Welcoming the World
Forever etched in history, 2026 will be remembered as a momentous year for Kansas City.
No longer a best-kept secret, KC has become the ultimate backdrop — whether that’s for season 4 of Ted Lasso, a renowned pop star’s love story or your life’s next great adventures.
Now, stepping into the global spotlight for the FIFA World Cup 26™, soccer fans from around the world descend on the region. With open arms, we welcome them and encourage all to experience what our city has to offer.
It’s about much more than hosting matches. It’s about opening the doors to the dynamic, unexpected and ever-evolving Kansas City experience. It’s about sharing our sense of community, spirit of innovation and culture of creativity — all through the unifying language of sports.
Throughout these pages, you’ll discover some of what makes us so proud. We took a cue from our favorite barbecue joints and served up a sample platter. A few of our vibrant neighborhoods, a smattering of places to go out dancing and some of the most innovative new developments impacting our region.
You’ll meet artists, entrepreneurs and athletes that call KC home —
including our cover star, Lo’eau LaBonta, who embodies the passion, grit and heart that make this place shine.
And yet, even in 112 pages, it’s impossible to capture everything we love about KC. You’ll have to take it one step further. Explore. Dig in. Let one happy hour hotspot lead you to the next. Step into an underground jazz club and discover a sound you didn’t know you loved. Find your perfect bite at one of the region’s dozens of James Beard-recognized restaurants.
What you find here, has been long in the making. We’ve never been more ready to share it with the world.
Addie Linn
Editor-in-Chief
KC Options
linn@onekc.org