Celebrate all things Downtown Austin on May 12 at the Paramount Theater
Join the Downtown Austin Alliance for our release of the 2026 State of Downtown Report, marking 33 years of service to Downtown Austin! As downtown’s steward and champion, we’re bringing the best parts of our vibrant city to the iconic Paramount Theatre to celebrate with our community partners, stakeholders, members, and future leaders.
- Live music, vendor market and community partners
- Networking with bites & drinks
- Enjoy the glamour of the iconic Paramount Theatre with a step & repeat and classic movie theatre style snacks
- Future of Downtown & Ambassador of the Year award ceremony
Keynote Speaker
Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Partner & Chief Operating Officer of Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, will keynote the 2026 Future of Downtown event.
Bristol-Joseph brings a deep connection with the Downtown Austin community to the keynote stage. Two of the hospitality group’s eleven concepts, Emmer & Rye and Hestia, are located within the heart of downtown and have earned widespread recognition from the MICHELIN Guide.
Bristol-Joseph was named one of FOOD & WINE Magazine’s “Best New Chefs of 2020,” recognized as 2024 “Pastry Chef of the Year” by Esquire, and is a 2026 James Beard Foundation finalist for the “Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker” award.
About the State of Downtown Report
Downtown Austin is one the most dynamic urban cores in the world and an important anchor to our region. Home to world-renowned events, a hotbed for real estate development and innovation, and the city’s center for social activity and civic engagement, downtown has sustained its vitality over the past three decades.
The annual State of Downtown report is a market snapshot illustrating downtown’s central role as Austin’s economic, governmental and cultural center. This report provides benchmark data behind Austin’s most important economic sectors, including real estate development, office and employment statistics, residential analysis, tourism, safety, parks and placemaking, homelessness and mobility downtown while sharing our accomplishments & priorities for the next few years.
Explore Previous State of Downtown Reports
Future of Downtown Awards
Every year, the Downtown Austin Alliance recognizes dedicated people who make significant contributions or outstanding improvements to our downtown community at our annual Future of Downtown event. Recognition will be given to awardees in three categories: Meredith Powell Award for Community Culture, Downtown Vision Award and Ambassador of the Year Award.
Past Future of Downtown Events
Future of Downtown 2024
We had a fabulous time celebrating the Future of Downtown at ACL Live! Thank you for celebrating over 30 years of the Downtown Austin Alliance with us. We began the evening by introducing our 2024 State of Downtown report, showcasing our new Downtown...
Learn More⟶Future of Downtown 2023
Thank you to everyone who attended the Future of Downtown: Downtown on Demand and all who helped make this event possible! We released our 5th annual State of Downtown report, announced our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and presented our 2023 Annual Report at the event...
Learn More⟶Future of Downtown 2022
Thank you to everyone that attended our 2022 Future of Downtown: A celebration of Austin presented by the Downtown Austin Alliance. We loved celebrating the growth of Downtown Austin at this year’s community-centered event. Let’s reminisce on the memories we...
Learn More⟶Future of Downtown 2020
Austin has enjoyed remarkable growth for many years now. Downtown Austin entered this decade in a position of incredible strength, with growth in nearly every sector of our urban core. And then, in March 2020, with the cancellation of SXSW,...
Learn More⟶