The Best Events in Raleigh in January 2026 (Start the year Strong!)

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Hello 2026. It’s wonderful to see you! We really loved 2025 and all the newness it brought to Wake County. We had so many great new restaurants, cafes, and experiences open. We’re hopeful 2026 will be just as much fun as this city continues to grow into its adolescent skin and offers us even more fun things to do in Raleigh.

Each month we curate a list of the top Raleigh events and happenings for you to consider. January and February are typically much quieter months in Raleigh so you can use these months to focus in on your goals and set good habits. You can also plan your year in advance, with these top festivals and events in Raleigh for 2026

Use the table of contents below to help you navigate or just keep scrolling and read it all. 

Table Of Contents
  1. Ongoing Holiday Events in Jan
  2. Week 1: Jan 1- 4, 2026
  3. Week 2: Jan 5 – 11, 2026
  4. Week 3: Jan 12 – 18, 2026
  5. Week 4: Jan 19 – 25, 2026
  6. Week 5: Jan 26- 31, 2026
  7. Visiting Raleigh for an Event?

Ongoing Holiday Events in Jan

coloruful, illuminated elephant
Chinese Lantern Festival

Just because Christmas is over, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a few holiday events. The below events are still continuing through the month of January 2026.

  1. North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festiva until Jan 11, 2026, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary – one of the hottest events of the Holiday / winter season. The festival has hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns on display creating an incredible, colorful adventure for you to walk through. Get tickets here.
  2. Enjoy Skate the Square in Fenton. We love it and feel it has a magical Christmas vibe, similar to how Christmas in New York feels. Runs until February 8, 2026 @ 5:00 pm $17 includes rental.
  3. Illuminate Raleigh is on in Downtown Raleigh until Jan 6, 2026. The feature this year is the Trumpet Garden on Fayetteville St.
Table Of Contents
  1. Ongoing Holiday Events in Jan
  2. Week 1: Jan 1- 4, 2026
  3. Week 2: Jan 5 – 11, 2026
  4. Week 3: Jan 12 – 18, 2026
  5. Week 4: Jan 19 – 25, 2026
  6. Week 5: Jan 26- 31, 2026
  7. Visiting Raleigh for an Event?

Week 1: Jan 1- 4, 2026

First Friday, Jan 2, 2026

Man in orange shirt looking at art on the wall
  • Where: Downtown Raleigh
  • Time: Sunset to ….

First Friday is a great opportunity to support local art and businesses. Check out the rotating art on display in the downtown galleries and here are some other fun events happening. Given it falling on Jan 2, it may be a quieter First Friday!

Read our guide to First Friday with the events for the month

NC State University Ghost & Urban Legend Walk

  • Where: NC Stae University, Titmus Theater
  • Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm
  • Cost: $15
  • Tickets

We did this tour in the summer with friends and can highly recommend it. It’s only held a couple of times a year. Learn stories about the creepy entities in the university’s underground tunnels, the ghost of a long-dead nurse who still desperately tries to heal the infirm, and the university’s official history claim that the school was supernaturally cursed from its very foundation?

Running Outside the Lines 5K Run, Jan 3, 2026

  • Where: WRAL Soccer Fields (7700 Perry Creek Road Raleigh, NC US 27616)
  • Time: 10 am – 12pm
  • Cost: $15 – $25
  • Registration

Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina is putting on “Running Outside the Lines for Make-A-Wish”. This 5k will take place to support children with critical illnesses and their families. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. 

Don’t want to run? Sign up to be a color thrower instead – sounds loads of fun! Follow along on their Instagram!

Emancipation Day Breakfast, Jan 3, 2026

  • Where: City of Raleigh Museum
  • Time: 8:30am – 9:30am.
  • Cost: $20 per person
  • Tickets

Enjoy a hot breakfast a lecture by Dr. Antwain K. Hunter on Emancipation. Be sure to register in advance!

Fighting for Freedom: Black Civil War Reenactors, Jan 3, 2026

Outside of an old house turned museum
Pope House

Travel back in time to see United States Colored Troops and allies as they tell stories of real-life Black soldiers and their lives in the camps and on the front lines.

Emancipation Day Trolley Tours, Jan 3, 2026

  • Where: Pope House Museum
  • Time: 10 – 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Cost: Adults $15, Children $6
  • Website

Celebrate Emancipation Day by joining local historian Carmen Wimberly Cauthen and Cheryl Williams for a guided tour of Oberlin Village. The trolley will depart from the Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum.

