2026 in Philly: The Biggest Events, Fests & Exhibitions

Now open

The Penn Museum celebrates the first Americans — the Indigenous tribes that lived here long before the Founding Fathers touched pen to paper — with the opening of this expansive gallery.

Curated in close collaboration with several Indigenous consulting curators, the new gallery explores “the political, religious, linguistic and artistic self-determination” of America’s Indigenous peoples. Over 250 artifacts and art pieces showcase Indigenous history and culture from tribes throughout the country, including the Delaware/Lenape tribe, the Eastern Band Cherokee tribe, the Lingít tribe, and more.

Through Saturday, February 21, 2026

This brand-new exhibition at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts celebrates the life and works of artist, teacher, political activist and lifelong Philadelphian Sam Maitin.

The exhibition features banners, prints, studies and other works, and is presented in conjunction with Penn Libraries’ Maitin in Philadelphia: Mayor of the Arts poster exhibition, running through December 19, 2025.

Maitin spent his life promoting the arts and social causes, and his works have been seen all around Philly for decades — including bus shelters, hospital walls, educational institutions and public spaces throughout the city.

Through May 30, 2026 (dates vary by event)

During its 2025-2026 season, Penn Live Arts focuses on the theme of “American Unfinished,” with artist performances embodying America’s journey from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to today, showcasing themes of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Through May 30, 2026, when you attend a performance, stop by the Feintuch Family Lobby for reflection on the season’s themes at The Listening Cabinet, an interactive exhibit containing a trove of discussion questions to ponder.

Two highlights of the season include:

• Johnny Gandelsman presents This is America: Grammy Award-winning violinist and MacArthur Fellow Johnny Gandelsman performs a solo program in his This is America series, where he’s commissioned works from composers across the country to embody current societal themes and turn them into new musical compositions. This event features the world premiere of a work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and Penn professor Tyshawn Sorey for two shows: Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church (20 North American Street) and Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Annenberg Center’s Prince Theatre.
• Alarm Will Sound: American Stories featuring Bora Yoon: Ensemble group Alarm Will Sound takes the stage at the Zellerbach Theatre for one show at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, for American Stories featuring Bora Yoon. The group consists of 20 artists and provides an immersive experience with music, poetry and theatrical elements channeling themes of belonging and identity in America.

Through December 2026 (dates vary by event)

At the University of Pennsylvania, the Semiquincentennial is an excellent opportunity to take a retrospective look at the past, present and future of our nation with a schedule of exhibitions, art commissions, performances and more:

• Nursing the Revolution at the Barbara Bates Center for the History of Nursing: Where would our country be without nurses? This new exhibit looks at how revolutionary nurses were in shaping a young America’s healthcare landscape, explores the huge role nurses played during the Revolution and shows that nursing did not begin with Florence Nightingale — as many widely believe. The exhibit is open to the general public by appointment. Email [email protected] to schedule a visit (January 14 – November 20, 2026).

• Adventive America: Follow the Plants at the Fisher Fine Arts Library: The role of plants in America’s earliest days is the focus of a symposium and exhibition at the University of Pennsylvania in January. A collaboration between the Weitzman School of Design and the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology, the two-day exploration of plant knowledge looks at exchanges between the Bartram family and Indigenous peoples as well as the role that plants played at the Centennial Exposition in 1876 (January 29-30, 2026).

• Celebrate or Demonstrate: Philadelphia and Bicentennial Discontent at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center: America’s last milestone birthday — the Bicentennial in 1976 — inspired lively celebrations as well as meaningful discussions reflecting on the state of the nation and the contradictions woven into its founding. A bold exhibit and homage to the protest culture of the 1970s, Celebrate or Demonstrate explores that counter-narrative with posters, buttons, pamphlets, photographs and more (February 9 – May 15, 2026).

• The Time to Right All Wrongs: France, Haiti, and Philadelphia in a Revolutionary Age at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center: America’s history-making declaration set off a worldwide freedom movement — from the Americas to Europe to the Caribbean. It also cemented Philly as a harbor for revolutionary refugees on all sides and an epicenter of thought leadership. Featuring rare books, documents, objects and images, this exhibit allows visitors to weigh in on the questions facing people during the revolutionary era (February 26 – July 6, 2026).

