Every August, Memphis becomes the center of the Elvis universe. From Aug. 8–16, tens of thousands of fans from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Graceland for Elvis Week 2026.

Here's everything happening: the official Graceland lineup, the best stuff around town, and — because this is Memphis — plenty that's free.

Last updated August 2026.

📍 Graceland front gates, 3764 Elvis Presley Blvd. · 🕐 8:30 p.m. until the wee hours · 💰 Free

The cornerstone of Elvis Week and one of the most Memphis things you'll ever witness. After an opening ceremony at the gates, fans walk up the driveway to the Meditation Garden carrying candles — a procession that runs all night into Sunday morning. No tickets or wristbands needed, just a pass through security. Can't make it? The ceremony streams free online. Locals: this is the one to do at least once.

📍 Graceland Mansion · 🕐 7:30–8:30 a.m., Aug. 9–17 (skip the morning of Aug. 16) · 💰 Free

Walk through the famous gates, up the driveway, and pay your respects at the gravesites of Elvis and his family — no tour ticket required. Evening walk-ups run 6:30–8 p.m. on Aug. 11, 13, 14 and 16. Details on Graceland's Elvis Week FAQ.

📍 The Guest House at Graceland · 💰 Free drop-ins all week

Graceland is running free fan hangouts at the Jungle Room Bar: Elvis Bingo (Aug. 9 & 15), Elvis Karaoke (Aug. 11), Singo (Aug. 13) and the Pink Cadillacs Bracelet Exchange (Aug. 14). Also free: the Fan Welcome Mixer at the Guest House lobby, 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, where fans from around the world officially kick off the week.

💰 Free · Best around the vigil, Aug. 15

The boulevard closes near Graceland for the vigil, and fans build elaborate roadside shrines up and down the street. Jumpsuits, sideburns, fan clubs from Brazil to Japan — the people-watching alone is worth the trip to Whitehaven.

Heads up: all-inclusive packages are sold out, but individual event tickets are still available at ElvisWeek.com.

📍 Graceland Soundstage · 🕐 Semifinal Aug. 9, Final 7 p.m. Aug. 11 · 💰 Final tickets $27.50

Eighteen semifinalists from qualifying contests around the world compete to be crowned the 19th Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist — and take home $20,000. Past champion Dean Z hosts, and 2025 winner Jimmy Holmes performs. Please note: they're tribute artists, never "impersonators."

📍 Graceland Soundstage · 🕐 7 p.m. · 💰 $59–$128

A celebration of the year everything exploded: first RCA single, first TV appearances, first movie. Big-screen Elvis performances mixed with live music and conversation, featuring Elvis's close friend Jerry Schilling and Billy Blackwood & The Blackwood Brothers Quartet.

📍 TCB Showroom · 🕐 10 p.m. · 💰 $36–$56

It's been 50 years since Elvis turned Graceland's Jungle Room into a recording studio in 1976. This late-night tribute honors those sessions with performances by Pat Dunn, Spencer Sutherland, Dean Z and Larry Strickland.

📍 Graceland Soundstage · 🕐 7 p.m. · 💰 $65–$149

Historic concert footage of the King on the big screen, backed by a live band playing in real time. The closest thing to seeing Elvis in concert that exists in 2026.

📍 Graceland Soundstage · 🕐 10 a.m. · 💰 $76–$107

Friends, band members and co-stars share stories from Elvis's life — this year's confirmed guests include actors George Hamilton, Jimmy Hawkins and Kent McCord, plus filmmaker Andrew Solt.

📍 Graceland Soundstage · 🕐 7 p.m. · 💰 $26.50

The week wraps with a screening of Baz Luhrmann's new concert film EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert across the Soundstage's three giant screens, then DJ Argo keeps the party going with more Elvis into the night.

📍 3210 Old Hernando Rd. · 🕐 Shows all week

Elvis actually played this stage in 1953, and the old roadhouse leans all the way in for Elvis Week: Ronnie McDowell — who sang "The King Is Gone" and voiced Elvis in two biopics — plays two shows on Friday, Aug. 7, rockabilly wildman Jason D. Williams plays Aug. 9, and 2022 Ultimate champ Victor Trevino Jr. brings his Elvis tribute Aug. 12. Full lineup and tickets on the venue calendar.

📍 Halloran Centre, 225 S. Main St. · 🕐 7 p.m. · 💰 $37.15–$113.20

A two-act tribute downtown starring Elvis tribute artist Marcus Sugg — movie-era hits in act one, the Vegas concert years after intermission. Fair warning: it's the same night as the vigil, so plan your evening accordingly.

📍 Circuit Playhouse, Overton Square · 🕐 Book Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. · 💰 $10 (or $20 with a souvenir tee)

Before it was Circuit Playhouse, this was the Memphian Theater — the movie house Elvis rented out for all-night private screenings with his crew. The 30–40 minute tour covers which movies he watched, the stories the theater has dug up, and yes: you can sit in the chair Elvis sat in and get the photo. Book a tour here.

📍 Overton Park, Midtown · 🕐 Tours at noon, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. most days

On July 30, 1954, a 19-year-old Elvis played his first paid concert on this stage — a show many historians call the first rock 'n' roll concert, period. The backstage tour walks you through the Green Room and nine decades of Shell history (it turns 90 this year). Reserve a spot here.

📍 Departs Beale St. at B.B. King Blvd. (at Alfred's) · 🕐 3 hours · Advance purchase required

Backbeat Tours' Elvis-week favorite rolls through the Memphis Elvis knew — his schools, his hangouts, his neighborhoods — with live music on the bus and a stop at the Memphian Theater (souvenir tee included). Grab seats early — it sells out.

📍 185 Winchester Ave., Uptown

The Presleys lived in apartment 328 from 1949–1953 — teenage Elvis practiced guitar in the laundry room and walked to Beale from here. The restored apartment is a 1950s time capsule you can tour or even book for an overnight stay. Contact Lauderdale Courts to book.

📍 706 Union Ave.

The room where Elvis recorded "That's All Right" in 1954 and rock 'n' roll got its birth certificate. Daily tours put you behind the same microphone. During Elvis Week, expect the pilgrimage crowd — book ahead.

📍 The Peabody Hotel, 149 Union Ave.

The family-owned shop that dressed Elvis (starting back when he was a teenager window-shopping on Beale) still sells rock 'n' roll style — including actual blue suede shoes. Catch the ducks marching through the Peabody lobby while you're there. Lansky Bros.

📍 540 S. Main St.

Memphis's oldest cafe was an Elvis regular spot, and his order — the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich — is still on the menu. Grab the Elvis booth in the back, order the sandwich, take the picture. The Arcade.

📍 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd., about a mile from Graceland

Part rib joint, part Elvis shrine — the walls are covered in memorabilia and the pink Cadillacs out front are a photo op all their own. Prime vigil-week fuel, and prime people-watching. Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant.

📍 Beale Street, downtown

All week long, Beale's clubs fill with tribute artists — some competing, some just here for the love of the game. Walk the street at dusk and you will hear "Suspicious Minds" coming from at least two directions. That's not a complaint.

📍 ~100 miles southeast (about 1 hour 45 minutes)

Where it literally all began: the two-room house where Elvis was born in 1935, plus Tupelo Hardware (where Gladys bought him his first guitar) and Johnnie's Drive-In, his teenage burger stop. A perfect day trip if you're in town for the full week. Elvis Presley Birthplace.

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