The Daytona Beach area, famous for its scenic beaches, motorsports legacy and family-friendly atmosphere, is unveiling a host of new activities and experiences for visitors in 2026. Whether visiting for the first time or returning for more coastal adventure, travellers will discover a variety of new ways to explore and enjoy the destination.

One of the most exciting developments is the upcoming Residence Inn by Marriott Ormond Beach, opening in summer 2026. Located in Ormond Beach, the hotel will have 137 extended-stay guestrooms and amenities will include a lobby pool bar, meeting space, complimentary breakfast area, elevated outdoor pool with ocean views, business center, fitness center, guest self-laundry, and sundry shop.

Food lovers will soon have a new experience to look forward to with the highly anticipated reopening of Billy’s Tap Room in late 2025 or early 2026. This historic restaurant, beloved since 1922, will offer guests a refreshed yet nostalgic atmosphere along with seafood, steaks, beer and wine on tap, and lively entertainment - perfect for a night out in Ormond Beach.

Visitors will also benefit from major improvements underway at the Ocean Center Convention Complex, which is currently undergoing a $40 million renovation. When completed, the centre will enhance the visitor experience with new arena seating, a modernized arena floor, upgraded sound and lighting systems, and refreshed backstage areas. The arena floor is set for completion in December 2025, with new seating installation beginning in February and wrapping in April of 2026. The Ocean Center plans to unveil its upgrades with a community celebration in early spring.

A favourite activity for beachgoers, capturing the perfect vacation photo, just got better with the full restoration of the iconic Main Street Arch. Originally built in 1936 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and constructed through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Main Street Arch has been a staple of the beachside landscape for nearly 90 years and is an iconic photo backdrop for visitors to the destination.

Families and museum visitors can enjoy a new hands-on adventure at the Museum of Arts & Sciences with the debut of  Expedition: Dinosaur, which is open through March 29, 2026. This immersive exhibit features lifelike animatronic dinosaurs, interactive displays, hands-on paleontology activities, and dramatic sound and lighting effects, giving guests the thrilling sensation of walking among prehistoric giants.

Sports fans can look forward to enhanced experiences at the historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark, currently undergoing a major renovation set for completion in early 2026. Once finished, visitors can enjoy upgraded seating areas, a new multi storey player development facility, modernized clubhouses, indoor batting cages, accessible parking, expanded team stores and enhanced game-day amenities. The ballpark, which dates back to 1914, remains one of the most meaningful destinations in American sports history.

These developments highlight Daytona Beach’s commitment to offering fresh, memorable activities for every type of traveller, from families and food lovers to history buffs and adventure-seekers.