• The Typography of Independence at Penn Libraries: Join Penn’s Common Press for The Typography of Independence, a year-long program celebrating the historic paper-making and printing techniques that gave America a tangible copy of the Declaration of Independence (through December 2026, select dates). Highlights include the Reinterpreting the Declaration: A Creative Typesetting Workshop (Thursday, January 16, 2026) and the 12-Hour Declaration of Independence: Community Typesetting two-day experience (May 14-15, 2026).

Through Thursday, December 31, 2026

Heroes to some, villains to others, the infamous Doan Gang once roamed what is now Bucks County during the earliest days of the American Revolution, plotting, scheming and plundering their way through a world divided.

This immersive exhibition at Doylestown’s Mercer Museum explores the Doans’ legendary exploits, from espionage and robberies to mythical lost treasures. Learn how these local outlaws plotted and schemed through a divided world, and why their loyalty to the British rule made them enemies of the Founding Fathers.

Through Sunday, January 3, 2027

“When in the course of human events …” The document from which that seminal phrase originates is the centerpiece of the Museum of the American Revolution’s 2026 programming. The Declaration’s Journey exhibition traces the history of America’s founding charter and its continuing influence, inspiring over 100 independence movements worldwide.

The Declaration’s legacy is explored through records, art and artifacts, including Thomas Jefferson’s chair, a Marquis de Lafayette-annotated draft of the French Declaration of Rights, the prison bench where Martin Luther King Jr. penned “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a spinning wheel from Gandhi and more.

Opens Early 2026

Founded on principles of equality, Philadelphia is a welcoming and inspirational place for LGBTQ+ travelers, offering inclusive arts and nightlife, vibrant shopping and dining, and a long history of LGBTQ+ activism. Philly begins a new chapter of inclusion in 2026 with the opening of one of America’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ visitor centers.

The Philly Pride Visitor Center in Midtown Village is slated to offer souvenirs, attraction ticketing, itinerary planning and other travel information, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ and ally businesses, destinations and cultural institutions. The center also highlights Philly’s role in LGBTQ+ rights and history.

Throughout 2026 (dates vary by event)

The organization that made Philadelphia “Mural Capital of the World” celebrates America’s 250th anniversary the only way it knows how — making tons of public art! Mural Arts has a blockbuster lineup of projects for 2026. Here’s just a taste of what the organization has planned:

• Printmaking by the People: Citywide Voices of 2026: Started in the fall of 2024, this special art project engaged the public in 50+ workshops examining the question: “What does freedom require today?” Now in its culminating year, the project reveals hundreds of prints this April in an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia. In June, Mural Arts unveils a major new mural creating a “citywide portrait” of what Philadelphians think about democracy at this moment.
• Vámonos pa’l monte (Let’s Go to the Mountains): In October, artist Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz leads a parade of revelers and community members on a four-mile walk from City Hall to the historically Puerto Rican community of Norris Square. The vibrant public performance reflects on Puerto Rican heritage while paying tribute to the endurance of community identity.
• Murals!: Of course there are murals! Look out for new ones celebrating: iconic R&B group Boyz II Men coming to South Philadelphia in May; musician Questlove at West Philadelphia High School in October; and LGBTQ+ trailblazer Gloria Casarez coming back to the Gayborhood.

52 Weeks of Firsts honors 250 years of Philly pioneering by celebrating the city’s many historic achievements — every week, all throughout 2026.

Featured Philadelphia “firsts” include inventions like the Slinky, cultural milestones such as Mother’s Day and significant locations like the first African Methodist Episcopal church.

The free celebrations take place at the original location of each first (or in spaces that represent where these significant milestones occurred) and include guest speakers, a sculpture, monthly marquee events and historic deep dives by Once Upon a Nation.

