From the Thunder to Route 66, 2026 Is Already a Big Year in Oklahoma

From the Thunder to Route 66, 2026 Is Already a Big Year in Oklahoma

Photo by Vincentas Liskauskas on Unsplash

The biggest news of 2026 has to be the Oklahoma City Thunder. They're the reigning NBA champs and heavily favored to repeat, but they're also breaking ground on the new "world-class" arena in Bricktown.

Politics will have a big year too. Sure, everyone across Oklahoma will be debating who will be the new governor in 2026, but we'll also be voting on:

  • One U.S. Senator
  • Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
  • Attorney General of Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
  • Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Oklahoma State Treasurer
  • 1 of the 3 Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners
  • Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor
  • Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
  • All seats in the House of Representatives
  • All seats of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
  • Half of the seats in the Oklahoma State Senate

On the policy side, the state is rolling out a standardized felony sentencing system, increasing the adoption tax credit, and implementing transparency programs. Those aren’t flashy headline grabbers, but they quietly affect us all in real ways.

The Mother Road

And then there’s Route 66. The Centennial is here, and if you live anywhere near the Mother Road, you already know what that means. Festivals, nostalgia, chrome, neon, and tourists taking photos of things we’ve driven past our entire lives without a second thought. There are a few museums that are set to open along the route this year, which should make for some good day-trips.

Finally, Legends Tower. Supposedly the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere should start construction this year. People are excited and skeptical... after the American Heartland Theme Park saga, that side-eye feels earned. Still, if it actually rises, it’ll change the skyline and the conversation.

2026 feels busy already. And for once, that’s not a bad thing.

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Categories: Travel, Oklahoma News, New Year

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