Tulsa Voters Will Decide on Hotel Tax Increase

Tulsa residents will head to the polls on November 3 to vote on raising the city hotel tax rate to 9.9 percent.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Hotels

Screen-print poster illustration of stylized Art Deco masonry, using a warm palette of mustard, teal, and cream, symbolizing Tulsa's civic infrastructure. — Tulsa voters will decide on November 3 whether to approve a city ballot initiative to increase the hotel tax rate to 9.9 percent. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support increasing hotel taxes to fund upgrades to local downtown venues?

Tulsa voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to approve a proposal to nearly double the city's hotel guest tax from 5 percent to 9.9 percent. The Tulsa City Council unanimously approved placing the measure on the upcoming ballot.

Why it matters

The city intends to use the additional revenue to fund necessary facility upgrades at the BOK Center, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, and the Arvest Convention Center. Supporters argue the adjustment is overdue, as the current rate has remained unchanged since 1984.

The proposed 9.9 percent tax applies strictly to room stays for hotels and short-term rentals, excluding additional services like meals or drinks. This proposal moves the city closer to rates in comparable Oklahoma municipalities like Norman at roughly 10 percent.

The players

Tulsa City Council

This is the legislative body responsible for municipal governance and city budget oversight in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

BOK Center

This major arena serves as a primary venue for concerts and sporting events in downtown Tulsa.

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

This multi-venue facility hosts various cultural events and theatrical productions in the heart of the city.

Arvest Convention Center

This venue provides a central location for large-scale professional gatherings and conventions in the region.

The details

The city council voted unanimously to move forward with the ballot initiative, which would be the first increase to this specific tax in over four decades. If passed, the change would take effect on January 1, 2027.

The last increase to the hotel guest tax occurred in 1984.
Voters will decide on the proposed tax increase on November 3, 2026.
The new tax rate will take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved.

Roadmap

This move reflects a broader trend of municipalities seeking to modernize aging public infrastructure through targeted tourism taxes. By adjusting rates to match peers like Enid and Norman, the city aims to maintain competitive facilities in a regional market.

Travelers planning visits to Tulsa in 2027 should be aware that hotel costs could increase if the ballot measure passes. Tourists should factor in the higher tax percentage when budgeting for stays booked after the start of the new year.

The takeaway

Voters now face a choice between maintaining current tax levels and funding significant upgrades to the city's major event centers. The outcome will likely determine the competitiveness of Tulsa's venues for large-scale tourism and event hosting in the coming years.