January 31, 2026 – April 25, 2027 (dates vary by event)

Montgomery County’s Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center commemorates the 250th with a full year of events, programs and exhibits, focusing on the area’s rich Revolution-era history. On the calendar:

• These Truths Are Not Self-evident: Stories of the Revolution in the Perkiomen Region: An interactive exhibit exploring historical evidence and anecdotal stories from the American Revolution, and which lets participants compare fact versus fiction (April 17, 2026 to March 27, 2027).
• Independence Weekend: A local community collaboration hosts three days of food, fireworks and family-friendly fairs (July 3 to 5, 2026).
• Evolution of the Pennsylvania Longrifle: Early Years: A collection of rifles showcasing the artistic workmanship and global origin of historical firearms (July 18 to October 18, 2026).

For the full list of events, check out the official website.

Direct from Broadway, Suffs channels the vibe of Hamilton, taking the audience on a musical journey through the suffragettes’ struggles for the women’s right to vote.

Creator Shaina Taub made history when she became the first woman to independently win Tony Awards for best score and best book.

In addition to contributing to the Revolutionary City Portal, a digital resource spotlighting Philly’s role in the founding of the nation, the curators at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania have been hard at work, digging into their archives to craft not one, but two brand-new exhibitions honoring 250 years of American history:

• The Changing Faces of Independence: On view during library hours, the free, two-phase exhibit looks at the paper trail our ancestors left in their documents ahead of two other big birthday celebrations: America’s 100th and 200th birthdays. The first half of the exhibit opens in January 2026 and focuses on Pennsylvania in the 1800s, with a look at the 1900s coming in October 2026.

• Paths to Independence: In 10 short years, Founding Fathers and everyday Philadelphians alike went from identifying as loyal royal subjects of King George III to rebels demanding independence. This exhibit traces the dramatic evolution using rare original documents — letters, pamphlets, drafts of the Articles of Confederation and more (May 7 through September 18, 2026)

Unrivaled — an offseason professional women’s basketball league that features 3-on-3 games — returns this January.

Founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the league gives top players a new option for offseason play — and after a successful first season in Miami, the league has decided to hit the road. First stop: Philadelphia.

Four clubs face off in fast-paced back-to-back games, each played on a compressed full court with a custom ruleset, and each featuring some of the best players in the WNBA.

February – December 2026 (dates vary by event)

A Northwest Philly neighborhood dating back to 1683, a pivotal Revolutionary War battleground and an important stop on the Underground Railroad, Historic Germantown celebrates the Semiquincentennial with a fun and educational mix of new and returning programming and events, like:

• 26 Weeks of Walking Tours: Uncover colonial-era history, stories from the Underground Railroad, historic architecture and more during this brand-new series of guided walking tours highlighting 10 Germantown sites. Tour themes change seasonally, so check the official website for more information (February through November 2026, select dates).
• Historic Germantown One Pass: Your ticket into multiple Germantown sites for one low price (a 60% discount!), the Historic Germantown One Pass returns in 2026, as well. Details are still developing, so check the official website for more information.

Historic Germantown also has a number of exhibits, film screenings, dinners and other programming in the works for the year. Be sure to check out the website for the full lineup of 2026 happenings.

How are theme parks made? This world-premiere exhibit, brought to you by The Franklin Institute and Universal Destinations & Experiences, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and world-building that goes into each Universal amusement park.

Spanning 18,0000 square feet and eight immersive galleries, the experience showcases over 100 vehicles, props and other original artifacts from world-famous rides, attractions and live shows, including Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda, and Universal Monsters. And in true Franklin Institute form, the display has an educational focus, playing up all the technology, engineering and artistry involved in theme park design.

While the Declaration of Independence ushered in a new era of government in America when it came on the scene in 1776, the document also had a profound impact around the world.

Join Harvard historian and Declaration of Independence expert Dr. David Armitage at the Independence Visitor Center for a panel discussion about the global reach of the document in shaping independence movements. Independence National Historic Park and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia partner to present the timely discussion.

The event on the mezzanine level of Independence Visitor Center is free, but you’ll need to register in advance.