Sporting Events & Concerts this Week

Week 2: Jan 5 – 11, 2026

GLOW Under the Silver Moon Parade: Our Town, Jan 10, 2026

  • Where: Downtown Cary Park
  • Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
  • Cost: Free
  • Website

Wander glowing pathways with handcrafted lanterns created in sustainable workshops led by Gowri Savoor and Angelo Arnold. Enjoy lively performances from the Bulltown Strutters, One Tribe Rhythms, and Caroleeena’s Circle of Joy, plus food trucks under the starry night sky

Sporting Events & Concerts this Week

Week 3: Jan 12 – 18, 2026

marble statue of Dr Martin Luther King in WAshington DC
Dr Martin Luther King Memorial, Washington DC

MLK Day Concert: IMPACT Series II: Chamber Music Treasures- Music by Black Composers, Jan 15, 2026

  • Where: Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608
  • Time: 7:30pm
  • Cost: Free – suggested donation of $15
  • Website:

Faculty and students from the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute will be celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King by performing music of Black composers.

Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Events

  • Holiday Kickoff Event, 45th Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony, Jan 17; 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens. Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr.  Kevin D. Sturdivant, pastor of the historic Springfield Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC.
  • National Day of Racial Healing, Jan 17; 8:30am a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (First Baptist Church, located at 99 N Salisbury Street). The YMCA of the Triangle, Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, and the Encouraging Place invite all leaders, churches, youth organizations, and families to join us for a community conversation on Racial Healing. This year’s program will feature a keynote address from Rev. Chalice Overy of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, whose leadership and voice will ground the morning in reflection, dialogue and purpose. Attendees will also enjoy a musical performance and remarks from community leaders.

New Year, New Laughs: Kiki’s Comedy Club Showcase, Jan 16, 2026

  • Where: Downtown Cary Park Academy Pavillion
  • Time: 7pm – 9:30pm
  • Cost: $10
  • Website

Enjoy a high-energy comedy showcase featuring a mix of Kiki’s favorite comedians, plus an unforgettable headlining set from Kiki Wynns herself. 

2026 MLK Dreamfest: “The Beloved Community: Honoring Dignity, Uplifting Humanity.  Jan 17, 2026

  • Where: Cary Arts Center
  • Time: 4:30pm – 8:30pm
  • Cost: Free
  • Website:

In celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the Town of Cary puts on a series of events and programs to honor his legacy, focus on the issue of civil rights, and provide an opportunity for community service.

The main event, Dreamfest at the Cary Arts Center on Jan 17. offers a blend of entertainment and enlightenment, featuring Keynote Speaker Rev. Jerome Gay Jr., Senior Pastor of Vision Church RDU. Mistress of Ceremonies will be ABC 11’s Kweilyn Murphy.

See more MLK Dreamfest events happening Jan 16 – 19, 2026 in Cary And you can read our guide to Downtown Cary for helpful planning while in town!

NC Vintage Bazaar 2026, Jan 17 & 18, 2026

girls browsing clothes rack at nc vintage bazaar
Credit: NC Vintage Bazaar
  • Where: Expo Center at NC Fairgrounds
  • Time: 12pm – 7pm
  • Cost: $10
  • Website

North Carolina’s largest vintage clothing event will be packed with 100 vintage vendors from across the country bringing you all the best secondhand clothing and accessories, with entirely new vendors each day! Plus, music, food trucks, games, and other special surprises.

Tet Festival, Jan 18, 2026

  • Where: Dorton Arena, NC State Fairgrounds
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Cost: $20
  • Website:

This year the Tet Festival honors the 54 Hues of Vietnam, by celebrating the vibrant cultures of the 54 ethnic groups of the Vietnam. with rich dishes, vendors, music, lion dance, martial arts performances, games, lucky money for children, and more.

Sporting Events & Concerts this Week

Thousands of fans at an indoor ice hockey game
PNC Arena – Go Canes!

Week 4: Jan 19 – 25, 2026

woman looking at statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Memorial Gardens 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens 

Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Events.

Downtown Raleigh Home Show, Jan 23 – 25, 2026

  • Where: Raleigh Convention Center
  • Time: Fri. & Sat., 10am-8pm; Sun., 10am-6pm
  • Cost: $5+
  • Website

Shop for home-related products and services, experience stunning displays to help inspire your next home project, connect with industry experts, and enjoy informative presentations from renowned local and international home professionals.

The Great Cover Up 2026, Jan 23 & 24, 2026

  • Where: KINGS
  • Time: 7pm
  • Cost: $10 – $20
  • Website

A stacked night of a bunch of your favorite locals covering a variety of bangers for a good cause. All proceeds from suggested donations will go to various organizations in The Triangle and beyond who are working to help people who are struggling. 

