Orlando is set up to see a lot of change in the new year. From major culinary additions to theme park upgrades to pro sports throw downs to music festivals and more, here are 21 of the biggest things coming to Orlando in 2025.
Matt Smith, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dolph Lundgren and many more are coming to Megacon
Other attractions include vendors, panels and the final rounds of the Masters of Cosplay Grand Finale with finalists competing for the grand prize of $10,000. MegaCon happens Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 6-9, at the Orange County Convention Center. Tickets are already available through the Con directly. Start hatching your parking schemes now!
Read full story. Credit: Photo by Mauricio MurilloVans Warped Tour rises from the dead
In a surprise rise from the music festival graveyard, Vans Warped Tour is making a return in 2025 — and Orlando’s getting a first-row spot. The festival this year embarks on a three-city tour to mark its 30th anniversary next year, stopping in Long Beach, California; Washington, D.C.; and right here in Orlando at Camping World Stadium. Each of the three cities will host a two-day event, as opposed to the fest’s origins as a summertime cross-country traveling fest. The tour will be in partnership with Insomniac, responsible for big-name music festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival. The tour kicks off in D.C. June 14-15, makes a second stop in Long Beach July 26-27, and finally hits Orlando for the finale Nov. 15-16.
Read full story. Credit: Photo courtesy Vans Warped TourEpic Universe opens at Universal
After years of development and construction, Orlando’s newest theme park is finally opening this year. After a report by the Wall Street Journal this week stated the park could open as early as Memorial Day 2025, Universal Orlando officially confirmed its Epic Universe park will open on May 22, 2025. Five immersive worlds come to life inside Epic Universe, Universal’s fourth park in Orlando. Towering portals will transport guests to Super Nintendo World, Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the monster-filled Dark Universe, an island of dragons inspired by How to Train Your Dragon and a futuristic steampunk realm known as Celestial Park.
Read full story. Credit: Rendering via Universal Orlando
Two Orlando stadiums will host 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches
Orlando is set to host matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at two popular city venues. Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium have been selected to host part of the competition, as the 32-team tournament tours the U.S. next summer at 12 venues across 11 different cities in the nation.
Read full story.Credit: Photo via Inter & Co StadiumOrlando’s H Mart (whenever it opens) will now host a food hall too Credit: Photo via AdobeDTO Live brings hundreds of live music and arts performances downtown
DTO Live initiative launched this summer when the city collaborated with local agency United Arts of Central Florida for the project, which aims to make more art experiences available to Orlando residents and visitors. DTO Live will bring hundreds of events to downtown Orlando through June 2025, at 11 downtown locations. The locations stretch about a two-mile radius from City Hall to the North Quarter district adjacent to Lake Highland Preparatory School.
Read full story. Credit: Photo via Downtown Orlando/FacebookDisney welcomes big new attractions and events
“Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” is set to debut in the summer. The nighttime experience will feature fan-favorite characters from Peter Pan, Moana, Frozen and more on illuminated floats powered by the Blue Fairy’s starlight magic. Then the tavern, open to pirates of all ages, will open in late 2025. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, two new shows will open their doors in the summer. “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” stars the most sinister characters including the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent and more. Then, the Animation Courtyard theater welcomes “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” with new sets, puppets, live performers and two new musical numbers — “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.”
Read full story. Credit: Photo via Disney ParksWillie Nelson
Feb. 22, Orlando Amphitheater
Tickets via Ticketmaster Credit: Photo via Willie Nelson/FacebookFree parking downtown
In an effort to support local business and increase foot traffic downtown, the city of Orlando has decided to extend a program that offers visitors two hours of free parking downtown through the end of 2025. The program, Park DTO, offers free parking at all metered and non-metered parking spaces downtown through the city’s ParkMobile application. Once you’ve downloaded the application, enter “ParkDTO” to claim your two hours of free parking at your preferred parking space.
Read full story. Credit: Photo via Downtown Orlando/Facebook
Universal opens two space-themed hotels
The twin hotels add 1,500 rooms to Universal Orlando’s portfolio. Reservations and vacation packages for both resorts are available to book currently, with Stella Nova set to open Jan. 21 and Terra Luna set to open Feb. 25. All rooms at both hotels sleep up to four guests with two queen beds and spaceship-styled portal windows. There are no family-style suites like at the twin Endless Summer hotels, but Stella Nova’s and Terra Luna’s room rates start at $147 a night for a four-night stay.
