The Atlanta Olympics took place from July 19 to August 4, 1996.
Officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, they put Atlanta on the global map and reshaped much of the city you see today.
If you live in Atlanta, are visiting, or are just trying to understand how the Olympics changed the city, it helps to know not only when they happened, but also where they were held and what is still visible around town.
Here’s a quick look at the main timeline:
| Event | Date (1996) | Atlanta Context |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Ceremony | July 19, 1996 | Held at what was then Centennial Olympic Stadium (now Turner Field/Georgia State’s stadium area) |
| Olympic Competitions | July 20 – August 4 | Events held across metro Atlanta and nearby venues |
| Centennial Olympic Park Bombing | July 27 | Occurred at Centennial Olympic Park downtown |
| Closing Ceremony | August 4, 1996 | Also held at Centennial Olympic Stadium |
The Paralympic Games followed later, from August 16 to August 25, 1996, also centered in Atlanta.
Even though the Games ended decades ago, you can still see many of the key Olympic sites around Atlanta.
Today, it’s a downtown green space surrounded by major attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. Locals and visitors still come to:
If you want a quick, tangible connection to “When was the Atlanta Olympics?”, this is the easiest place to start—most features reference the 1996 dates and logo.
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 1996 took place at Centennial Olympic Stadium. After the Games, it was converted into Turner Field for the Atlanta Braves, and later reconfigured again as Center Parc Stadium for Georgia State University football.
In the surrounding Summerhill neighborhood, you can still find:
If you drive or walk the area, you’re literally circling part of the 1996 Olympic footprint, even though it now functions as a college football stadium.
During the 1996 Games, Georgia Tech served as the Olympic Village, housing thousands of athletes and staff.
Many of the residence halls and athletic facilities used in 1996 are still in use for students now. If you’re walking around Midtown:
While the core dates were July 19–August 4, 1996, the events were spread across several metro-area locations:
Georgia World Congress Center (Downtown): Hosted some indoor competitions and media operations.
285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Georgia Dome (since demolished): Former site of gymnastics and basketball. It stood where Mercedes-Benz Stadium is now, in the same general complex.
Stone Mountain Park: Hosted events like tennis and archery, just east of Atlanta.
1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Athens, Georgia (about 70 miles from Atlanta): Hosted soccer events at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, tied into the Atlanta 1996 schedule.
If you’re exploring the region, you’re never too far from a place that played some role in summer 1996.
Knowing when the Olympics were held is one piece; understanding how those 1996 dates still shape daily life in Atlanta is another.
Leading up to July 1996, Atlanta invested heavily in:
If you use MARTA today to get to downtown, Midtown, or the airport, you’re benefitting from upgrades that were influenced by the Games period.
The timeframe before and after the 1996 Olympics pushed a major push to:
For locals, many of the places used for concerts, festivals, and family outings today trace directly back to the preparation for those July–August 1996 Olympic weeks.
If you’re in Atlanta and curious about “When was the Atlanta Olympics?” and what remains, here’s how to turn that question into a quick self-guided experience:
📝 Tip: Early morning or late afternoon visits are usually calmer and cooler, especially in summer.
From downtown, you can:
This gives you a feel for how a major Olympic venue was repurposed into long-term local infrastructure.
If you’re already in Midtown:
It’s a practical way to see how a temporary international housing site became part of a permanent university environment.
For anyone in Atlanta asking “When was the Atlanta Olympics?”, the answer is firmly rooted in the summer of 1996—but its effects are still visible across the city every day, from the park you walk through downtown to the stadiums and transit routes you use to get around.