A city staple since 1829, the annual Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show — the oldest and largest indoor horticultural event in the world — draws tens of thousands to the Pennsylvania Convention Center each year. The floral spectacle, returning in 2026 for its 197th year, brings together hundreds of florists, landscapers and designers for one of the city’s most anticipated yearly events.

Beyond the displays, the show hosts major juried competitions, tons of gardening talks, demonstrations, special events, celebrities, a sprawling market, live performances and plentiful food and drink options.

The theme for the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show: Rooted: Origins of American Gardening. While the 2025 theme looked at the future and 2024 celebrated the present, the 2026 theme coincides with the Semiquincentennial and looks back at horticultural legacies and cultural practices that shaped our current gardening landscapes.

February & May 2026

The nation’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution gets a major upgrade just in time for the country’s big anniversary with the addition of two brand-new galleries.

Opening in February 2026, the new America’s Founding Gallery tells the story of the early fights for and days of American independence, while the second, the Separation of Powers Gallery, opens in May 2026 and focuses on the three branches of government and the balance between the federal government and states’ rights.

Additionally, an original copy of the U.S. Constitution — one of only 14 surviving copies — and a rare first printing of the 17 constitutional amendments as they were debated by Congress will be on display throughout 2026.

Opens Saturday, March 14, 2026

An abandoned 19th-century bank in Old City has been transformed into an immersive, 6-story work of art called Ministry of Awe (MoA) — just in time for the big Philly 250 celebration.

The building-wide work of art inside the former bank celebrates “human-ness” with installations, interactive sculptures, immersive soundscapes, live performances and murals. Global artist and creative mind behind the transformative art experience, Meg Saligman, collaborated with more than 100 artists to create the massive work.

MoA will offer timed-ticket entry six days a week. Sign up to get notified when tickets go on sale.

Spring 2026

What better way to celebrate the Semiquincentennial than by letting freedom ring?

Bells Across PA — a statewide art exhibition in partnership with America250PA and Mural Arts Philadelphia — is showcasing festively painted Liberty bell replicas in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, with Philadelphia alone set to display 20.

Philly’s large fiberglass Liberty Bell sculptures will be installed at commercial corridors and public parks, with each bell’s design capturing the spirit and identity of a different neighborhood. Artists from across Pennsylvania, from acclaimed professionals to talented amateurs, can submit designs for consideration throughout 2025.

The finished bells will be unveiled in 2026 as part of Philadelphia’s beautification efforts for the nation’s 250th birthday, with other potential projects including commemorative benches, seasonal installations, decorative banners and more.

March 20 & 22, 2026

A college basketball hotbed for over a century, Philly will feel March’s madness first-hand in 2026 as Xfinity Mobile Arena hosts a slate of first- and second-round games during the 87th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The six early-round games — hosted by St. Joseph’s University — will feature eight top programs from around the nation fighting for a spot in the Sweet 16. This will mark the 29th time Philadelphia has played host to men’s tourney games since 1939, including Christian Laettner’s famous game-winner in 1992 and the 1976 and 1981 Final Fours.

We all know how the American Revolutionary War ended. Now, a brand-new exhibition at the Independence Seaport Museum explores how our new nation built its economy back up in the aftermath.

Featuring roughly 150 rarely seen objects and artifacts, Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade and the Making of America examines how the dream of America survived (and thrived) through new economic relationships and international trade alliances — and how China helped build America into the global superpower it is today.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with exploring the nation’s western territories after the Louisiana Purchase. But did you know that Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences is home to nearly all the explorers’ original journals and preserved specimens related to their botanical research in its Lewis & Clark Herbarium?

For 2026, the institution highlights that collection in the new Botany of Nations exhibit, tracing the team’s journey through the stories and science of the plant knowledge with which they returned, imparted on them by the continent’s Indigenous nations.

April 2026 to September 2027

With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (the country’s very first art school and museum) delve into the richness and diversity of American art history.