Read full story.Credit: Photo via NBC Universal
NFL Pro Bowl Games happen at Camping World Stadium
The NFL Pro Bowl Games, a multi-day event featuring the nation’s best professional football players, will take place in Orlando in February 2025.
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150 Central Blvd., Orlando Eola Food Hall, promising a speakeasy bar and a global roster of food vendors, will open downtown directly across from the Orlando Public Library. The hall will consist of a two-story, 15,000-square-foot venue full of the “best of” local eats. It’s set to open late 2025. Credit: Image via Eola Food Hall
Post Malone
June 10, Camping World Stadium Tickets via TicketmasterCredit: Photo via Post Malone/FacebookWelcome to Rockville returns with Green Day, Rob Zombie and more
Welcome to Rockville is back at the Daytona International Speedway for four days this year — May 15 to 18, 2025 — with big-time headliners including Green Day, Linkin Park, Alice in Chains, Rob Zombie, Korn and Shinedown.
Read full story. Credit: Photo via Welcome to RockvilleSeaWorld Orlando gets a fully immersive ‘Arctic Flying Theater’
The Arctic Flying Theater, set to open in spring 2025, features thrilling footage of the diverse underwater and onshore ecosystems of the Arctic region. The minimum height requirement of 39 inches makes the new attraction a family-friendly experience, similar to other park thrills such as Penguin Trek. Guests will embark on one of two multilevel theaters, each seating up to 30, to begin their Arctic experience. Once inside, the immersion begins, as the four-and-a-half-minute journey takes audiences to a part of the world normally inaccessible to humans and chock-full of natural wonders. The SeaWorld production team used custom filming equipment to reach these remote corners and bring the stunning visuals to viewers.
Read full story. Credit: Screenshot via SeaWorld's Arctic Flying Theater teaser videoUniversal Orlando will expand CityWalk store to include Butterbeer counter, Super Nintendo World merch
Just in time to open a brand-new theme park, Universal Orlando will expand its flagship store in CityWalk to include two areas dedicated to lands in Epic Universe. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World expansions will open in the Universal Studios Store in 2025 — right across the way from the Epic Universe Preview Center. The new Wizarding World area will have theming and merchandise from all three park lands — Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and the new Ministry of Magic. For the first time, guests can grab cold, frozen, hot and vegan Butterbeer treats outside the parks. The new counter will also have other specialty items from the Wizarding World — likely packaged candy and bottled drinks from Honeydukes.
Read full story. Credit: Image via Universal OrlandoAlice Cooper
Feb. 6, Hard Rock Live
Tickets via Ticketmaster Credit: Photo via Alice Cooper/FacebookZZ Top, Luis Fonsi and more take overSeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival
SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival starts at the end of January, and besides all the comestibles on offer, there’s a formidable lineup of live music to help with digestion. The initial round of performers has been announced and it includes hit performers past and present — from Boys Like Girls to LeCrae to ZZ Top. Please note that Turnstiles is not Turnstile, the famous hardcore band, but a Billy Joel tribute act (sorry, youngs).
Read full story. Credit: Photo via SeaWorld OrlandoTyler, the Creator
Feb. 22, Kia Center
Tickets via Ticketmaster Credit: Photo via @feliciathegoat/InstagramCity Food Hall
1412 Alden Road, Orlando
City Food Hall in Ivanhoe Village is poised to open late September where The Hall on the Yard once stood, and Danilo’s Pasta Bar chef DJ Tagalin is joining forces with Soseki’s Michael Collantes on three concepts inside the two-story space: Chez Les Copains, a classic French brasserie, Asin – a Filipino chef’s tasting counter, and a reboot of Collantes’ Taglish but with a whole new menu overseen by Tagalin. Other vendors setting up shop inside the two-story food hall are Ramen Takagi and egg sandwich outfit Egg Dose. Credit: Image via Google MapsDeftones, The Mars Volta
March 20, Kia Center
Tickets via Ticketmaster Credit: Image via Deftones/Facebook
