When Will the Olympics Be in Atlanta Again? What Residents and Visitors Should Know

If you live in Atlanta or are planning a trip here, you might be wondering: When will the Olympics be in Atlanta again?

The short answer: there are currently no confirmed plans for the Olympic Games to return to Atlanta. However, Atlanta remains an important city in Olympic history and still offers plenty of ways to experience that legacy today.

Below is a clear breakdown of what’s known, what’s possible, and how you can explore Atlanta’s Olympic past and ongoing sports scene.

Has Atlanta Been Awarded a Future Olympic Games?

As of now:

• Atlanta has not been selected to host a future Summer or Winter Olympic Games.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chooses host cities many years in advance.
• Upcoming Summer Olympics are already assigned to other cities, so Atlanta is not on the near-term schedule.

While Atlanta is often mentioned in conversations about major sporting events because of its infrastructure and history, no official bid is active and no hosting date has been announced.

If you hear people asking, “When are the Olympics coming back to Atlanta?” they are usually talking about hopes or speculation, not a confirmed plan.

Atlanta’s Olympic History: The 1996 Summer Games

Even if the Olympics are not scheduled to return soon, Atlanta already holds a significant place in Olympic history.

Key facts about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

• Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, sometimes called the “Centennial Olympics.”
• The Games brought major changes to the city’s downtown, transportation, and sports venues.
• Several locations still used today were either built or transformed because of the Olympics.

For residents and visitors, this means you can still see and visit real pieces of Olympic history around the city.

Where You Can Experience the Olympic Legacy in Atlanta

If you’re curious about the Olympics in Atlanta, there are several local destinations worth exploring.

1. Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park is the most visible reminder of the 1996 Games.

• Location: Downtown Atlanta, near the Georgia World Congress Center and State Farm Arena
• Originally built as the central gathering place for fans and visitors during the Olympics
• Today, it’s a public park with:
  • The Fountain of Rings (iconic Olympic rings fountain)
  • Monuments, sculptures, and plaques related to the Games
  • Open lawn areas used for festivals and community events

If you’re asking when the Olympics will be in Atlanta, a visit to Centennial Olympic Park is a good way to see how the Games shaped the city and how that space is still used by Atlantans today.

2. Olympic Cauldron and Nearby Landmarks

The Olympic Cauldron that held the 1996 flame still stands near what used to be the Olympic Stadium.

• The stadium built for the Olympics was later converted to Turner Field, and is now Center Parc Stadium, used by Georgia State University.
• The cauldron serves as a visual reminder of the Games and is often of interest to visitors taking photos or exploring Atlanta’s sports history.

3. Local Sports Venues Connected to the Olympic Era

Some of Atlanta’s venue development and renovation activity around the 1990s and early 2000s connects back—directly or indirectly—to the city’s Olympic moment, including:

• Facilities in and around the Georgia World Congress Center campus
• Evolving transportation and hospitality infrastructure that supported large-scale events

While these sites may not prominently advertise their Olympic connection, they are part of the broader legacy that helped position Atlanta as a modern sports and convention city.

Could the Olympics Come Back to Atlanta?

Many Atlanta residents, sports fans, and civic leaders occasionally speculate about a future bid. There are several factors to consider.

What it takes to host the Olympics

To host again, Atlanta (through regional and national partners) would need to:

1. Submit a formal bid through the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
2. Show that it has:
   • Sufficient stadiums, arenas, and training sites
   • Reliable transportation and accommodation capacity
   • Strong financial and logistical planning
3. Compete against other global cities interested in hosting.

At the moment, no active, official campaign is underway that guarantees or schedules a return of the Games to Atlanta.

Is Atlanta a realistic future host?

From a general perspective, Atlanta does have:

• A track record of successfully hosting the 1996 Olympics
• A strong airport hub (Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport)
• Existing world-class venues and a major-league sports culture

However, the IOC’s decisions are based on a mix of global rotation, politics, infrastructure, and long-term planning. So while it’s possible Atlanta could bid in the future, there is no announced plan or timeline.

If you hear talk about Atlanta “getting the Olympics again,” it’s best to treat it as speculative unless it’s coming from official organizations like the USOPC or city/state government.

What Olympics-Related Events Can You Experience in Atlanta Now?

Even without a new Olympic Games on the calendar, Atlanta remains a major sports city with events that give a similar big-event atmosphere.

Here are some types of events you can look for:

• College and professional championships at venues like Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena
• International friendlies and tournaments in soccer and other sports
• Marathons, road races, and community sports events that trace their roots to Atlanta’s growth as a sporting city

While these aren’t Olympic events, they tap into the same energy of global competition, fandom, and city pride that the Olympics brought in 1996.

Quick Reference: Atlanta and the Olympics

How Atlantans Can Stay Informed About Potential Olympic Bids

If you live in Atlanta and want to keep up with any movement toward another bid:

• Follow announcements from City of Atlanta and State of Georgia leadership.
• Pay attention to updates from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) when they discuss future host city selection.
• Watch for local discussions about major infrastructure projects or feasibility studies related to international sporting events.

For day-to-day life in Atlanta, there is no need to plan around a future Olympic Games, because none is scheduled. But if a serious bid were ever launched, it would likely come with public discussion, news coverage, and community input opportunities.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta and Curious About the Olympics

If your main question is practical—“I’m in Atlanta, what can I do that’s Olympic-related?”—here are simple ideas:

• 🏅 Walk through Centennial Olympic Park and check out the Fountain of Rings and Olympic monuments.
• 📸 Visit the Olympic Cauldron for photos and a sense of the 1996 Games’ scale.
• 🚶 Explore nearby downtown attractions built up around the same period, such as major venues, museums, and entertainment districts.

This is the best way to experience the Olympics in Atlanta today, since there is no upcoming Olympic Games scheduled in the city.

In summary: Atlanta is not currently scheduled to host another Olympics, and no official return date exists. However, the city’s 1996 legacy is still very visible, and residents and visitors can explore that history firsthand while enjoying the broader sports culture that the Games helped accelerate.