Astronomy Days, Jan 24 – 25, 2026

  • Where: NC Museum of Natural Sciences
  • Time: 10am – 5pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • Website

Enjoy this weekend celestial adventure that explores the wonders of the universe through technology, telescopes, engaging talks by scientists and plenty of hands-on activities. This year’s theme is Passport to the Moon!

Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo, Jan 24, 2026

  • Where: Lenovo Center
  • Time: 7:30pm
  • Cost: $52.15
  • Tickets

The World’s Toughest Rodeo is a unique combination of family entertainment and fast-paced professional rodeo action with a winner is crowned each performance. The free preshow “down on the dirt” one hour before every performance encourages fans into the arena to meet and greet contestants, specialty entertainers, and even some of the livestock for autographs and photographs. 

2026 Chinese New Year Festival, Jan 25, 2026

  • Where: NC State Fairgrounds’ Dorton Arena in Raleigh
  • Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Cost: $10 in advance (online or local Asia market) and $13 at door. 
  • Website

Lunar New Year Festival celebrating the Year of the Horse with the Triangle community. Enjoy performances, authentic Chinese/ International food & drink for purchase and family-friendly activities.

Sporting Events this Week

Week 5: Jan 26- 31, 2026

Triangle Restaurant Week, Jan 27 – Feb 1, 2026

Goat curry, steamed rice and naan bread from Saffron Indian Restaurant.
Saffron Cary

Looking for a great excuse to try a new restaurant (at a good price!)?

Triangle Restaurant Week provides a great opportunity to savor the culinary favors of our Triangle region. Participating restaurants who offer special 2-3 course menu options during this week in Raleigh. New for 2026, Join Many of the TRW Restaurants for 2 for $20 option from 5-7pm! So, grab your friends, your partner, or even your kids, and try something new. You can see participating restaurants here.

Last year, we discovered the fantastic Saffron Indian Cuisine in Cary, which we’ve now added to our top vegetarian restaurants in Raleigh and best gluten free restaurants in Raleigh.

he Great Cover Up 2026, Jan 30 & 31, 2026

  • Where: KINGS
  • Time: 7pm
  • Cost: $10 – $20
  • Website

A stacked night of a bunch of your favorite locals covering a variety of bangers for a good cause. All proceeds from suggested donations will go to various organizations in The Triangle and beyond who are working to help people who are struggling. 

25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration, Jan 31, 2026

  • Where: NC Museum of Art
  • Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Cost: Free
  • Website

The annual African American Cultural Celebration serves as the statewide kickoff to Black History Month in North Carolina. Multiple demonstrations, presentations, and performances reach thousands of people each year, encouraging strong community ties and the celebration of African American culture. On Fri Jan 30 there will be a virtual cultural education day.

Living In Color Opening Reception

  • Where: The Chapel, Dix Park
  • Time: 1pm – 3:30pm
  • Cost: Free
  • Website

Living in Color is a premiere Black History Month celebration of creativity, shining a month-long spotlight on over 100 artists of every medium, style, and stage in their artistic journey. Curated by Raleigh Film and Art Festival this visual art exhibit represents the experience of people of color living in the south.  The Opening Reception will feature live music, spoken word, and a theatrical dance performance! Mix and mingle with the exhibiting artists and enjoy drinks and light hors d’oeuvres.

Exhibit Hours: Saturdays 12 – 5 pm | Sundays 12 – 5 pm

Sporting Events & Concerts this week

You can also find more ideas to beat the boring Jan vibes with our winter in Raleigh bucket list. We also send out a weekly email, with top picks for the week, as well as other important updates and new blog posts. You can join our free email community by filling in the box below

Visiting Raleigh for an Event?

aerial view of 10th and terrace rooftop with raleigh skyline in background
10th and Terrace

If you’re visit Raleigh from out of town for any weekly events, here are our recommendations for accommodation in downtown Raleigh.

If you are visiting from out of town and have a few extra days, here are some itinerary guides to help you plan out your days exploring Raleigh:

If you found this post on January events helpful, please consider sharing it with any family or friends, or anyone planning to visit Raleigh this month.

What do you have planned for January 2023 in Raleigh or beyond?

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“Your weekly newsletter is a lifesaver for me. Yesterday we didn’t know what to do, I just check your list of events for the weekend, and we ended up in Cary at the Carolina Circus Festival. We had a great time so thanks a lot for all your good work 😊 we really appreciate you” Subscriber

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