Philadelphia to Host MLB All-Star Game in 2026
May 30, 2023
Major League Baseball selected Philadelphia to host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game and accompanying All-Star Week events as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. The 2026 Midsummer Classic will take place on July 14, 2026. It is just one of many major events Philadelphia will host as a part of America’s Semiquincentennial Celebration. Hosting the All-Star Game follows the precedent from 1976, when Veterans Stadium hosted the event during the nation’s Bicentennial.
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt addresses the crowd. Schmidt owns the most All-Star selections in Phillies history. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB
The 2026 All-Star Game will mark the fifth time that the City of Philadelphia will host the event, including the first ever All-Star game at Citizens Bank Park. Previously Philadelphia hosted the games in 1943, 1952, 1976, and 1996. It’s the first time Citizens Bank Park will host the game since its opening in 2004. MLB will find the stadium — capable of hosting premier events — fits the All-Star Game like a glove.
Phillies All-Stars Odubel Herrera and Bryce Harper were in attendance for the MLB All-Star Game announcement on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.
In 1976, a number of premier sporting events picked Philadelphia as their home in honor of America’s bicentennial year. 2026 will be no different, as the MLB All-Star Game is just one of many sporting events the city will host that year. In the same summer, Philadelphia will welcome visitors worldwide as a Host City for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ™. And the fever pitch will last all year, as Philadelphia will also host the PGA Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2026 .
Sporting Events Inspire Tourism
Sporting events are an important part of Philadelphia’s tourism economy. This has been demonstrated by the success of the 2017 NFL Draft, multiple NCAA Championships, and decades of hosting the Army-Navy Game. These events generate a huge economic impact for the region and bring fans from all over the country to Philadelphia. The MLB All-Star Game is expected to attract thousands of fans to Philadelphia and generate over 30,000 hotel room nights.
The MLB All-Star Game announcement in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB.
PHL Sports, the sporting division of the PHLCVB, facilitates major sporting events coming to Philadelphia, and connects planners and fans with regional partners to ensure successful and memorable events.
