonstop Flight Between Seattle and Toronto
Launched May 2024, Alaska Airlines operates a nonstop service between Seattle and Toronto.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Lufthansa Adds Service to Munich at SEA Airport
Lufthansa expanded its service to Seattle with a nonstop route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Munich in May 2024. The flight operates daily through the fall, then reduces to three times a week during the winter months. This marks the 13th new international route added to SEA Airport since 2020. The Munich service complements Lufthansa's direct flights to Frankfurt.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Delta Launches First-Ever U.S. to Taiwan Direct Route from SEA Airport
Delta launched daily nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taipei on June 6, 2024. This route marks Delta's first flight to Taiwan since 2017. Delta also offers nonstop service from Seattle to Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
STARLUX Airlines Adds Non-Stop Service to Taipei from SEA Airport
STARLUX Airlines, an Alaska Airlines partner, introduced nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taipei on August 16, 2024. The new route operates three times weekly and is STARLUX's third U.S. destination.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
Philippine Airlines Introduces Non-Stop Service to Manila at SEA Airport
In October 2024, Philippine Airlines launched three weekly flights between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila, Philippines. The route is Philippine Airlines' sixth U.S. destination and the first direct link between the Pacific Northwest and Manila.
Media Contact: Perry Cooper, cooper.p@portseattle.org
ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS
Seattle Waterfront Redevelopment Targeting October 2025 Completion
Seattle continues to improve its already impressive downtown walkability and attractions with its ongoing Waterfront redevelopment project. The project includes the relocation of the Alaskan Way viaduct underground in favor of a scenic bayside promenade featuring shops, bike lanes, and the Washington State Ferries terminal. Residents and visitors are now able to enjoy direct pathways from downtown and Pike Place Market to the Waterfront promenade. Waterfront improvements are on track to open as completed with all projects scheduled for completion by October 2025.
Media Contact: Kau'ilani Robinson, krobinson@visitseattle.org
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Updated: 1/15/2025
