For proof that 2026 FIFA World Cup’s economic impact could stretch beyond places like Centennial Yards and South Downtown, look no further than the under-construction, historic core of Decatur. 

With just 188 days until the first matches of global interest, the DeKalb County city this week shed light on what’s in store for Decatur WatchFest ’26, a 34-day celebration with free live music, food and beverages, games, and other activities where Historic Decatur Square is undergoing an $8.5-million renovation. 

WatchFest officials announced this week Decatur’s own The Indigo Girls will close out a planned free concert series with a show on Sunday, July 19, the final day of World Cup matches next summer. 

Grammy-winning Indigo Girls (Amy Ray and Emily Sailers) began performing in high school in Decatur and have gone on to sell more than 15 million records, while emerging as champions for causes such as LGBTQI+ advocacy, racial justice, reproductive rights, and immigration reform.   

Soccer-branding and setup planned for downtown Decatur's under-construction, modernized performing arts stage. Courtesy of Decatur WatchFest '26

A month before that show, WatchFest will kick off with another free big-name concert on Thursday, June 11 from rapper Big Boi, half of Atlanta duo (and now Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees) OutKast. 

That’s four days before the first of eight World Cup matches kicks off in Atlanta on June 15.  

Concert timing and (free) ticketing info will be posted on the WatchFest website, according to officials. Performances by more international and local artists before and after matches are expected to be announced later.  

Pending FIFA’s approval, plans call for select matches to be shown on three large screens on Decatur’s renovated, MARTA-connected square.  

The square’s makeover—the initial phase of Decatur’s Town Center Plan 2.0 project—kicked off in April, marking the first updates since the 1980s. 

View of the planned new stage at night in Historic Decatur Square. Courtesy of Decatur Downtown Development Authority

Overview of planned changes in Decatur’s Town Center Plan 2.0's $8.5-million first phase. Courtesy of Decatur Downtown Development Authority

Plan calls for expanding the size of the square and its greenspaces, scrapping the large bandstand near MARTA’s Swanton Way entrance with a larger and modernized performing arts stage. Other changes will see a standalone building with permanent public restrooms, an open car-free plaza, a new children’s play area, and larger open spaces in general. 

Decatur WatchFest ’26 musical acts will be produced in partnership with Amplify My Community, which also puts on the annual Amplify Decatur Music Festival. The festivities are a partnership between the City of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development Authority, and the Decatur Tourism Bureau.

Find a visual recap of forthcoming changes to Historic Decatur Square in the gallery above. 

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