Atlanta Hosts Second Car-Free Streets Alive Festival

Midtown transformed into a pedestrian-friendly arts event along Peachtree Street

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:07pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a pedestrian crossing sign, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol. The image utilizes flat, vibrant neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn an everyday urban object into modern pop art.Atlanta's car-free Streets Alive event transforms the city's urban corridors into vibrant, pedestrian-friendly public spaces.Atlanta Today

Midtown Atlanta hosted its second annual Streets Alive event on Sunday, closing off a stretch of Peachtree Street to vehicle traffic and allowing residents to walk, bike, and enjoy the open space. The city blocked off seven intersections with the help of police to create a car-free zone for the afternoon, giving people a chance to experience the urban corridor without cars.

Why it matters

Atlanta Streets Alive is part of the city's broader effort to reimagine public spaces and promote alternative transportation options beyond personal vehicles. The event provides residents with opportunities to get active, support local businesses, and envision a more pedestrian-friendly future for Atlanta's major corridors.

The details

The Atlanta Department of Transportation and Propel ATL closed off Peachtree Street from 15th Street to Underground Atlanta, spanning seven intersections, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Police assisted with the street closures to ensure the safety of those walking, biking, and enjoying the open space.

  • The second Atlanta Streets Alive event of 2026 took place on Sunday, April 19.
  • The next Atlanta Streets Alive event is scheduled for May 31.

The players

Atlanta Department of Transportation

The city agency that organized and implemented the car-free Streets Alive event in Midtown.

Propel ATL

A local non-profit that partnered with the city to host the Streets Alive event and promote alternative transportation in Atlanta.

Aaron Valdez

An attendee who expressed enthusiasm for the car-free experience on Peachtree Street.

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What they’re saying

“It's awesome, I love it. Seeing the street opened up... it's like super cool to see everyone just walking around.”

— Aaron Valdez

What’s next

The next Atlanta Streets Alive event is scheduled for May 31, when the car-free zone will stretch from the West End to Grant Park along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Georgia Avenue.

The takeaway

Atlanta's Streets Alive events demonstrate the city's commitment to creating more pedestrian-friendly public spaces and promoting alternative transportation options beyond personal vehicles. By temporarily closing major corridors to cars, the city is able to envision a future where residents can safely and easily access urban areas on foot or by bike.