The two institutions team up with avid art collector (and Phillies’ managing partner) John Middleton and his wife and partner Leigh for this blockbuster exhibition titled A Nation of Artists. Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums. Viewers find some of art’s biggest names — including Mary Cassatt and Charles Willson Peale — exhibited side-by-side with oft-overlooked Black, Indigenous, immigrant and historically underrepresented artists and contemporary talents.

A Nation of Artists debuts as a cultural milestone celebrating the nation’s creative and artistic legacy at the Philadelphia Art Museum (April 12, 2026 to July 5, 2027) and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (May 2026 through September 2027).

Opening April 2026

Coming this spring, the country’s best city for public art opens its highly anticipated interactive showpiece: FloatLab, a 75-foot-wide floating art installation and classroom in the Schuylkill River along the southern shoreline of Bartram’s Garden in Kingsessing.

FloatLab’s ADA-compliant platform gives visitors a constant eye-level river view, as the system of ballast chambers allows the platform to ebb and flow as the tide comes in and out. The space can hold an entire class or group of visitors and offers an endless list of opportunities to see and experience the river (and Philly!) from a completely different vantage point. Stay tuned for more info about how and when the public can access this exciting new space.

Opens Friday, April 10, 2026

Over the last 250 years, few things have become as synonymous with America’s Independence Day celebrations as the loud crack and colorful sparks of a fireworks display. But the origins of the dazzling light shows are much, much older — going as far back as the second century B.C.

The Science History Institute in Old City illuminates the history and chemistry of fireworks in an explosive new exhibition, featuring historic rare books, fine art, the latest in modern-day pyrotechnic technologies and more.

Unbeknownst to many, the Declaration of Independence served many roles and went through numerous drafts before becoming the document we know today. The American Philosophical Society Museum (APSM) tapped into its vast holdings to tell a fuller version of the document’s history in its latest exhibit, timed to coincide with America 250.

In addition to the many copies of the Declaration in the free exhibit, visitors can also see a rare first printing of Thomas Paine’s influential Common Sense as well as the chair Thomas Jefferson sat in while he wrote.

Nearly a half-century before Hamilton, Broadway was privy to another iconic show focused on the Revolution. And in 2026, Walnut Street Theatre will host a new production of the 1969 classic 1776: The Musical. The award-winning retelling recounts the story — set right here in Philadelphia — of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson as they fight for independence against a deadlocked Continental Congress, with humor, romance and nail-biting tension.

Need more historical significance? Walnut Street Theatre remains the oldest continuously operating theater in the entire English-speaking world, opened just 30 years after the events depicted.

Opens Thursday, April 23, 2026 

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History marks the Semiquincentennial by overhauling its space to include two new permanent exhibit spaces and a 4,500-square-foot special exhibition space.

Set to open in April, the space’s first special exhibit, The First Salute, takes a look at never-before-told stories of the Jewish community’s connections to the American Revolution. The exhibit features rare artifacts, original films and immersive videos, all weaving together a story about religious freedom, antisemitism in the colonial world, trade and life on the high seas (April 23, 2026 – April 2027).

Two new permanent exhibits open throughout 2026. Colors of Creation, a family-friendly exploration of the creation story, opens in July. A second permanent exhibit documents contemporary antisemitism, opening later in 2026.

All roads lead to Rocky, don’t they?

Inspired by one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Philadelphia — the Rocky Statue — this brand-new exhibition is all about monuments: Why we make them. Who gets one. And the role they play in society.

Curated by Paul Farber, co-founder of Monument Lab and the host of NPR and WHYY’s acclaimed podcast The Statue (TL:DR: He knows his stuff), the expansive exhibit covers 2,000 years of history and features over 150 artifacts and works of art by 50-plus artists, including Keith Haring, Carrie Mae Weems and Andy Warhol.

The show arrives at the Philadelphia Art Museum just in time for the 50th anniversary of the movie that started it all.

The 2026 PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments that make up the Grand Slam, will crown its new champion at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Delaware County, on its par-70, 7,237-yard course in May 2026.

This marks the first time a Philadelphia-area club has hosted the Championship since Gary Player captured the 1962 event, also held at Aronimink. Past PGA Championship winners have included Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson.

