Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade Celebration Returns to Fall for 2026Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade Celebration Returns to Fall for 2026

After stormy weather caused the 15th Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade to be canceled, Atlanta Beltline Art is excited to announce that the 2026 celebration will be returning to the fall. The beloved annual tradition, which brings together thousands of Atlantans, countless marching bands, and hundreds of lanterns and giant puppets, will take place on Saturday, September 19.

First introduced in 2010, the parade has grown from a few hundred participants to one of Atlanta’s most anticipated annual traditions. Though originally a fall event, the parade moved to spring after a short COVID-19 hiatus. The return to a fall date reflects both community feedback and a desire to create a more reliable, weather-resilient experience.

“The Lantern Parade is a cornerstone of our arts programming and a powerful example of how public art can bring people together,” said Amina Cooper, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.’s Director of Arts & Culture. “This return to a fall date strengthens the experience for everyone involved, from artists and performers to the thousands who come out each year.”

The public is invited to create their own lanterns to walk in the parade or to set up along the route for viewing. Free and paid lantern workshops, led by Rytter and her team, will be announced in the coming months. 

“I believe we have a common calling to delight one another,” said Rytter. “To see the people we share a community with as playful volumes of light, and to be witnessed as such, does a body good. It is restorative. It is collective joy, and we need it. Your creative play is a gift to our city.”

Following the conclusion of the parade, all are invited to join the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, participating bands, and parade-goers at the official “All-Band-Puppet-Jam.” This unique opportunity provides Atlantans with a chance to interact with the giant puppets up close. Time and location details will be shared closer to the date, along with the exact route details. 

To stay on top of the latest Lantern Parade updates, visit Beltline.org/art/lantern-parade/ or follow on social media @atlantabeltline.

The 2026 Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition and programming is sponsored by Delta Air Lines at the Gold level; Northside Hospital and Ponce City Market at the Silver level. The 2026 Kids Lantern Parade is sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and funding from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. Atlanta Beltline Art also receives direct support through an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

About Atlanta Beltline Art
Atlanta Beltline Art is the largest outdoor temporary art exhibition in the southeast, activating spaces along roughly 12 miles of the planned 22-mile corridor. The public art featured in the annual exhibition is carefully selected by an arts and culture expert jury and community members based on set criteria that aim to be as inclusive and equitable as possible. The linear gallery represents artists from across the region in a variety of mediums: sculpture, murals, dance, music, theater, photography, fashion, film and more. The Beltline welcomes over 2 million users a year, who are exposed to a number of art installations from the temporary and continuing exhibitions. To date, more than 90 projects have been commissioned as a part of the growing year-round collection. Stay abreast of Atlanta Beltline Art announcements and events at Beltline.org/art, or follow on social media @AtlantaBeltline and with #BeltlineArt.

About the Atlanta Beltline 
The Atlanta Beltline is the 22-mile rail-to-trail project that is transforming Atlanta’s neighborhoods, one mile at a time. The Beltline’s vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. With an additional 11 miles of connector trails, the Atlanta Beltline is one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States. In partnership with local communities and organizations, the Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, vibrant public spaces, and community-focused programs that promote health and wellness, resident retention, volunteerism and advocacy along the corridor. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline and collaborates with Atlanta Beltline Partnership, the foundation that raises private and philanthropic funds and delivers community programs that are fully supported by donor contributions. For more information, please visit www.beltline.org or follow on social media at @atlantabeltline.

Media Contacts:
Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Office of Communications and Media Relations
100 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30303

Keona Swindler, Communications & Media Relations Manager 
404.477.3550, kswindler@atlbeltline.org    

Sigele Winbush, PR Consultant
404.862.2081, sigele@sigelewinbush.com