Looking Ahead to State of Downtown 2026

On Wednesday, March 11, downtown’s civic and business leaders will gather at the Seattle Convention Center’s Summit building for DSA’s signature event: the 21st State of Downtown.

This year’s theme — Recentering Our City Center — reflects both momentum and realism. Downtown Seattle continues to recover, with residential growth leading the way and foot traffic, transit use and economic activity climbing. But progress is tenuous, and it’s not moving as fast as any of us would like. State of Downtown 2026 will take an honest look at where things stand and where we go from here.

DSA President and CEO Jon Scholes will deliver his annual address, highlighting the data and storylines shaping downtown’s trajectory. The program will also feature remarks from Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and DSA Board Chair Mari Horita. The annual Economic Report, presented by Mortenson, will provide a deeper look at trends driving investment, employment and residential growth.

This year’s keynote speaker, journalist, author and podcaster Derek Thompson, will offer a broader national perspective on urban recovery and economic reinvention. His insights will complement the local lens and help frame downtown Seattle’s path forward in the context of cities across the country.

Recent data from DSA’s monthly Downtown Revitalization Dashboard shows that residential momentum remains one of downtown’s strongest signals of long-term stability. More people are choosing to live in the center city, reinforcing the foundation for small businesses, arts and culture, retail and neighborhood vitality. At the same time, office utilization, visitor activity and transit ridership continue to improve — though unevenly — underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors.

“We have real momentum in downtown Seattle,” Scholes said. “The progress is measurable, and it’s meaningful, but it’s also clear that the work isn’t finished. State of Downtown is about bringing together the people who care most about this city to look at the data, confront the challenges and align around what comes next. There’s tremendous value in having civic leaders, business leaders and community partners in the same room focused on our shared future.”

More than 1,200 leaders are expected to attend the March 11 event, which also includes pre- and post-program networking.

Join us March 11 as we take measure of downtown’s progress — and chart the next chapter together.