🚌 SEPTA strike averted

Shapiro Helps SEPTA Union Score Two-Year Deal

After it looked like a strike was imminent, service will remain (sort-of) normal now that Transport Workers Union Local 234 reached an agreement with SEPTA leadership following some mediation from Governor Shapiro. The agreement, which still must be ratified, includes wage increases and temporary pension enhancement for union members who retire during the contract term. [NBC10]

• Related: With good news does come bad news. SEPTA now says the trolley tunnel will be closed at least until Dec. 14. [West Philly Local]

How Philly’s Getting Ready for FIFA World Cup

It’s official! We now know which teams will be playing in Philly for the FIFA World Cup this summer. But how did we even convince FIFA to come here? Meg Kane, host city executive and CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, explains how we got to this moment, what’s driving Philly’s growing soccer culture, and why our participation in this event is huge for the city. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Philly Still Strained by Federal Cuts

From NIH grants being terminated to funding for local food banks running dry, no industry has been left unshaken by the wave of cuts under the Trump administration. So how did we get to a point where so many Philadelphians are reliant on the federal government? [🔒 Philly Mag]

The Philly Stars Headed to the Golden Globes

It’s award season, which means Philly is totally going to sweep, right? The Golden Globes announced its list of nominees yesterday and some Philly-area favorites have a chance to win. [🔒 The Inquirer]

Philly takes center stage next year. The birthplace of American democracy is celebrating 250 years since the country’s founding with festivals, special exhibits and sports, as some of the world’s biggest athletic competitions are coming to town.

January 2026

Already on view at the Museum of the American Revolution, is "The Declaration’s Journey," which explores the complex history and legacy of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibition spans 250 years dissecting the impact of the document and America’s founding.

Philly’s love for women’s sports has been growing and fans are eager for the arrival of our own WNBA team in 2030. While we impatiently wait, get a taste of what to expect with Unrivaled. The three-on-three league features the biggest names in women’s basketball, showcasing WNBA players during the offseason. Unrivaled tips off in Philly on Jan. 30 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

February 2026

The theme for this year's Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world, is “Rooted: The Origins of American Gardening.” The show, competition, and workshops will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28 to March 8.

March 2026

The Ministry of Awe officially opens its doors to the public on March 14. Once home to the Manufacturers National Bank, the space is being transformed into a six-story immersive art experience.

If you’re looking forward to even more basketball, March Madness is coming to town. The NCAA Division I Men’s basketball championship is taking over the court at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20 and 22. Saint Joseph’s University will host the first and second rounds.

On March 20, the Independence Seaport Museum will take a look at the post-Revolutionary War economics of the nation. Now that the war has been won, how do you sustain a country? "Seeking Power and Profit: Philadelphia, China Trade, and the Making of America" will examine the early trade relationships that would lay the foundation for the economic superpower the United States is today.