Showcase Atlanta Announces Community Engagement Grant Recipients, Investing in Eight Neighborhoods Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Free, family-friendly activations will bring the World Cup directly into Atlanta neighborhoods this summer, led by residents, small businesses and community organizations.

ATLANTA—Showcase Atlanta announced the recipients of its Community Engagement Grant Program—a $150,000 investment supporting free, community-led World Cup activations across Atlanta neighborhoods this summer. 

The grants combine direct funding to neighborhood organizers with Showcase Atlanta-provided infrastructure, including large-format LED screens and professional sound systems at each activation. The structure is designed to ensure consistent production quality across all events while allowing neighborhoods to direct grant dollars toward what matters most locally: small business vendors, security, food and community programming.

The program is a cornerstone of Showcase Atlanta, the citywide initiative led by Mayor Andre Dickens to ensure that major global events benefit Atlanta residents directly. Since the program's launch, Showcase Atlanta has committed to funding neighborhood activations across all City Council districts. The program received nearly 400 applications, reflecting widespread community demand and informing Showcase Atlanta's broader summer programming, which includes additional activations and partnerships extending citywide.

"At Showcase Atlanta, we look at major global events through a lens of equity and accessibility," said Lamar Stewart, Interim Executive Director of Showcase Atlanta. "Receiving so many applications tells us something important: Atlanta is ready. There are going to be so many opportunities for residents and neighbors to gather, celebrate and experience the World Cup together in their own communities this summer."

The neighborhood activations will take place across June and July 2026. 

2026 SHOWCASE ATLANTA COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS:

Zone 1 (Northwest) — City of Refuge will host a community watch party in West Atlanta, uniting families, youth and neighbors around World Cup matches with local food, music, and wellness partners.

Zone 1 (Northwest) — Celebration 4 A Cause will produce a cultural marketplace at Heman E. Perry Park, spotlighting Atlanta's Black and Hispanic-owned creators, designers and food vendors alongside live World Cup screenings.

Zone 2 (Buckhead/Northeast) — Chastain Park Civic Association, in partnership with Chastain Park Conservancy and Chastain Horse Park, will host a neighborhood watch party at Chastain Horse Park featuring food trucks, family activities and live entertainment.

Zone 3 (Southeast) — South River Gardens Community Association, with the support of Councilmember Antonio Lewis, will activate Southside Park with a multicultural World Cup festival serving NPU-Z, home to Atlanta's highest concentration of Latino residents and the community served by South Atlanta High School.

Zone 3 (Southeast) — Organized Neighbors of Summerhill will transform Georgia Avenue into a Juneteenth block party celebrating one of Atlanta's oldest historically Black neighborhoods and the 30th anniversary of Summerhill hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Zone 4 (Southwest) — NPU-S, with support from Southwest Atlanta NPUs and 13 businesses within the Cascade Corridor. The NPUs will host a Juneteenth World Cup Community Watch Party on Cascade Road SW.

Zone 4 (Southwest) — Elizabeth Baptist Church will host a Fan Festival featuring youth soccer clubs, food trucks, local musicians and a family Fun Zone.

Zone 5 (Downtown/Midtown) — Little 5 Points Cultural District will host a three-day public watch party at Findley and Davis Plazas featuring local artists, musicians, performers and live mural installations.

About Showcase Atlanta

Showcase Atlanta is a nonprofit, created by Mayor Andre Dickens, built on a simple and powerful conviction that major global events should happen with Atlanta and not to Atlanta. Through intentional activations, such as neighborhood kickoffs, international delegation receptions and small business readiness tools, Showcase Atlanta creates pathways for residents, entrepreneurs and community organizations to participate in, and be celebrated on, the world stage. Showcase Atlanta is made possible through the commitment of partners, including the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority; Presenting Sponsor, Delta Air Lines; Delivered by UPS; Silver Sponsor, Arrive; and Bronze Sponsor, Flock Safety. For more information, visit ShowcaseAtlanta.com.