What’s new in Dayton Beach, FL

The Daytona Beach area, famed for its beach life and rich motorsports history debuts a host of new and upgraded attractions, exhibits and more throughout 2026.

Whether a first-timer or regular visitor, there will be new coastal fun to discover in Daytona Beach. Look out for these new developments and much more in 2026:

New hotel openings

Residence Inn by Marriott Ormond Beach: This 137-room, five-story oceanfront property is projected to open in the summer 2026. Along with the extended-stay guestrooms, the amenities will include a lobby pool bar, meeting space, complimentary breakfast area, elevated outdoor pool with ocean views, business center, fitness center, guest self-laundry, and sundry shop.

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Daytona Beach Oceanfront: Located in Daytona Beach, the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Daytona Beach has a projected opening of spring 2026 and will feature extended-stay spacious suites with full kitchens, oceanfront event space and bar/lounge.

Renovated amenities and attractions

Billy’s Tap Room: The much-anticipated reopening of Billy’s Tap Room, located on the beachside along Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach, is scheduled for 2026. Billy’s Tap Room is one of the original restaurants of Ormond Beach with a history dating back to 1922. Now under new ownership, this storied restaurant will reopen with a fresh atmosphere but that same historic feel that made it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Menu will include seafood and steaks along with beer and wine on tap and live entertainment.

Daytona Beach Dog Beach: A new dog-friendly beach area has opened in Daytona Beach. The 1.7-mile stretch of shoreline, located between the Williams Avenue and Seabreeze Boulevard approaches, welcomes leashed dogs during daylight hours. Dogs must remain leashed, stay within designated boundaries, owners pick up waste, and dogs do not disturb wildlife or dune vegetation. Other locations along the shoreline of the “World’s Most Famous Beach” for visitors to enjoy the white sand beaches with their dogs include Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet, the south shores in New Smyrna Beach at Smyrna Dunes Park, and the Ormond Beach Dog Beach.

Ocean Center $40 million renovation project: The Ocean Center Convention Complex is undergoing a $40 million renovation in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Upgrades include new arena seating, a new arena floor, LED lighting, sound system enhancements, refreshed greenroom and backstage areas, and new interior and exterior paint. The arena floor is set for completion in December 2025, with new seating installation beginning in February and wrapping in April of 2026. The Ocean Center plans to unveil its upgrades with a community celebration in early spring.

Main Street Arch: The restoration and preservation of one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks has been completed. Originally built in 1936 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and constructed through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Main Street Arch has been a staple of the beachside landscape for nearly 90 years and is an iconic photo backdrop for visitors to the destination.

Jackie Robinson Ballpark Renovation Project: The Jackie Robinson Ballpark Renovation Project represents a significant transformation of the iconic venue where Jackie Robinson played in the first integrated Major League Baseball spring training game in 1946. Home to the Daytona Tortugas, a Cincinnati Reds affiliated minor league team, upgrades at the ballpark began in late 2024 and are expected to be completed in early 2026. The ballpark, designated as a National Commemorative Site and part of the African American Civil Rights Network, opened in 1914 and is the oldest stadium in use in the minor leagues.

The upgrades include:

30,000-square-foot, multi-story player development facility

Home and away clubhouses

Indoor batting cages and fitness areas

Upgraded dugouts and accessible parking

New team stores, offices, club seating and infrastructure improvements

New exhibits 

Expedition: Dinosaur: The Museum of Arts & Sciences is transporting visitors into the age of the dinosaurs with Expedition: Dinosaur, an immersive experience that combines life-like animatronic dinosaurs, exciting interactives and hands-on educational activities that bring the prehistoric world to life. With over a dozen realistic, animatronic dinosaurs— complete with lifelike movement, soundscapes, and special effects — Expedition: Dinosaur creates the unforgettable sensation of walking among these ancient giants.  The exhibit is open through March 29. After March 29, the museum will close (except for special ticketed Planetarium events) to prepare for the construction of a new 90,000 square foot, $150 million museum, which is expected to open in fall 2028.

New flights

Easy-to-use Daytona Beach International Airport, which was named the Commercial Service Airport of the Year for 2024 by the Florida Department of Transportation, continues to add new airlines and flights. JetBlue Airways has returned to Daytona Beach, offering two daily, nonstop routes to New York City (JFK) and Boston (BOS). Also providing air service are American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, and Delta.

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