19th-century Romantic-era composer Gustav Mahler brought larger-than-life, emotionally intense symphonies to the forefront of classical music — and was one of the leading composers of his generation.

Greater than the already-great sum of its parts, Mahler’s groundbreaking Symphony No. 5 (described as a “foaming, roaring, raging sea of sound”) comes to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, performed by pianist Aaron Diehl and The Philadelphia Orchestra and featuring new music from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tyshawn Sorey.

This Jewish American Heritage Month, Philly celebrates the sounds of the Jewish diaspora and the power of music with the first-ever Philly Jewish Music Festival.

The day-long fest showcases a diverse slate of international, national and local performers, spanning hip-hop, rock, and Mizrahi, Sephardic and Klezmer musical traditions. Headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist Matisyahu, the stacked lineup features folk artist Lily Henley and singer-songwriter Jodavi, among others.

Hosted by comedian Eitan Levine, the day’s festivities also include comedy sets, children’s programming, audience activations and more. Tickets are required, and the festival is a part of the Jewish American Heritage Month events at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

America’s most famous seamstress and her historic home celebrate the Semiquincentennial with an awesome lineup of events and programming.

Don’t miss immersive tours and historical re-enactments led by the Founding Mother herself; a new exhibition showcasing rarely seen artifacts, like Betsy’s spectacles and Bible; an extra-special Semiquincentennial-themed Flag Fest (June 6-14, 2026), movie nights (summer); and more. Stay tuned for more details.

What is it like to actually live and create art and performance in the City of Brotherly Love? That’s the idea behind the brand-new What Now creative festival — presented by arts and culture organization ArtPhilly — which features 10 days of multidisciplinary arts, including thought-provoking musical concerts, theatrical shows, dance performances, visual art exhibits and new museum experiences from over 80 local artists.

The fest — focusing on Philly’s history, neighborhoods and artistic legacy — makes all of Philadelphia a stage with performances, exhibitions and projects taking place across a selection of iconic museums, landmarks and venues.

The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus proves that despite our differences — Declarations of Independence and Revolutionary Wars aside —  there really are no hard feelings between Americans and the Brits. To close out its 44th season, the chorus pays tribute to some of the biggest and best pop acts to come out of Britain.

The spellbinding vocalists take on songs by The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, Adele and more during the cheeky and charming show. Tickets are required, and performances take place at the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing.

Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz legend Wynton Marsalis graces the Kimmel Center’s Marian Anderson Hall for a captivating concert showcasing Marsalis’ newest classical works — right alongside Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 7.

Joined by The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the famed trumpeter unites both orchestras together as one in this powerful world premiere.

Opening Spring 2026

North Broad Street’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will open its first new, as-yet-unnamed permanent collection exhibition in over two decades. The selection will showcase 250 to 350 works from its 16,000-strong repository.

The permanent exhibition is expected to pull from seven main themes: Indigenous Futures, Accessible America, Artists as Activists, Extractive Ecologies, American Empire, Queer America and PAFA & American Art. The gallery will be located in the circa-1876 Furness & Hewitt building, which is currently closed for renovations.

Opening Spring 2026

A bear of a project is underway at the Philadelphia Zoo. The nation’s oldest zoo is transforming its ursine habitat with a $20 million expansion and renovation of the popular Bear Country exhibit, expected to open in spring 2026.

Visitors will be able to get even closer to the action with a new third bear habitat, an extension of the Zoo360 exploration trail allowing the bears to rotate through all the habitats, new glass viewing areas where guests can come nose-to-nose with the bears, new spaces to view keeper training and more.

Spring & Summer 2026

For 20 weeks throughout the spring and summer of 2026, Philly puts its individual neighborhoods in the limelight with a celebratory Neighborhood Tour Series.

Every week, a different neighborhood is highlighted with tours that visit local restaurants, shops, parks, historical landmarks and other beloved cultural treasures. Each tour is led by an experienced guide, with routes and scripts created in partnership with local historians and residents of the communities.

