Katy Officials Talk What the City Can Look Forward to in 2026
- ncookclark
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KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
January 19, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
This New Year is set to be a great year as the City of Katy continues to celebrate great gains and things to come. See what’s on the horizon.
2026 is set to be a great year for the City of Katy as the area continues to grow and do great things for local residents. Last year saw the completion of the renovation of the Historic Town Square that will continue to host award-winning events.
“Katy’s Historic Town Square is complete and will be home to many City sponsored special events, including, but not limited to the Katy Exchange which benefits non-profits and local charities,” says City of Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele.
To learn about these events, follow the City of Katy website and follow the City of Katy Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
“We’re bringing back several community favorites that were big hits in 2025—Street Dance on the Square, Katy Car Showdown, and Cirque on the Square—each refreshed with added flair, a new design approach, and a renewed creative vision,” says Kaci Maris, City of Katy Tourism & Marketing Event Coordinator.
The beloved Boots & Brews will return as the official kickoff to the Katy Rice Harvest Festival. The fan favorite event will feature new breweries, fun interactive attractions, and an even more live music.
“We’re also introducing exciting new experiences, including Downtown Disney and a newly combined Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Nutcracker Exchange, creating a truly magical holiday moment in the heart of downtown,” says Maris.
The historic Katy Rice Harvest Festival and Parade will also return and applications have opened.
The City of Katy has received two Texas Recreation and Parks Society awards (Regional Most Innovative Programming, Lonestar Recreation Programming Achievement Award), recognizing their work in 2024 and 2025. They will return to the state conference again in February, where they are up for another Lonestar Award.
Parks Superintendent, Richie Kainer recently won the Parks Professional of the Year from TRAPS Regional. Maris also was named a recipient of the Houston Business Journal’s Inaugural Community Leadership Award.
In more excited new year news, The City of Katy is looking forward to opening the 3B Learning Center located on Franz Road this year.
“The City of Katy’s 3B Learning Center is a natural learning center that creates an enchanting and safe haven for birds to sing, butterflies to flutter and bees to buzz,” explains Mayor Thiele. “The 3B Learning Center will be comprised of native plants and flowers, feeding stations, bird watching areas, walking trails, a pond and an outdoor classroom, providing entertainment and educational opportunities for students, families and the Katy community and will feature a presentation on the history of the ‘Fussell House.’”
Katy City Park will also get new additions that will include a multi-purpose field, a turf field, and pickleball courts.
The City of Katy continues to grow and Waller County will see major changes this year.
“Waller County will see its first Class A retail center at Texas Heritage Marketplace,” says Mayor Thiele. “We are excited about the growth at Texas Heritage Marketplace and the developments in progress which includes many new businesses and restaurants as well as big retail stores such as Target, Lowes, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and Sam’s Club, just to name a few.”
Other new projects include The Green at Katy Park, a new mixed-use development close to the intersection of Morton Road and Katy Hockley Cut-Off Road. It will offer retail, dining, along with a significant green space for entertainment.
“The City of Katy has many projects in progress,” says Mayor Thiele. “We are excited to be moving toward completion on some of our existing projects while also implementing new projects for 2026.”
According to Maris, the city will continue to raise the bar even higher in events like the Katy Rice Harvest Festival.
“After record-breaking attendance and increased sponsorship support, the challenge—and opportunity—is to continue that momentum while staying true to Katy’s roots,” says Maris. “Our goal is to listen closely, evolve thoughtfully, and deliver an experience the community feels proud to call their own. If we do that, we know we’re on the right track.”
As Katy continues to grow, no matter if you live in Katy proper or not, the changes impact all. Katy includes three counties: Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.
Follow the City of Katy on Facebook.
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