It’s the last stretch before summer, folks. Make sure to enjoy the blooming flowers, crisp weather, and outdoor brunches while they last. Read on to discover 15+ aMAYzing things to do in Houston this May!
Texas’s biggest pop-culture convention returns May 22–24 with major celebrity guests and over 400 exhibitors. If you want to go all-in on comics, fandom, and celebrity sightings this May, Comicpalooza returns to the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, 2026, featuring celebrity guests, panels, exhibitors, and immersive attractions across over one million square feet. Tickets start at $51 for single-day passes and $113.99 for weekend passes.
Spindletop reopens May 15, returning 31 stories above Houston with a weekly four-course prix fixe and full 360° rotation every 45 minutes. One standout reopening to add to your May plans: Spindletop — the iconic revolving restaurant atop the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston — will officially reopen on May 15, 2026, offering a weekly four-course prix fixe tasting menu on Friday and Saturday evenings and signature 360-degree rotating views.
Make the most out of your weekends in Houston with brunch. Get your avocado toasts, migas, mimosas, and more at Houston’s top brunch spots – a weekend necessity!
Step Into a Digital Spring Garden at ARTECHOUSE Houston: Blooming Wonders
This reimagined experience transforms 26,000 sq feet of galleries into a vibrant digital garden, inviting visitors of all ages to interact with blossoming flowers, soaring butterflies, and stunning dreamscapes through movement and play. If you’re looking for a spring-inspired outing in Houston this May, head to ARTECHOUSE Houston for the captivating immersive exhibition, Blooming Wonders. This reimagined experience transforms 26,000 sq feet of galleries into a vibrant digital garden, inviting visitors of all ages to interact with blossoming flowers, soaring butterflies, and stunning dreamscapes through movement and play. Don’t miss the chance to get lost in the Infinity Room or interact with real-time AI visuals. Spring Breakers can enjoy a 20% discount on tickets for select dates in March.
Jamaica Beach is ranked third-best beach destination in America for 2026. If you’re craving a low-key coastal day trip from Houston this May, set your sights on Jamaica Beach. Ranked No. 3 in HomeToGo’s America’s Top Destinations for Beach Breaks 2026, this small, off-the-radar community at the western end of Galveston Island offers quieter sands and plenty of room for beachcombing, sunbathing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
The weather can’t make up its mind in Houston. Either it rains for two weeks straight, or its lays down triple-digit temperatures, bitter frigidness, or outdoor-cancelling humidity. Be it frozen or on the rocks, salty, bitter, or sweet, when searching for the tequila-infused taste of the season in Houston, here are the best places to have margaritas in Houston.
One surefire way to capitalize on the weekend, weekday, weeknight – really just any time – is to have a couple drinks amongst friends in the open air of a patio. Get out and about this season at some of our favorite watering holes in town.
Keep the Benito party going at the Pink Casita pop-up on May 17. Miradela and Amigas 4 Ever & Ever are hosting the Pink Casita Bad Bunny pop-up at Miradela on May 17, 2026, offering music, vibes, shopping, and Benito-themed energy. Vendor applications opened March 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
Step inside Ernesto Neto’s massive suspended playground at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. One standout stop for May is Ernesto Neto’s SunForceOceanLife, a large, hand-crocheted, suspended installation in MFAH’s Cullinan Hall that visitors can enter and explore; soft plastic balls fill the sections beneath the walkways. The installation is on view through September 7, 2026, and tickets are limited so advance purchase is recommended.
Get the best views in town at Houston’s best rooftop bars and restaurants. From free rooftop gardens, to soaring bars 23 floors into the sky, rooftop coffee shops, and more: say hello to the skyline this May in Houston at the city’s rooftops.
May means an early start to summer fun. Be it Memorial Day Weekend, or any other weekend, venture out to the best lazy rivers in Texas to float this season!
Hike 96 miles through East Texas pines on the Lone Star Hiking Trail. If you’re looking to get out of the city this May, the Lone Star Hiking Trail is a 96-mile hiking route through Sam Houston National Forest, about 50 miles north of downtown Houston. The trail offers day hikes, multi-day backpacking, primitive camping (with Forest Service rules), and scenic areas like Big Creek, Little Lake Creek, Winters Bayou, and Double Lake.
Escape to Matagorda Beach, a Secluded Shoreline Just 2 Hours From Houston
Matagorda Beach emerges as a hidden gem for Houston residents seeking a serene getaway. If you’re craving a low-key day trip outside the city, Matagorda Beach is one of the best-kept secrets in Texas. While Texas isn’t known for its beaches, Matagorda Beach emerges as a hidden gem for Houston residents seeking a serene getaway. Recently ranked the second best beach in Texas by USA Today, it offers scenic shores, local eateries, and a tranquil atmosphere ideal for outdoor activities like fishing and kayaking. With its untouched beauty and opportunities for camping, Matagorda Beach is perfect for nature lovers wanting a break from the crowds.
Although the cityscape evokes the imagery of an urban jungle, hidden within are verdant oases in the form of parks, trails, and gardens. Explore Houston’s charming green sanctuaries this season at these 10 beautiful Houston gardens. Plus, be sure to check out Hermann Park’s new park and gardens, The Commons!
From rooftop cinemas, old-school drive-ins, luxury cinemas, and more: whatever your speed, Houston has a movie theater to watch cult classics, blockbusters, and kid-friendly movies.
Surf Down To these Texas Beaches
Summer is slowly rolling in Houston! Whether you want to surf, swim, or build sand castle, be sure to pack and towel either sunscreen or tanning oil, and take a trip out the best beaches in Texas and the gorgeous coastal towns that house them!
Texas Monthly Taco Fest takes over Discovery Green on May 23 with tacos, live music, and VIP access.
Texas Monthly Taco Fest returns to Discovery Green in Houston on Saturday, May 23, 2026, featuring top taquerias from across Texas, ballet folklorico, live cumbia performances, and an appearance by Texas Monthly taco editor José R. Ralat.
Running from May 14 – May 16, the 2026 Houston Greek Festival is set to be a vibrant three-day celebration of Hellenic culture. Attendees can immerse themselves in traditional performances, from the rhythmic storytelling of folk dancers to the high-energy sounds of a live Greek band.
Experience the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern transformed by immersive LED lights for its centennial. For a uniquely Houston outing this May, check out Undercurrents—an interactive LED light exhibition installed in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern to mark the cistern’s 100th anniversary. Visitors can walk the subterranean space and record messages into the light matrix.
Experience over 100 authentic Asian specialties and panda-themed family fun this May. One of May’s can’t-miss Houston events, Panda Fest Houston takes over The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park May 8–10, 2026, featuring more than 100 Asian street food specialties, a market fair with dozens of vendors, cultural performances, and family-friendly panda-themed activities. Tickets start at $12.70 with VIP options available.