The Neighborhood Tour series is part of Philly’s Ring It On! initiative, in conjunction with Bells Across PA (more on that above).

Spring 2026 through Winter 2027

German-speaking people played a significant role in the founding of our nation — from politics to military to religion — and Historic Trappe in Montco commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary with three milestone initiatives across its three historic properties.

The Speaker’s House, the former home of Frederick Muhlenberg, the first speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, opens to the public in 2026 in all its restored glory; the Muhlenberg House offers tours of the elegant home where indentured German and enslaved African servants once lived; and the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies hosts a landmark exhibition that highlights the lived experiences of Pennsylvania Germans, featuring original journals, family bibles, firearms, redware and more.

June – September 27, 2026

A towering large-scale installation by artist Paul Ramírez Jonas, Let Freedom Ring — presented by the Association for Public Art — allows participants to write the end of an all-American song.

The interactive bell tower sculpture plays the patriotic tune My Country ’Tis of Thee — only up to the very last note, when onlookers can pull a lever to ring a 600-pound bell and complete the song. The message? We can only realize the unfinished promises of our nation’s founding when we work together as a society.

Light up the night at historic Franklin Square with the must-see Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Old City.

2026’s fantastical light display celebrates the Year of the Horse with dozens of massive, intricate and handcrafted lanterns and installations constructed by Chinese artisans, plus cultural performances and plenty of international food and drink.

Stay tuned for more info on the 2026 theme, which highlights countries represented at FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia.

Visit Philadelphia and TED are collaborating to create TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures — a one-day event at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Held in honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, this flagship event marks the culmination of Visit Philadelphia’s three-year partnership with TED Democracy.

The full-day event will feature more than a dozen brand-new TED Talks from the Marian Anderson Hall stage, as well as interactive activations, performances, culinary pop-ups and networking opportunities. Sign up for the TED Democracy newsletter list to be the first to hear about ticketing options.

June 14 – July 4, 2026 (select dates)

The eyes of the world will be on Lincoln Financial Field (home to the NFL’s Eagles) in 2026, one of just 11 U.S. stadiums to hold matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. The Linc will host five Group Stage “pool play” matchups — featuring national teams from semi-randomly assigned groups — leading up to a July Fourth Round-of-16 Knockout Stage tilt for the right to advance to the Quarterfinals.

Philly will also host a FIFA FanFestival at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park featuring giant game-watch screens, food, music, parties and more.

Originally built as part of America’s bicentennial festivities in 1976, Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts hits the big 5-0 this year. In celebration of both the anniversary milestone and America’s 250th anniversary, the beloved open-air music venue is collaborating with some of the big hitters of Philly arts and culture during A Hundred Years On with The Philadelphia Orchestra & The Crossing.

This world-premiere performance — penned by acclaimed composer Peter Boyer and award-winning librettist Mark Campbell and performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra and Grammy Award-winning choir The Crossing — transports you back in time to the 1876 Centennial Exposition, which introduced such innovations as the telephone and typewriter to the masses.

Other 2026 celebrations at Highmark Mann include the premiere of BalletX’s The Four Seasons Reimagined (June 2026), 50 Years of Music in the Park with The Philadelphia Orchestra (July 2026) and a vibrant community-led mural installation in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia (summer 2026).

The cornerstone of Independence Day festivities in Philadelphia is always the annual Welcome America festival.

The multi-week celebration commences on Juneteenth and culminates on July Fourth. Events in past years have included a parade and festival during the Red, White, & Blue To-Do; a reading of the Declaration of Independence; the country’s largest July Fourth parade; and a headline concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway followed by a massive fireworks show above the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Stay tuned for more about the 2026 iteration of Welcome America.

Summer 2026 

Wanna hear a story? Expert wordsmiths with a knack for the overlooked and hidden history of Philadelphia man sites across the Historic District during the warm-weather months.

Costumed History Makers regale visitors with memories from their past, while specially trained, uniformed storytellers are stationed at benches near historic sites, bringing to life free three- to five-minute tales.

