On October 29, 2026, a sold-out crowd of more than 700 business and community leaders, elected officials and Downtown stakeholders gathered at 713 Music Hall for Central Houston's 42nd Annual Meeting and State of Downtown.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring afternoon reflecting on a remarkable year for Downtown Houston and exploring the opportunities ahead.
The program featured remarks from Houston Mayor John Whitmire, and address from Central Houston President & CEO Kris Larson, and a keynote presentation from Alicia Rainwater of the Center for Generational Kinetics.
Rainwater also joined an expert panel featuring Elizabeth Brink, Global Co-CEO of Gensler; award-winning urban planner David Dixon; and Justin Steele, Chief Learning and Talent Officer at Chevron, exploring how changing workplace expectations are shaping the future of our cities.
2026 State of Downtown Highlights
- Downtown's continued momentum: New office commitments, growing residential demand and investments supporting Downtown's evolution as a place to live, work and visit.
- Building for the future: A look at lasting improvements delivered ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the next chapter of projects and initiatives shaping Downtown.
- Celebrating civic leadership: Presentation of the 2026 Allen Award for Civic Enhancement to Chris Canetti and the FIFA World Cup Houston Host Committee in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to Houston.
We're grateful to our speakers, sponsors, Central Houston members and all who joined us in celebrating Downtown's achievements and the collective work moving our city forward.
Interested in future sponsorship opportunities for the 2027 State of Downtown? Contact Andy Corbin to learn more.
Relive the highlights from State of Downtown
Catch up on last year's State of Downtown and Central Houston Annual Meeting: