The new year is a great time to seek out new experiences. Fortunately in Madison, you'll be able to do that all year long. 2025 is set to be an exciting year for the capital city filled with new sports teams, events, restaurants and some big anniversaries worth celebrating.
New things are happening all the time in Madison and we don't want you to miss out. Subscribe to our newsletter for monthly (and more) updates on what's going on in the capital city.
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LOVB Madison Professional Women's Volleyball
First set: Jan. 17
Madison's first professional women's sports team will kick off its inaugural season in 2025 with an all-star lineup including some MVPs who are not new to Madison. League One Volleyball (known as LOVB, pronounced as "love") is a professional volleyball league that fosters a love for the sport from youth clubs up to the pro level. Madison's team will be the newest addition to the league and will join existing programs from Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Omaha and Salt Lake City.
LOVB Madison will be home to three former UW-Madison volleyball players: Temi Thomas-Ailara, 2023 ESPY Female Athlete of the Year Nominee Sarah Franklin and Olympic silver medalist Lauren Carlini. Each athlete helped UW-Madison solidify its reputation as a premier destination for college volleyball during their time as Badgers.
In addition to Carlini, LOVB Madison's roster will include another Olympian, Annie Schumacher, who took home a gold medal in 2020 and silver in 2024.
The team will play its first two games on Jan. 17 and 18 at the Wisconsin Field House. The rest of the season will be played at the Alliant Energy Center and will last through early April.
Madison Public Market
Opening early 2026
Talks of a year-round indoor public market have swirled around Madison for years, but after some unexpected construction delays in 2025, the talk will turn to action in 2026. The Madison Public Market is set to open on Madison's near-east side and be home to dozens of local merchants specializing in food, wellness, art, gifts and more.
The public market will be host to more than shopping and dining. The space will serve as a business incubator and accelerator to help launch futures for local up-and-coming business owners. Businesses being supported by the incubator and accelerator program will complement a lineup of permanent booths and businesses in the market.
The first merchants confirmed to call the Madison Public Market home include:
- Melly Mell's Catering: A Black-woman-owned soul food catering company that has been serving local celebrations and events for several years.
- Little Tibet: This beloved restaurant and food truck will expand to its second location serving Tibetan and Himalayan food.
- Caracas Empanadas and Arepas: Caracas has served Madisonians Venezuelan food from their colorful food truck for decades and now will serve even more people from its market space.
- Tamaleria el Poblano and El Sabor de Puebla: This husband and wife duo will transform their tamale business to become a Puebla-style cocina and juice/smoothie bar at the market.
- Perfect Imperfections: Marketgoers will enjoy handcrafted, chemical-free body care crafted from local ingredients thanks to its first retail vendor.
You can find the Madison Public Market in early 2026 at the corner of Johnson and First streets.
Madison Monopoly
Available in summer 2025
Madison's first and only official Monopoly game will be available this summer featuring a lineup of Madison icons along the board. You'll play as all the classic Monopoly game pieces as you venture to buy properties named for famous Madison locations nominated by the community. Madison will be the first Wisconsin community to have an official licensed Monopoly game.
The game will be on sale online and in local stores after launch.
New Places to Stay
New Glarus Hotel
Opening summer/fall 2025
A 171-year-old icon in the Swiss-inspired town of New Glarus will be revived this year with the reopening of The New Glarus Hotel and its accompanying restaurant. The historic building is being renovated by Nic Mink, known for bringing to life Seven Acre Dairy Company in Paoli, a hotel with multiple restaurants located in a former creamery.
The chalet-style hotel will house eight upscale rooms and suites. Its accompanying restaurant, The Yodel Room, will be a refined take on a traditional supper club featuring locally sourced fare and live entertainment.
Springhill Suites by Marriott-Fitchburg
Opening fall 2025
There will be 100 new rooms to stay at in Fitchburg this year once Springhill Suites by Marriott opens on the city's west side near Quivey's Grove restaurant and the Military Ridge State Trail.
