PANAMA CITY − With 2025 coming to a close in the wake of much growth across the area, 2026 already is shaping up to be a booming year for Bay County.
From new restaurants opening, to expanding manufacturers, and even largescale festivals known to attract thousands of people to the area, here are some things Bay County residents and tourists should be on the lookout for in 2026:
Biscuit Belly
Biscuit Belly is slated to open a new location in Panama City Beach sometime in the summer of 2026. It is a breakfast-only restaurant with a wide range of entrees.
Other Biscuit Belly locations include Louisville, Kentucky; Hoover, Alabama; Huntsville, Alabama; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
New program at Florida State University Panama City
Florida State University Panama City plans to launch a new biomedical sciences program in 2026. It is expected to attract strong interest from aspiring medical and health sciences students.
School officials also hope for it to strengthen the pipeline of health care talent by providing opportunity for students and critical support for regional hospitals.
Gulf Coast Jam 2026
The 2026 Gulf Coast Jam is scheduled for May 28-31 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. The popular four-night country music festival will boast a stacked lineup with headliners Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Riley Green and Post Malone.
As of Dec. 26, ticket packages already were sold out for multiple admission types, including early entry admission, luxury suite admission, eagle’s nest admission, overlook club admission, side stage admission and super VIP admission.
New Callaway emergency room for HCA Florida Gulf Coast
HCA Florida Gulf Coast is slated to open a new emergency room in Callaway in 2026. It will feature a dozen emergency exam rooms, CT scan, general X-ray, on-site laboratory services and be capable of caring for children.
Hospital leaders say the upgrades are part of a long-term commitment to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to every patient.
Honey Baked Ham
Said to be America’s first and oldest ham franchise, Honey Baked Ham is slated to open new locations in both Panama City Beach and Destin in 2026.
The chain made a name for itself with its signature spiral-sliced Honey Baked Ham, which boasts a sweet and crunchy glaze. Its menu also offers a variety of other items, including turkey breast, sides, desserts, sandwiches, sliders and biscuits.
IAG Aero Group
Construction is slated to begin during the first quarter of 2026 on IAG Aero Group’s 120,000-square-foot engine MRO facility, as well as its 40,000-square-foot engine test cell. The developments will be located at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
IAG is globally known for providing aircraft services, including engine MRO, material repairs and material sales. It aims to create about 500 local jobs through a $107 million capital investment.
New PenAir Credit Union branch
PenAir Credit Union is slated to establish a new location in Panama City Beach in 2026. It will boast a 2,500-square-foot facility designed to enhance member experience with a tech-friendly approach.
The facility will provide services such as new accounts, new loans, surcharge-free full-service ATM, notary and more.
Sunrise Cafe & Bakery adding a second location
The family owned business plans to open an additional location in Panama City. It already has a location in Panama City Beach.
The shop specializes in unique European dishes such as manty, samsa, borscht and tasty sweet treats. It also offers fresh doughnuts every morning.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
A new Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is slated to open in February in Panama City Beach. It will sit in the footprint of the former Spinnaker Beach Club, a popular tourist attraction that closed after Category 5 Hurricane Michael in October 2018.
Tootsie’s had a previous location in Pier Park that closed in about 2023. The new Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge will boast a 36,000-square-foot building with three floors, two stages and a pool.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Restaurants, programs and more: What’s opening in Bay County in 2026?
Reporting by Nathan Cobb, DeonTay Smith, Tyler Orsburn and Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