In honor of the milestone year, Once Upon a Nation adds several additional storytelling benches to its roster — bringing the total to a whopping 13 — and an expanded cast of History Makers.

Summer & Winter 2026

Washington Crossing Historic Park — the site of George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware — honors the bravery, dedication and lasting legacy of the general and the Continental Army.

In addition to its regular lineup of living history programs, guided tours and more, the park is set to host three major community-wide events in 2026: an expanded Independence Day celebration and fireworks display and two reimagined December Crossing Reenactments.

The park also debuts some exciting new enhancements to the visitor experience, including upgrades to its Visitor Center Gallery and renovations to its historic buildings. Stay tuned to the official website for more information.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we cannot forget that Jefferson’s words — “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” — did not extend to all Americans in 1776.

Each year, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade & Festival honors the anniversary of when the last enslaved African Americans were informed of their freedom on June 19th, 1865.

One of the largest in the nation, Philly’s Juneteenth Parade typically features 25,000 attendees, 2,000 participants and over two-dozen floats parading through West Philly.

The day culminates with music, vendors, a youth pavilion and more at the Juneteenth Festival at Malcolm X Park. Stay tuned for more details about 2026’s event.

July 2026

From Memorial Hall in 1876 to the African American Museum in 1976, Philadelphia has a long history of institutions constructed for milestone anniversaries. The most prominent for 2026 is the reopening of the site of the First Bank of the United States, which will be publicly accessible for the first time in half a century with new temporary exhibits.

The First Bank — located in Independence National Historical Park — opened in 1797 under Alexander Hamilton as the nation’s first centralized national bank. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming exhibits, as well as special events like the First Bank Gala this June.

This national historic park — a gift from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the American people in honor of America’s last big birthday — toasts its Golden Jubilee with a weekend of festivities.

Bookended by opening and closing ceremonies on July 3 and July 5, 2026, Valley Forge’s birthday celebrations really get going on July Fourth with celebratory musket and cannon firings, birthday and thank-you card signings, and — the main event — a party at Washington’s Headquarters with live music and a reenactor portraying Anna Morris Holstein, who helped pave the way for the site’s preservation.

Bonus: Keep an eye out for special Semiquincentennial exhibits and events throughout the national park all year long.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The Midsummer Classic returns to Philly for the first time in 30 years when the 96th Annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game comes to Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026. Stars from across the National and American leagues will descend on Philly for the fifth time in the event’s existence — and first ever at “The Bank” — with the city previously hosting in 1943, 1952, 1976 and 1996.

Ahead of the game, All-Star Week festivities will also include the Home Run Derby, All-Star Futures Game, All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, MLB Draft and the All-Star Village fanfest. Stay tuned for more info on these events.

The borough of Newtown in Bucks County honors America’s 250th birthday with an action-packed day of events in early August 2026. The free, family-friendly event features historical displays, graveyard tours at the Old Presbyterian Church of Newtown, period music at the Historic Newtown Theatre and more.

Throughout the day, more than 60 reenactors, including British soldiers, William Penn and the notorious Doan Gang, bring Newtown’s rich history to life at sites across town.

Break out the spandex! The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back after a decade-long hiatus as part of Philly’s monster year celebrating America’s 250th.

The internationally renowned race — a beloved tradition in the city for more than 30 years — returns for the first time since 2016 with both men’s and women’s races.

A 14.4-mile circuit course will take riders down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through Lemon Hill and up the “Manayunk Wall,” a grueling hill featuring a 17% grade. Ouch. Catch us rooting from the sidelines.

December 2026

Yo, Adrian! The original Rocky film turns 50 in 2026, and the Italian Stallion’s hometown is celebrating the golden anniversary of the movie’s release with a year of Rocky-themed events.

A collaboration between the Philadelphia Visitor Center and the Sly Stallone Shop — along with dozens of Philly sites and attractions like the Philadelphia Art Museum (with its iconic Rocky Steps) — the all-ages fest features a series of activities, special events and activations dedicated to Rocky and other real-life Philly athletes. Stay tuned for more info.