The end of 2025 might feel a bit melancholy, but there are plenty of things to look forward to in the year ahead. These milestones and events are worth adding to every Madisonian’s calendar.
Madison Public Market opening
After over two years of construction and several delays, it’s official: Madison Public Marketis opening in 2026 on Madison’s east side. Upon its completion, the market will be a hub for small, local businesses, offering 28 permanent booth spaces and hosting public events like craft festivals and food fairs.
L’Etoile’s 50th anniversary
A staple of Madison’s fine dining scene, L’Etoileis celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Over the course of those five decades, the Capitol Square restaurant has had several owners, switched locations, and garnered numerous accolades from both local and national organizations and publications — all while remaining committed to supporting Wisconsin producers and the Dane County Farmers’ Market. As a result, L’Etoile has become a beloved dining destination in Madison that the city is sure to be happy to celebrate.
USL W League team comes to Breese Stevens Field in May
A pre-professional women’s soccer team is coming to Madison this year. In August, Forward Madison FC announced that it had secured the rights to a women’s United Soccer League team. Rally Madison FC (which revealed its name and logo in December) will be the first women’s sports franchise to call Breese Stevens Field home — a significant milestone for the venue, which is celebrating its 100th year in 2026.
Eaux Claires Music Festival returns in July
On Dec. 9, Eaux Claires Music Festivalteased its 2026 return on Instagramafter a seven-year hiatus, later announcing that it would return to Eau Claire on July 24 and 25.
Dubbed “the anti-music-festival festival”by Aaron Dessner of The National (who co-founded Eaux Claires with Wisconsin native Justin Vernon of Bon Iver), Eaux Claires brought major artists including Lizzo, Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper and Paul Simon to Wisconsin from 2015-2018.
Until its return in July, Wisconsinites can only wonder if the heavily anticipated festival will announce its lineup in advance, or if there’ll be a repeat of 2018, when the lineup — which included heavy-hitting indie acts like Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and The National — was kept secret until the last minute.
AC/DC performs at Camp Randall in July
2025 marked the triumphant return of concerts to Camp Randallafter nearly two decades, and Madison’s music fans will be delighted to hear that they won’t need to wait another 18 years to hear live music at the stadium. On July 19, AC/DC, the Australian rock band behind hits like “Highway to Hell” and “Back in Black,” will bring its “Power Up” tour to Camp Randall. It will be the venue’s first rock concert since The Rolling Stones performed there in 1997…