Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in Philadelphia

Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in Philadelphia

As America’s birthplace, Philadelphia will be the centerpiece of the United States’ 250th birthday celebration.

Few cities celebrate July 4th like Philadelphia, but in 2026, every day will be Independence Day as the city celebrates America’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As America’s birthplace, Philadelphia will be the centerpiece of this monumental birthday celebration. But the action doesn’t stop there. In 2026, Philadelphia will take center stage for some of the world’s greatest events.

What is the semiquincentennial?

The Semiquincentennial is the 250th anniversary of America’s Founders declaring the country’s independence right here in Philadelphia. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and delegates from the Thirteen Colonies signed the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall. The document proclaimed their separation from British colonial rule. The signing is referred to as the birth of the United States and is celebrated in America each year on the Fourth of July.

Starting in 2025

Philadelphia is in no shortage of major events leading up to 2026. Football fanatics will get a taste of the World Cup in the summer of 2025 when Lincoln Financial Field hosts FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ games. Philadelphia is one of 11 cities to host the tournament where international club teams will compete across the United States.

Mexico vs Germany Soccer Game at Lincoln Financial Field. Photo credit: Daniel Knoll.

Calder Gardens opens September 2025 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It will bring new life to the work of Alexander Calder, the innovative sculptor who invented the mobile. Alexander Calder’s family legacy in Philadelphia’s art scene includes his grandfather’s William Penn statue atop City Hall and his father’s Swann Memorial Fountain at Logan Circle.

Homecoming 250 will celebrate the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the fall of 2025. It kicks off a series of events leading to America’s semiquincentennial. Celebrations are held in Philadelphia, Camden, and along the Delaware River. They mark the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ 1775 foundings. From October 9-16, 2025, visitors can enjoy free, family-friendly events. These include historical exhibits, ship tours, and a breathtaking Blue Angels flyover.

Celebrating 250 Years Philly Style!

Kicking off a full year of celebration, Philadelphia will spotlight its many historic “firsts” in 2026 through 52 Weeks of Firsts — a citywide series of weekly events, storytelling, and experiences.  Some historic firsts include the Slinky, the nation’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the American flag.

Philadelphia will amplify and expand its already electrifying series of summer celebrations for the semiquincentennial. The annual Wawa Welcome America festival will return, hosting city-wide programming from Juneteenth through the Fourth of July. Traditionally, the two-week festival concludes with a headlining concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, followed by fireworks.

People enjoy the Party of the Parkway in Philadelphia during the Wawa Welcome America Festival. Photo courtesy of Wawa Welcome America Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek

The Philadelphia Historic District will host the Red, White, & Blue To-Do on July 2, 2025. Inspired by John Adams’s call for “pomp and parade,” the event invites visitors to America’s most historic square mile for two days of festivities. These include parades, concerts, and extended visitation hours at historic attractions. The Red, White, & Blue To-Do promises to grow each year into 2026, becoming a cherished tradition for visitors.

America250PA is creating the art series “Bells Across PA.” It commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Selected artists will transform fiberglass bell sculptures in at least one of each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, including Philadelphia. Exterior bells will be installed between April and December 2025. They will remain on display through the end of 2026.

In collaboration with Visit Philadelphia, TED Democracy is bringing a global spotlight to discussions on democracy’s future. The discussions will feature thought-provoking fireside chats, speakers, and celebrations in 2024 and 2025. This equity-focused series builds toward a flagship event in February 2026, showcasing bold ideas and solidifying Philadelphia as a hub for democratic thought leadership.

Launching in May 2026, ArtPhilly will present What Now, a city-wide, multidisciplinary arts festival. This collaborative festival will showcase Philadelphia artists and neighborhoods, sparking civic dialogue on the nation’s evolution since 1776. Through What Now, commissioned artists will interpret Philadelphia’s legacy, reflecting on the city’s complex history and future.

Exciting Sporting Events

July 4th will also be a big day for sports in Philadelphia. The city has been chosen as one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and will hold six matches at Lincoln Financial Field in the summer of 2026. The schedule includes five group stage matches and one round of 16 match, which will be on the Fourth of July.

Philadelphia will also host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in the summer of 2026 at Citizens Bank Park. March Madness will return to Philadelphia when the Wells Fargo Center hosts the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Basketball select 1^st and 2^nd round games.

Just beyond the city limits, the 2026 PGA Championship will be held at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square from May 11–17. Later that summer, Merion Golf Club in Ardmore will host the United States Amateur Championship from August 10–16. The event brings together the nation’s top men’s amateur golfers for one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.

New Philadelphia Museums and Exhibitions

In 2026, Philadelphia will welcome several exhibitions to its museums, each poised to enhance the city’s cultural landscape.

New exhibitions will also be coming to Philadelphia-favorite museums in 2026.  The Franklin Institute is developing a unique touring exhibition to debut in 2026.  The premier exhibition will showcase how Universal parks are created, premiering at the museum before traveling. Entirely designed, built, and toured by The Franklin Institute, the exhibit will highlight key milestones of Universal Destinations and Experiences, from the early Studio Tram tour to the new Epic Universe.

The pioneering science museum’s revamp will also be well underway, transforming all its exhibits in honor of its 200th anniversary in 2024. The new Wondrous Space exhibit opened in 2023 and Body Odyssey and the Hamilton Collections Gallery opened in the fall of 2024. Exhibits on advanced machines and robotics, earth systems, computer science, and the built environment will debut from 2025 forward.

The Please Touch Museum, which occupies Memorial Hall—an art gallery built for America’s 1876 Centennial Exposition—will debut a new exhibit for the semiquincentennial entitled Discovering Democracy. The exhibit aims to introduce children to the concept of democracy and how it plays a role in their everyday lives.

The Philadelphia Zoo — the nation’s first zoo — has announced its largest exhibition project in over a decade with a $20M transformation of Bear Country, set to break ground in 2025 and debut in 2026. The expanded exhibit will feature the Zoo360 trail for bears, an off-exhibit space for cub rearing, and enhanced water features and landscaping.

The Museum of the American Revolution‘s exhibition The Declaration’s Journey will celebrate the Declaration of Independence’s 250-year legacy and global influence on independence movements through rare artifacts and stories. The exhibition will open in October 2025 and will run throughout 2027.

Start planning a trip for you and your group to Philadelphia in 2026 today! Use our plan your trip page to start organizing your Philadelphia adventure now.