In 2026, Afar suggests you go to St. Louis. The travel magazine this week highlights select locations all over the world “that are on the rise and off the beaten path,” including St. Louis as a not-to-be-missed artistic hub of the Midwest.
From the $380 million CityArchRiver transformation in Downtown to Grand Center Arts District’s glittering venues and stages, the jewels of St. Louis’ arts and culture scene are on full display in this national profile.
The Bottom Line: As Vanessa Cooksey, CEO of the Regional Arts Commission, reminds us in this week’s STLMade story, the arts in St. Louis generate nearly $1 billion in economic impact each year. From venerable institutions to up-and-coming initiatives, the arts here are world-class — and we should be talking about them far and wide with pride.
“We have over 660 arts and culture nonprofit organizations in this region,” said Cooksey, “and these artists and arts organizations aren’t just what makes St. Louis cool, but they make St. Louis livable.”