Looking for something fun to do in the Valley?
This year, a few major changes are coming to the greater Phoenix area, from restaurants and hotels to expansions at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Along with those, residents and tourists alike can expect new entertainment and travel venues to open in 2026.
While some have experienced multiple delays, others have hit the ground running with openings expected for early in the year.
From a multi-room nightlife venue in downtown Phoenix to a popular travel center and an observatory and science center, here are the major openings coming to the Valley in 2026.
Pablo’s
Pablo’s is opening at the northwest corner of McKinley Street and First Avenue in downtown Phoenix in early 2026.
“Pablo’s is the house party you never want to leave — an immersive nightlife hideaway in the heart of downtown Phoenix,” according to a news release. “Each room reveals a new mood: three high-spirited bars, the Den, Pablo’s Living Room, the Billiards Room, a central courtyard, a lively front patio and Night Tiger — a pulse-quickening nightclub built for dancing until the lights come on.”
The multi-layered nightlife venue is designed to surprise and connect guests at every turn. It will be located at the northwest corner of McKinley Street and First Avenue in downtown Phoenix.
Run by Saguaro Nights Entertainment Group, Pablo’s will open in a 9,000-square-foot historic building originally constructed in 1952 as a medical office. They have also enlisted Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, the award-winning team behind Century Grand, Platform 18 and Undertow, for their cocktail program.
Construction began in October 2025 and an opening is planned for early 2026.
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee the beaver (right) high-fives Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issitt (left) during the Buc-ee’s Arizona groundbreaking ceremony at 1001 N. Bullard Ave., in Goodyear, Arizona, on May 14, 2025.
Buc-ee’s is being built in the Valley and had its groundbreaking in May 2025. Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s is known for its beaver mascot, “the world’s cleanest bathrooms,” cheap gas and homemade barbecue. The locations are also massive, with the Arizona store expected to be 23% larger than a football field.
Originally, the travel center was expected to open in the Grand Canyon state by late 2025, but that timing has since changed.
A representative for Buc-ee’s shared with The Arizona Republic that the Goodyear location will be open in June 2026.
International Dark Sky Discovery Center
Fountain Hills, Arizona, is an International Dark Sky City, recognized for its efforts to preserve the night sky.
The International Dark Sky Discovery Center is under construction and was originally slated to open in Fountain Hills in the fall of 2025.
The $28 million observatory and science center will encompass 23,000 square feet and feature the largest telescope in metro Phoenix, a hyperspace planetarium, a theater, an Einstein exploration station and more. The center’s mission is to educate visitors, support scientific research and promote astrotourism, all while raising awareness of how dark skies benefit human health, wildlife and the environment.
The center will now be opening in the fall of 2026.
The Rush Funplex
The Rush Funplex, a family entertainment venue with bowling, go-karts, bumper cars and other activities is planned for Laveen.
The Rush Funplex is an indoor entertainment chain with go-karts, bowling, mini-golf, an arcade, bumper cars, a rock-climbing wall with a foam pit, laser tag, kiddie cars, private party rooms and a café.
There will be two locations opening in Arizona, one in Goodyear, at the northeast corner of Yuma Road and Estrella Parkway and the other in Laveen at the northeast corner of Loop 202 and Dobbins Road in Phoenix. The Laveen location is expected to be a 75,000-square-foot facility and both will offer affordable hourly and daily passes that include access to all attractions.
The Goodyear location was expected to open in spring 2026, and the grand opening of the Laveen location was scheduled for December 2026.
Mattel Adventure Park/VAI Resort
An artist’s rendering shows the VAI Villas building, which will have a rooftop pool.
Mattel Adventure Park originally planned to open in late 2023 but has been delayed three times since, once to 2024, then to the end of 2025 and now to an unknown date.
The theme park is the first of its kind and will be at the VAI Resort, also under construction in Glendale. It will bring Mattel favorites to life, including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels and Masters of the Universe.
The 9-acre park will have an indoor-outdoor design with air-conditioned spaces designed to appeal to all ages. Food and beverages will be available.
VAI Resort will announce its opening date approximately nine months in advance, according to its website. Visitors can still expect the long-awaited theme park and resort to open this year.
Do you have a tip or a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Instagram @dina_kaur.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 fun things to do coming to metro Phoenix in 2026