Atlanta in May offers great weather and some of the city’s most popular events. There is plenty on throughout the month, culminating in several big festivals and events held over the Memorial Day weekend.
May weather in Atlanta is usually sunny and very warm, ideal for enjoying the best of the city’s outdoor festivals and attractions. The average daily high temperatures in May is 79°F (26°C), with hotter days likely toward the end of the month.
Highlights of Atlanta’s May festivals include music festivals such as hugely popular Sweet Auburn Springfest and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Decatur Arts Festival, the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival, and two festivals of Caribbean culture, the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival and the Atlanta DeKalb Carnival.
Other Atlanta events in May include the Atlanta Air Show, the Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes, Atlanta Field Day, and the Shaky Knees Music Festival, plus a variety of late spring festivals and arts and crafts festivals, garden tours, fan and hobby conventions, food and music events, and concerts and shows at Atlanta’s many performance venues.
There are many other things to do in Atlanta in May too. Outdoor attractions are ideal this month: a visit to one of Atlanta’s many parks, the BeltLine, or a scenic cemetery, or a trip out of the city to a nearby nature site or historic town such as Madison or Athens. Alternatively, Atlanta also has dozens of museums and historic houses, fantastic shopping, an excellent food scene, and one of the biggest aquariums in the world.
Interested in a specific type of event? See Atlanta’s calendars of upcoming:
– Comedy shows
– Beer and wine festivals
– Music festivals
– Musicals
– Food festivals
See also:
– Atlanta’s annual festival calendar
– Things to do in Atlanta
– Best time of year to visit Atlanta
!Event dates, venue and other details can change at short notice. Please check all information at the official website before making plans to attend an event.
→ See April events
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Turandot: The Atlanta Opera, April 25 - May 3 2026
Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Frida: Atlanta Ballet, May 8-10 2026
Ballet performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
Events this week to be confirmed.
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
Events this week to be confirmed.
→ For concerts this month, see concerts in Atlanta in May
– Twilight of the Gods: The Atlanta Opera, May 30 - June 7 2026
Opera at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. More details
→ See June events