2026 tour guide tells stories of generations, legacy, and the hands that shape Jackson
JANS – Visit Jackson has released its 2026 JXN Tour Guide. The 60-page publication explores how Jackson’s cultural legacy passes from one generation to the next – in kitchens, recording studios, classrooms, and on front lines of social change.
The cover story captures this intergenerational exchange through two cooks separated by decades but united by purpose: Geno Lee, whose family has served pig ear sandwiches and tamales at the Big Apple Inn for generations, and 15-year-old chef Simms Powell, who’s already making his mark in Jackson’s culinary scene.
“Jackson’s strength has always been in its people and the stories they carry forward,” said Paul Wolf, Director of Destination Storytelling at Visit Jackson. “This guide reflects how our city’s identity is actively maintained and renewed by each generation that takes up the work.”
Inside, readers meet civil rights icon James Meredith, whose courage changed the South; poet and novelist Margaret Walker, whose literary legacy shaped American letters; and artist Christina McField, whose work continues Jackson’s creative tradition. The guide profiles restaurateurs Damien and Mary Sanders Cavicchi, whose commitment to Jackson’s food scene reflects a deeper investment in community, and Stephen “5th Child” Brown, whose activism connects past struggles to present possibilities.
A music feature highlights three artists keeping different traditions alive: bass player and jazz enthusiast Raphael Semmes, percussionist Adib Sabir’s decades-long presence in the city’s music scene, and Sharron Kyles’ role with the Mississippi Mass Choir, carrying forward one of gospel music’s most recognized ensembles.
The 2026 guide also provides practical information visitors need: neighborhood overviews, restaurant recommendations, hotel listings, attraction details, and event calendars.
Visit Jackson publishes the annual guide, distributing 25,000 copies to Jackson hotels, attractions, Mississippi Welcome Centers, and conference attendees throughout the year.
Printed copies are available at the JXN Welcome Center, or readers can view or request the guide online at visitjackson.com.