New restaurants
Alimentari
The Italian sandwich shop and artisanal grocery store opened a new location on Monroe Street.
Ashirwad
One of the newest additions to downtown Madison's iconic State Street is an Indian restaurant opened by the owners of the beloved The Globe fusion restaurant. Ashirwad specializes in classic Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala and palak paneer.
Ático
The owners of Pasqual's Cantina and Taberna have opened a new rooftop restaurant at the Moxy Hotel. Ático specializes in Latin American cuisine and cocktails with a mix of casual and upscale menu items.
Baked Wings and Things
A chicken-based restaurant specializing in baked chicken wings has opened in a premier spot on State Street that had been vacant the last 10 years. Baked Wings and Things will expand on Madison's late-night food scene, staying open until midnight during the week and until 2:30 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
Fya Side Kitchen
Classic dishes with a Jamaican twist and beloved Caribbean fare is coming to Monroe Street. Fya Side Kitchen will opened in the former Taberna Tacos & Tequila space.
Honey Barrel
A new cocktail lounge specializing in bourbon has opened in Verona. Honey Barrel features seven unique types of Old Fashioneds and even serves Old Fashioned flights!
HWY 1
This June, Miko Poke on Monroe Street will evolve into HWY 1—a fast-casual restaurant inspired by Mexico’s colorful Federal Highway 1. The menu will include Baja-inspired dishes like burritos and burrito bowls alongside draft margaritas and sangria.
JavaAbilities
Inclusivity is on the menu at Monona's newest coffee shop. JavaAbilities employs people with disabilities to give people opportunities to learn valuable skills and meet new people.
Korill Hut
A new Korean barbeque and hot pot restaurant has opened inside East Towne Mall. Enjoy a lineup of your favorite Korean dishes and an extensive boba menu.
Level 5 Donuts
Madison's beloved vegan donut bakery will open its first physical location in May. The bakery, known for its one-of-a-kind flavors and custom box option will share space with Fortune Favors at 2086 Atwood Avenue.
Moon Bar
A couple of UW–Madison alumni hope to make a splash on the campus-area bar and restaurant scene with the opening of Moon Bar in the space of the former Danny's Pub. The menu focuses on classic bar food and Wisconsin traditions like fish fry and leans into the campus locale by offering Friday after class specials and hangover brunches on Sunday.
Mishqui Peruvian
The beloved Peruvian restaurant opened its third location this Spring. The new restaurant opened in downtown Madison at the former Little Palace on King Street.
Nar Turkish Halal
A new casual halal restaurant opened in February on Madison's east side. Nar Turkish Halal's menu includes falafel, wraps, kofte and more all under the guiding principles of "plenty, tasty, cheap."
Orchard
Owners of The Cider Farm, a former cidery on Madison's west side, opened a gastropub in Verona this spring featuring classic Wisconsin fare alongside elevated dishes, all made from locally sourced ingredients.
Osteria Novella
The culinary superstar who started Bar Corallini is opening a new Italian restaurant on the west side of Madison. Giovanni Novella will open Osteria Novella in the Quarry Shoppes & Apartments building at 2903 University Ave. in late 2026.
Pink Flamingo Brunch Cafe
If there's two things Madisonians love its pink flamingos and brunch. The Pink Flamingo Brunch Cafe is an LGBTQ+, Latino-owned restaurant on State Street that covers all the breakfast classics, sandwiches and a raw bar oysters and shrimp.
Sern Sapp
An authentic Laotion restaurant has opened on Willy Street by a brother and sister duo known for their other Madison staple restaurant Lao Laan Xang. Sern Sapp has opened in Lao Laan Xang's previous Willy Street location.
Stellie's Ice Cream
A popular local ice cream truck, formerly known as the Dairy Godmother, has rebranded to Stellie's Ice Cream opened its first storefront at 1815 E. Washington Ave. on June 1.
