NASHtoday 2025 Recap: The top stories of 2025

It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out and so is our annual roundup of your year in local news.

A bird's eye perspective of downtown Nashville, with 15+ skyscrapers, Riverfront Park, and a small section of the Cumberland River bank in view.

2025 was a big year for Nashville, to say the least. | Photo by Mike Gattorna via Unsplash

Chances are your social media feeds are filled with Spotify Wrapped 2025, so we’re taking inspiration to recap Nashville’s top stories of the year.

First, your top trend of 2025 is…

Discovery. You loved first looks at major developments and guides that helped you uncover new activities and local businesses.

January

Nashville startups we’re watching in 2025
Revisit the six Nashville startups we highlighted at the start of the year and tap each company’s website to see what they are up to now.

February

Boutique hotel planned for Sylvan Park
Follow along on Instagram as the owner shares sneak peeks, renovation milestones, and booking opportunities ahead of the hotel’s spring 2026 opening.

March

A sneak peek of The Pinnacle
It’s hard to believe this downtown venue opened just 10 months ago. If you’ve caught a show there, shout it out.

A view of a concert stage from the perspective on the balcony level overlooking the standing-room floor with blue hues throughout the space.

This could be your view. | Photo by NASHtoday

April

A guide to Tennessee’s food festivals
Did anyone make the drive to Centerville’s Banana Pudding Festival or Bell Buckle’s RC Cola and MoonPie Festival? Don’t worry, we’ll update the story with 2026 dates soon.

May

Nashville’s kid-friendly activities
Longtime readers know we update this guide frequently as new kid-friendly spots and activities pop up around Music City.

June

Take a dip in these rentable private pools
There aren’t as many options in the fall and winter, but you can still find some heated pools and hot tubs during the colder months.

July

17 places to find bagels around Nashville
Reading about local bagel options — and sampling your way through them — never goes out of style.

A sesame seed bagel sits on a silver tray cut in half and filled with schmear. A hot coffee in a mug sits next to it.

Be sure to follow Bagelshop on Instagram for special events and local collabs. | Photo by Casey Mabry via Bagelshop

August

Nashville’s fastest-growing companies
One Brentwood business even landed in the top 10 nationwide.

September

Activities for retired adults
If you recently retired and are looking for things to do, this guide will help you make the most of your time in Music City.

October

New renderings for Oracle’s future Nashville headquarters
The tech giant revealed fresh images of its planned East Bank campus, which will include public green space, riverwalks, and a pedestrian bridge.

November

Meet your new favorite Nashville restaurants
Fun fact: We update this guide monthly, so you never have to worry about missing what’s new.

More from NASHtoday
Get ready for six Nashville premieres, including “The Great Gatsby,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” and more.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Iroquois Steeplechase organizers are teasing a “bigger, bolder, and musical” event in 2026.
The Nashville Downtown Partnership’s latest annual report breaks down the numbers behind downtown’s growth in 2025.
Here’s what to know about match days at GEODIS Park as the Boys in Gold prepare for the 2026 season opener against the New England Revolution.
Both spots are open daily, whether you’re stopping by for breakfast or lunch.
Whether they love the outdoors, hands-on learning, or creative outlets, there’s something on this list for every kind of kid.
The free event returns to Nashville with a focus on weather safety and forecasting ahead of peak severe weather season.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts over one million bird lovers nationwide to help record the bird population — here’s how you can get involved in Nashville.
Some are brand new, others have been around for years — but all of these Nashville-area festivals are on the calendar for 2026.