Spring Training at Tempe Diablo Stadium begins on Feb. 21, 2026
Enjoy sunny skies and all the spring vibes at this year’s Cactus League Spring Training games, Feb. 20 through March 24, 2026. Catch a fly ball, a tan and hopefully a few Tempe attractions while you’re in town, as Arizona’s warmer temperatures are the perfect backdrop for hiking, patio dining, rooftop cocktailing, endless events and other outdoor activities unique to this Sonoran Desert city.
Enjoy this roster of our favorite things to do during spring training season.
Innings Fest + Extra Innings
Each spring, Cactus League Spring Training fans flock to Innings Festival and Extra Innings Festival, Tempe’s annual celebration of baseball and live music. This year marks the highly anticipated event’s biggest expansion to date: For 2026, the event will bring five full days — across two weekends — of performances, appearances by some of the biggest names in baseball, fan activations and culinary experiences to Tempe Beach Park.
Feb. 20–22: The first weekend’s lineup includes Mumford & Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Blink-182, Goo Goo Dolls, Cage the Elephant, Sublime and more. The festival will also feature appearances by such MLB legends as Brandon Crawford, Mark Grace, Jake Peavy and others.
Feb. 27 & 28: The second weekend, known as Extra Innings, will feature Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Hardy, Brothers Osborne, Muscadine Bloodline, Jessie Murph, Shaboozey and many more. The festival will also feature appearances by such MLB legends as Darryl Strawberry, Brt Boone, Jake Peavy, Cliff Floyd and Angels legend Tim Salmon (to name a few).
Catch a Spring Training game
From late February until late March, Arizona is swinging into Cactus League Spring Training action with 15 MLB teams playing more than 200 games across 10 stadiums in the Greater Phoenix area. View the updated game schedule.
Centrally located in the Valley of the Sun, Tempe Diablo Stadium has been home to the Los Angeles Angels for over 30 years — and enthusiastic fans have been calling Tempe their home base for preseason play and pristine, sunny weather for just as long. This year’s most notable games for Mike Trout and the Angels include a kickoff game versus Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2025 World Series Champions) on Feb. 21; hosting the hometown Arizona Diamondbacks on Feb. 28; and facing off against Italy in World Baseball Classic play on March 4.
Hit the Trails
Now is the perfect time to dust off those hiking boots. Spring brings amazing colors to the desert, making it the perfect backdrop for exercise. If you’re looking for a quick and convenient hike, check out “A” Mountain in Downtown Tempe. Choose one of the mountains two trailheads: The Leonard Monti Trail begins behind the Tempe Transportation Center, and the Hayden Butte Trailhead is located behind Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. The two converge on a wide, paved path that goes on to include a series of steps and the peak is in its natural, craggy state. This short hike is high intensity with steep elevation gain. However, there are various points to stop, rest as needed and take photos along the way.
Papago Park is an urban oasis located that’s easily recognized by its unmistakable sandstone buttes. Among the worthy hikes here is Double Butte Loop is a perfect, leisurely 2.3-mile path that circumnavigates the massive rock formations. If you’re looking for an excellent place to catch a sunrise or sunset, a favorite is Hole-in-the-Rock Trail at Papago Park. Hiking to the top (0.2 miles and 200 feet elevation gain) only takes about 10 minutes. This spot is bustling during sunset, but you’ll understand why once you see the views overlooking the lagoon and the distant skyline.
For additional hiking ideas, check out this list of our favorite trails in Tempe and beyond.
Rooftops & Patios
There is no better time to soak up the sun, the views and the flavors of Tempe. Spring weather ushers in patio season for dining and drinking as well as rooftop season for lounging, sipping and the first pools days of the year. Whether you enjoy people watching in a buzzy downtown locale, dog-friendly outdoor dining or a serene alfresco escape that feels like a secret garden, you’ll find it on our complete list of restaurants with great patios.
As for Tempe’s best rooftops with pools — and festive food and beverage options in most cases — you can’t go wrong by planning to spend a day poolside. Just don’t miss the epic sunset view.
