WHAT’S NEW: WINTER 2025-26

RESORT ROUNDUP

• JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is undergoing a $24-million transformation of its iconic spa. Set to debut in January 2026, the fully remodeled spa will offer deeply personalized and nature-connected wellness experiences rooted in its new ariVéa philosophy – a holistic approach that blends timeless rituals with the energy and serenity of the Sonoran Desert. Guests can discover personalized pathways to well-being through sound therapy, hydrotherapies and desert-inspired treatments. Highlights include 20 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pools, an indoor Wellness Circuit, new Wellness Studio with sound baths, and the debut of Ora Café.

DOWNTIME DIVERSIONS

• Scottsdale Skin and Head Spa in Old Town is a boutique wellness studio offering Scottdale’s most unique and relaxing head spa experience. Rooted in ancient Eastern traditions and paired with modern wellness techniques, their signature scalp treatments feature aromatic oils, gentle exfoliation, warm steam and soothing massage to promote healthy hair growth, relieve stress and rebalance the nervous system. Combination treatments that blend holistic facials and head spa rituals also are available. Each service is fully customizable to the client’s individual needs.
• Scottdale’s Puzzle Rides, an immersive game company helmed by Katie and Gregg Dufort, has been recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses – Disrupters Category by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This category celebrates businesses that have boldly ventured into uncharted territory by introducing groundbreaking products or services, or by redefining traditional business structures. Puzzle Rides offers escape-room-on-a-golf-cart-style adventures in Old Town for groups of 15 to 100 people.
• Beyond Van Gogh, an immersive art experience, is coming back to Old Town Scottdale and will run from Oct. 10, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026. Cutting-edge projection technology and an original score breathe new life into more than 300 of Van Gogh’s artworks that are projected on the walls and floor of the 30,000-square-foot exhibition space. A Creation Station lets you create your own art, while all-level yoga classes on select dates provide a uniquely relaxing experience.

SIP & SAVOR

• A long-time local favorite for its fine-dining dinner service, Old Town’s Café Monarch  is now open for an elevated lunch and brunch experience every Wednesday through Sunday. The midday menu features highlights including orange pancakes with Grand Marnier maple syrup, smoked salmon salad with whipped crème fraiche, New Zealand rack of lamb, and a Wagyu burger topped with caramelized onions, smashed avocado and tomato jam.
• New to Scottsdale Fashion Square is Society Swan, the latest concept from Valley restauranteur Sam Fox. Billed as an American brasserie inspired by timeless style, Society Swan bridges East Coast poise with Parisian charm to present a spirited take on dining, where “elegance, mischief and mood converge.” Menu highlights include the 10-vegetable chopped salad, a sushi and sashimi tower, chicken Francese and slow-roasted prime rib.
• Tucked inside The REMI Scottsdale hotel in Old Town, Kauboi dishes up robata-grilled specialties, fresh sushi and a curated selection of Japanese whiskies. Try delicacies from the raw menu, including Wagyu steak tartare and smoking tuna, or opt for fire-grilled seafood and prime meats like the The Kauboi Cut, a 40-ounce bone-in Senku tomahawk ribeye.

HOLIDAY PARTY PLANNING

Thinking of planning a holiday party for your team? We can help! As a resource to our local community, Experience Scottsdale provides free assistance in locating and securing the perfect venue for your upcoming celebration. This means less time scouring the Internet and calling businesses, freeing up your time to focus on enjoying the festivities.

Let us know your party size and preferences, and we’ll connect you to the best available options in town, such as:

• Private Dining Rooms
• Restaurant & Venue Buyouts
• Hotel & Resort Event Spaces
• Outdoor Patios & Lawns
• Interactive Activity Spaces
• One-of-a-Kind Ideas

Reach out to us here for assistance!

EVENTS

•  Zoolights gives winter nights a glow-up at the Phoenix Zoo from Nov. 26, 2025 to Jan. 16, 2026. Millions of twinkling lights transform the Zoo into a dazzling holiday spectacle as you walk along the illuminated pathways alongside animal habitats. Don’t miss the 200-foot-long Light Tunnel and photo ops with Santa.
• Stroll the pathways of the Desert Botanical Garden after dark and enjoy luminaria-lit trails, holiday lights, live music and entertainment, and festive food and drink during Las Noches de las Luminarias. The event, which runs on select dates from Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, 2025, is the perfect opportunity to also see “LIGHT BLOOM” by HYBYCOZO, an art exhibition in which nature and art unite in glowing, geometric brilliance. 
• Vineyards in the Valley returns to Scottsdale Stadium for its highly anticipated second year on Dec. 6, 2025. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a variety of wines, enjoy upscale hors d'oeuvres, and bid on exclusive items and experiences via silent auction. Proceeds from the event support Hope for Haiti and its work to provide cancer screenings, nutrition support and access to life-saving medications.
• Hosted by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, the 2025 Rate Bowl returns to nearby Chase Field on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, with kick-off slated for 2:30 p.m. MST. This thrilling college football competition will feature teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences.
• The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, one of college football’s elite post-season games and known as the “Bowl of Firsts,” makes history once again when it hosts the first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal on Jan. 8, 2026 at State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale, Arizona. This game will feature one of the top-four conference champions matched up against the first-round playoff game winner between teams seeded 5-12 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings.
• The Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction rolls into WestWorld of Scottsdale Jan. 17-25, 2026, with thousands of the world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles slated to cross the auction block. Guests at the auction can mingle with celebrities, experience adrenaline-pumping thrill rides in the latest vehicles from America’s top automakers and shop in the vast Exhibitor Marketplace.
• Scottsdale Western Week, Jan. 24 through Feb. 1, 2026, celebrates the city’s heritage through a variety of exiting events including the arrival of Pony Express, Gold Palette ArtWalk, Parada del Sol Parade & Trail’s End Festival, and the Arizona Indian Festival. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with Old Town’s history and view cultural exhibitions at Western Spirt: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West and the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum.
• Every year, the WM Phoenix Open attracts the top names on the PGA Tour to the TPC Scottsdale for “The Greatest Show on Grass.” Taking place Feb. 2-8, 2026, the Open will see 2025 champ Thomas Detry defending his title against the top-ranked players on the Tour. The fun continues off the course Wednesday through Friday evenings at the Coors Light Birds Nest, a series of live concerts featuring headliners John Summit, Zach Top and Bailey Zimmerman.
• Since 1955, the annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. From Feb. 12-22, 2026, nearly 2,400 horses representing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world will compete at WestWorld of Scottsdale in events including Western Pleasure, Reining, Ranch Riding and English Dressage. The event marketplace offers an outstanding selection of equestrian-inspired clothing, jewelry, leather goods and accessories.
• Though team schedules had not been released at press time, it’s never too early to start making plans for Cactus League Spring Training, which is set to take place Feb. 19 through March 24, 2026! Spring Training baseball under the warm Scottsdale sun has been a tradition since 1947. Catch the San Francisco Giants in “home” games at Scottsdale Stadium in Old Town, and the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Click here to view Scottsdale’s complete calendar of events!