Fishers is changing. Fast. If you haven't driven down 116th Street lately, you might not even recognize the skyline emerging near the I-69 interchange. It’s 2026, and the "smartest city in the Midwest" isn't slowing down. Honestly, between the massive corporate headquarters finally coming online and the school redistricting drama that's been keeping parents up at night, there is a lot of news in fishers indiana to unpack right now.
It’s not just about more roundabouts anymore.
The $200 Million Horsepower in Our Backyard
The biggest story hitting the wires this January is the Andretti Global headquarters. If you’ve been past the airport recently, you’ve seen the steel. It's massive. We’re talking 575,000 square feet of racing tech and history.
But here’s the kicker: the news isn't just about IndyCar anymore. With Michael Andretti stepping into a more advisory role and Dan Towriss taking the lead, the facility is now officially prepping to house the Andretti-Cadillac Formula 1 operations. They’re aiming for the 2026 grid. That brings roughly 500 high-paying jobs to Fishers. It’s a shift from a local racing town to a global motorsport hub.
The museum and innovation center attached to the HQ are also slated to open soon. It’s meant to be a "destination," not just an office. Imagine walking through F1 history on your way to a meeting. Kinda wild for a suburb that was mostly cornfields thirty years ago.
The Event Center Is Actually Happening
For a long time, the Fishers Event Center felt like one of those "someday" projects. Well, "someday" is here. This month, the city is using the 7,500-seat venue for a massive free watch party on January 19. They’re showing the Indiana Football game on the big screens.
It’s a smart move. It gets people inside the building to see the home of the Indy Fuel, the Indy Ignite, and the Fishers Freight.
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Speaking of the venue, the concert lineup for the rest of 2026 is starting to leak. We already have Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms booked for February 20, followed by Heart in March. It’s filling a huge gap between the small clubs in Broad Ripple and the massive stadiums downtown.
School Boundaries: The January 30 Deadline
If you have kids in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) district, you’ve likely been staring at the new redistricting maps. This is arguably the most stressful news in fishers indiana for local families.
The board approved the plan back in December, but the clock is ticking on "grandfathering" requests. If your student is in 3rd, 5th, or 7th grade and you want them to stay at their current school for the 2026-27 year, you have until January 30, 2026, to file that paperwork.
Why are we doing this?
- Fishers Elementary is expanding to 700 students.
- The east side is simply too crowded.
- Enrollment fell by about 400 students last year, so the district has to rebalance the budget (which is over $340 million this year).
It’s messy. It’s emotional. But the district says it’s the only way to keep class sizes manageable as the population continues to shift toward the new developments near Geist and the Nickel Plate Trail.
What’s Cooking at The Union?
The Fishers District expansion, known as The Union, is finally naming names. We just found out that Cunningham Restaurant Group—the folks behind Livery and Bru Burger—signed a lease for a two-story building.
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The ground floor is a bar with small plates. The second floor? Fine dining. They haven't named the concept yet, but knowing CRG, it’ll be the toughest reservation in town by summer.
Other spots officially coming to the District in 2026:
- Flower Child: Healthy bowls and wraps (their second Indy location).
- Kitchen Social: Elevated comfort food.
- Niku Sushi: High-end Japanese.
- Dot Sugar: For the dessert crowd.
The Infrastructure Headache (And Light at the End of the Tunnel)
You can’t talk about Fishers without talking about orange barrels. It’s basically the city bird.
Currently, the east side of 141st Street at SR 37 is closed. Traffic is flipped to the west side. It’s a pain, but the goal is to get the ramps fully operational later this year.
Further south, the Clear Path 465 project is entering its final major phase. Most of the work on the I-69/I-465 interchange is expected to wrap by summer 2026. If you commute into Indy, you've probably noticed the new lanes opening up, but watch out for the automated speed cameras in the work zones. They are active, and they will mail you a ticket.
New Laws for the New Year
Since we just crossed into 2026, a few state laws are hitting Fishers businesses and residents hard.
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- Data Privacy: Indiana’s new consumer data law is now in effect. You have more rights to ask companies what they’re doing with your info and tell them to delete it.
- SNAP Changes: There are new restrictions on using SNAP benefits for sugary drinks and certain candies. Local retailers like Meijer and Kroger have already updated their systems.
- Business Filings: If you run a small business out of your home or a "virtual office," the state now requires a much clearer distinction between your physical location and your mailing address to prevent fraud.
Actionable Steps for Fishers Residents
Don't just read the news—manage it. Here is what you actually need to do this month:
Check your school status. Head to the HSE Schools website and use the "Boundary Locator Tool" to see where your kids are slotted for the fall. If you qualify for grandfathering, get that form in before the 30th.
Grab your watch party tickets. The IU watch party at the Event Center is free, but you still need a ticket for entry. They’re available on the city website.
Update your business address. if you're a local entrepreneur, double-check your Secretary of State filings. The 2026 rules about physical office locations are stricter than they used to be.
Explore the White River. The new 120-acre Fishers White River Park is officially open. It's cold out, but the trail connections are finished, and it’s a great way to see the "wilder" side of the city before the spring crowds arrive.
Fishers is no longer just a bedroom community. Between the F1 ambitions and the massive investments in "quality of life" (that’s code for the $203 million city budget), it’s becoming its own gravity well in Central Indiana. Stay tuned, because the next six months of development are going to be louder than the last six years.