Stuffed Bagels
Stoughton's newest breakfast spot is embracing the familiar and leaning into what they do best. The aptly named stuffed bagels will specialize in bagels stuffed with cream cheese and dipped in butter offered in a variety of flavor combinations. The storefront will open this fall for weekends only.
Zafferano Ristorante
Located adjacent to Fitchburg's Wyndham Garden is a new restaurant that brings a unique blend of Italian and Indian cuisines. Zafferano's bold flavor combinations include paneer caprese skewers, baba ghanoush pizza, masala chicken parmesan and more.
New Spaces
Art house 360
Open now
A group of Dane County artists will open a new multicultural arts space in Verona this spring aimed to provide the community with arts education programming, working space, exhibition and performance space, and a gathering place for people of all backgrounds. ART House 360 will be home to visual and performing artists in addition to welcoming the entire community to use the space for collaboration and inspiration.
ART House 360 plans to expand to include public event space in 2026.
Atwood Music Hall
Open now
Madison's trendy east side will soon accommodate more private and public events with the addition of Atwood Music Hall. The upscale venue touts being a space to showcase creatives while tackling racial and socioeconomic inequality in the arts.
Ba Loa
Opening this fall
The owners of Ahan are expanding their reach on Willy Street with Ba Lao, a new bar across the street from their restaurant. The bar will serve drinks, boba tea and to-go sandwiches.
The Gathering Place
Open now
Seven Acre Dairy Co. will add another offering to its dining and entertainment repertoire. The Gathering Place sits on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, atop an ancient Driftless ridge and surrounded by towering old-growth oaks and restored prairie. The outdoor entertainment hub holds a stage, a variety of seating options and concessions.
The Gathering Place kicks off its inaugural summer with its Summer Concert Series on May 24 with events recurring weekly through Aug. 9.
Ivy and Ink Book Boutique
Open now
Madison's newest bookstore was started by a mother and daughter who have turned their passion for books into a creative space for community. Ink and Ivy Book Boutique is home to a selection of books and gifts carefully curated by owners Eden and Shannon. Eden's passion for books and Shannon's love for gift giving are combined in a cozy and welcoming space that radiates major "Gilmore Girls" energy.
Madison Paperbacks
Open now
Madison's source for eclectic books has opened inside its new location on Atwood Avenue. Madison Paperbacks prides itself on carrying old books, weird books and good books cleverly arranged in one-of-a-kind store sections.
One09
Opening soon
Part residential complex, part public space, One09 will soon provide a public food hall, promenade and plaza that’s walkable from Monona Terrace and also overlooks the Lake Monona waterfront.
Saunaday
Open now
Dedicated to social self care, Saunaday is a new bathhouse and sauna in downtown Madison. The wellness space offers a communal bathhouse, infrared saunas, Hinoki hot soaks, private suites and more.
Events
Syttende Mai Festival
May 16 – 18
Stoughton's annual Syttende Mai Festival will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first organized migration from Norway to North America, a significant milestone for the city that prides itself on its Norwegian heritage. Stoughton was the landing place for many Norwegian immigrants in the 1800s and 1900s with as much as 75% of the city having spoken Norwegian during the city's peak of Scandinavian migration. Norwegian history is on display throughout the city, but especially at the Livsreise history center in downtown Stoughton.
Programming for the 200th anniversary celebration is pending. Syttende Mai celebrations include Norwegian dancing, a parade, a Viking strongman show, food stations and more.
True North Festival
September 27
Celebrate some of the best food and music in Madison at this brand new festival on the city's north side hosted by Lola's Hi-Lo Lounge and the Madison Mallards. A dozen local restaurants including James Beard honorees Ahan and Heritage Tavern will be at Warner Park serving delicious bites alongside the musical lineup of Pokey Lafarge, People Brothers Band, Mama Digdowns Brass Band and more. Plus, $2 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Dane County Food Collective.