Craft Beer Tasting
For a sense of Tempe’s unique culture, flavor and relaxed vibe there’s no better way to spend a spring day than sipping on local brews at this city’s beloved craft breweries. The brewing operations here are known for their history, their top-rated and award-winning beers and the welcoming gathering places their operations inhabit. As a bonus, most of these spots have chill, pet-friendly patios and a delicious lineup of eats to pair your pint with.
Bonus: You’ll also find two distilleries and a cider taproom in close proximity.
Paddleboarding on Tempe Town Lake
A desert oasis, Tempe Town Lake offers a variety of exciting events and activities that are particularly perfect for spring. Located lakeside, at Tempe Beach Park, Boat Rentals of America – Tempe Town Lake can set you up with a solo sand-up paddleboard, a tandem kayak (for two) or electric donut boat for up to 10 people. They also offer swan pedal boats, which a super romantic and also perfect for Instagram.
New this year, Tempe Boat Cruisin’ has arrived at Tempe Town Lake, so gather your group and make a reservation in advance to experience the newest attraction in Tempe.
You can also visit the Boat Rentals of America – Kiwanis Lake location for pedal boating and kayaks in another one of the city’s picturesque settings.
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden is always gorgeous, but spring is when it really comes to life with a host of immersive events set against the Sonoran Desert landscape and wildflower blossoms. Through May 10, 2026, the garden is showcasing Frame Rate’s Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit by ScanLAB Projects, invites visitors into the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert. Through photography, motion, and sound, it reveals new ways of seeing and deepens appreciation for our vibrant ecosystem. Take a walk along the trails and let these enchanting installations that incorporates thousands of stunning images into five monumental video installations for one not-to-miss transformative experience.
Don’t forget to make your reservations for Gertrude’s by Tarbell’s, the on-site restaurant that’s best-known its seasonal menus, botanic-infused cocktails and lovely garden patio.
The Phoenix Zoo
Springtime is one of the best times of year to visit The Phoenix Zoo. The weather is perfect for being outside, and the animals like it too. Stop by Orang-Hutan, the Orangutan habitat and the Sumatran tigers of the “Isle of the Tiger” habitat. And don’t miss out on the Camel rides, a favorite of both the kiddos and adults. Backstage Adventures offer tours behind the scenes with rhinos, flamingoes, elephants, stingrays and many other zoo residents.
Shopping
Tempe Marketplace: Shop, sip and dine your way through this outdoor retail district, with such new additions as Nike Unite and Lululemon. The roster of restaurants, bars and dessert spots in equally impressive, explore the offerings in our Dining at Tempe Marketplace blog. Choose from such group activities as Recess, a games, drinks and dining concept; Escapology, home to a variety of live escape game challenges; Dave & Buster’s and more. Art installations rotate seasonally, and the splash pad is a highlight once the weather is right. And don’t miss live musical acts at The District Stage every Saturday evening.
Arizona Mills: Plan for some retail therapy, catch a movie, play a game of pickleball or explore some of Tempe’s top indoor attractions — all located just minutes from Tempe Diablo Stadium. This outlet shopping destination offers more than 185 stores, a variety of dining options and tons of attractions, including SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona, Bubble Planet, Harkins IMAX Theater and Tilt Studio.
Downtown Tempe Shops: Some of Tempe’s most unique retailers can be found in and around downtown. Favorites include Cactus Sports, the go-to for officially licensed Sun Devils gear (and some Cactus League merch, too) for over 25 years; Cowtown Skateboards, which put the local skate scene on the map since 1996; Hackett House, a boutique shopping experience inside a historic building that once housed Tempe’s first bakery.
Culdesac Tempe: As the first purpose-built, entirely car-free residential community in the United States, Culdesac Tempe spans 17 acres of award-winning homes as well as a roster of microretailers. Stroll beneath the twinkling lights, and you’ll encounter a variety of murals, pop-up events and small businesses throughout the maze of buildings — which draw architectural inspiration from Mediterranean villages, Greek islands and historic Italian hill towns.
