The holidays are over, the leftovers are gone, and you maybe even caught the "Stranger Things" finale. Welcome to 2026. Who knows what the new year will bring? We do, at least in a few instances. Here are some of the bigger (and smaller) things happening in Greater Boston over the next 12 months. Early in the year: The federal government has continued its efforts to cease most offshore wind projects along the East Coast, which has put a damper on efforts to bring cheap, clean power to Massachusetts. But a yearslong effort to bring hydro power from Canada is nearly complete. That should mean a modest $1.50 average savings on your power bill. The addition of hydro power isn't the only step the state says it's taking to tackle sky-high energy bills. A White Stadium cost update is coming soon, according to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu' administration. Soon, in this case, is a relative term: The mayor's office now says a cost estimate is coming in early 2026, moving the goalposts after saying for months the updated price tag would be available by the end of 2025. ACA health insurance premiums are about to jump bigly, despite a federal government shutdown and efforts to draft a December resolution to extend the subsidies. March 14: Boston Legacy FC plays its first ever game at Gillette Stadium, as White Stadium renovations won’t be complete for the home opener. It's a big step for a club that wrong-footed its would-be fan base early on, with a name and branding rollout that was met with derision. The team made good with its second effort, picking a name and delightfully angry-looking swan logo. March 17: The date marks the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day, when the nascent American army fortified Dorchester Heights overnight and drove the British out of Boston. It's a no-school holiday in Suffolk County (as is Bunker Hill Day in June. As a former Revere kid, I didn't realize how good we had it). April 19: Last year was the big anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, but Patriots' Day continues to be one of the great regional holidays in America. It also doubles as Marathon Monday, as thousands of runners challenge themselves with the Boston Marathon. There's also a morning Red Sox game at Fenway if you like your sports contained in a park. May: Find something else to do other than Boston Calling on Memorial Day weekend. The city's annual music festival, once a showcase of young talent, now increasingly a cavalcade of nostalgia acts (and a local stage, to be fair) will miss a turn in 2026. Promoters said they'll be back in June of 2027. Maybe, and we're just spitballin' here, you could consider coming to the WBUR Festival, which returns for a second year starting May 29. June and early July: The World Cup comes to the hub of the universe. Or close enough, anyway. What we do know is a couple of favorites (France, England) and a few dark horse contenders (Morocco, Norway, Scotland) will take the pitch in Foxborough. Here's the match schedule: - June 13: Haiti vs. Scotland
- June 16: (The winner of a playoff between Bolivia, Iraq and Suriname) vs. Norway
- June 19: Scotland vs. Morocco
- June 23: England vs. Ghana
- June 26: Norway vs. France
- June 29: Round of 32 game
- July 9: Quarter-finals game
July 11-16: The tall ships sail back to Boston for the first time since 2017. Oct. 16-18: If you prefer your boats short, check out the Head of the Charles, where hundreds of athletes from around the world navigate the murky river water between Boston and Cambridge. Fall elections: It's election time, and there are some biggies in Massachusetts this year. The state's primary is Sept. 1, and the general comes on Nov. 3. In addition to the races below, Bay Staters may get a chance to weigh in on any number of ballot questions on taxation, housing and more. Mass. governor: There are already three Republican candidates in the race to face Gov. Maura Healey in November. Senate: Sen. Ed Markey has a formidable primary challenger in Rep. Seth Moulton. The winner of the primary will likely square off with veteran candidate John Deaton, who is making his second run for Senate after losing to Elizabeth Warren in 2024. House: Moulton's tilt with Markey has left a political vacuum up in Essex County, where a host of candidates are vying for the 6th District's seat in Congress. New Hampshire: The political fray continues up I-95, where New Hampshire's Congressional races could help determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. Maine: Drive further up the interstate to Maine, and you'll find a barn-burner of a primary where oyster fisherman Graham Platner brings considerable grassroots support for his Senate bid. Standing in his way is Gov. Janet Mills, who has the support of Democratic party leadership. The prize for that primary fight is the chance to run against Sen. Susan Collins, who has survived a number of re-election bids in her career. December: A giant truck carrying a giant tree takes a giant trip from Nova Scotia to Boston, as the Canadian province sends us another conifer to help us celebrate the holiday season. That's when we can start to prepare for the holidays, and 2027. See you then. More will happen, but this at least should give you some ideas to add to your brand-new planner. Happy New Year! | 
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