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Way back on July 4, 1776, the United States of America was born right here in Philadelphia.
The very next year, newly minted Americans threw a giant party to commemorate the anniversary in the place where it happened. Fireworks, bonfires, lights, decorations, music and joyful gatherings filled the streets of Philadelphia. “American Independence was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion,” recalled Founding Father John Adams.
Over the next two-and-a-half centuries, Philadelphians continued to celebrate Independence Day much the same … just a lot bigger every year.
But as 2026 approaches, America — and Philadelphia in particular — will take the celebration to the next level as the nation commemorates its Semiquincentennial. (That’s fancy talk for the United States’ 250th birthday.)
Milestone anniversaries only come around a few times in one’s life, and in Philly, we’re gonna party like it’s, well, you guessed it, 1776. Huzzah!
Independence Hall — Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia
Each year, tens of thousands of visitors and residents descend upon Philadelphia to experience Independence Day, Philly style. But for the Semiquincentennial, Philly will truly be the place to be … and not just during the first week of July, but all year long.
In short, America’s 250th in Philly is going to be a year-long party you don’t want to miss.
The celebration comes with many names — Semiquincentennial, Sestercentennial, Quarter Millennial, the Big Two-Five-Oh, Philly 250, America 250 — but they all refer to the same thing: 250 years since that historic Fourth of July in 1776, exactly two-and-a-half centuries since America’s birth, when the Founding Fathers declared independence right here in the heart of Philadelphia.
Over the course of the Semiquincentennial, concerts, parades, exhibitions, events, festivals, sports, celebrities, food, drink and all sorts of good times await you.
We may be biased, but we’re pretty sure there’s no better place to celebrate America than in Philly, so as we inch closer to the kick-off of a year-long celebration, here’s a primer on what we know now to help you make travel (and party!) plans for 2026.
Philadelphia is the ancestral homeland of the Lenape — Indigenous people who reside in the city to this day. Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, claimed the area in the early 1680s and named it Philadelphia.
Penn strove to make Philadelphia — his “holy experiment” in freedom — a place of inclusion by opening up his colony to all faiths, offering safety from persecution. But in a lesson of how far the young nation still had (and has) to go, Penn, a slaveowner himself, would only go as far as promoting what he considered “good treatment” and schooling for enslaved people and pledging to release his own slaves upon his death.
William Penn statue on top of Philadelphia City Hall — Photo courtesy Elevated Angles
Over the next 300 years, Philadelphia has often found itself in the civil rights spotlight, with local leaders, activists and allies striving to meet the moment for diversity, inclusion and equal justice. Through trials, tribulations, protests and more, the city — long a place where Americans of all walks of life and ideologies gathered to celebrate the best our nation has to offer — has taken, and continues to take, steps toward better equality and tolerance.
It’s that diversity of cultures, backgrounds and perspectives that Philadelphia — and the nation as a whole — embodies that will be on full display as America comes together to celebrate the Semiquincentennial, along with our similarities, shared hopes and common goals.
Almost every schoolkid across the nation knows the importance of Philadelphia to the founding of the nation, with the city earning its title of America’s birthplace by hosting the First Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, as well as serving as the nation’s first capital. Children learn stories of Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Betsy Ross, along with the events that occurred in colonial Philadelphia, all standard curriculum from social studies class to Schoolhouse Rock.
Equally important are the stories of those revolutionary Philadelphians — including Octavius V. Catto, William Still, Paul Robeson, Barbara Gittings and Gloria Casarez — who continued to do the hard and dangerous work of fighting for equality.
Liberty Bell — Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
And by playing the primary role in the nation’s first Fourth of July, Philadelphia has gone on to host a homecoming celebration every July Fourth from that moment on, including every milestone anniversary:
Benjamin Franklin Parkway — Photo by F. Moraleda
LOVE Park — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Now that you understand why Philadelphia remains the place to celebrate America’s big birthday, what exactly can you expect to see and do (and eat) here during the festivities?
Answer: So, so much! In fact, there are so many events planned to celebrate the big 2-5-0, you might want to start filling out your calendar now to make sure you make time for everything.
Visit Philadelphia will continually update this page featuring details about the biggest events, fests and exhibitions as more information becomes available, so bookmark it and check it often.
An important note: All events are subject to change.
Each July, Philadelphia celebrates Independence Day during the multi-week-long Welcome America festival, one of the region’s most popular annual events.
The 2026 version will be bigger than ever, including the free nighttime party on the Ben Franklin Parkway with live music from big-name pop stars (past performers include Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Mary J. Blige and Pitbull) and a massive fireworks show above the Philadelphia Museum of Art with thousands lined up along the Parkway to take it all in.
— Photo by Elevated Angles for Visit Philadelphia
On July 2, The Red, White & Blue To-Do will get the party started in the historic district with live music, games, restaurant specials and more. The next day, you are cordially invited to the Salute to America Independence Day Parade on July 3, featuring thousands of dancers, marching bands, drum corps, color guards, drill teams, acrobats and celebrities along the nearly two-and-a-half-mile route from Old City to Center City.
On July 4th, the day’s festivities kick off at the annual Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall, which will include a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, nearly 250 years to the day after it was first read aloud, on this very spot on July 8, 1776.
While the nation gathers in Philadelphia for the Semiquincentennial, the world of sports will also converge on the City of Brotherly Love in 2026. Philly, one of America’s great sports towns, will be in the spotlight all year as some of the biggest sports stars in the world hit local courts, fields, pitches and fairways.
2026 FIFA World Cup
The eyes of the world will quite literally be on Philadelphia as Lincoln Financial Field (usually home to the NFL’s Eagles) becomes one of just 11 U.S. stadiums to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, with five pool play matchups in June plus a July 4th Round of 16 knockout tilt at what Philadelphians affectionately call “The Linc.”
— Photo courtesy FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia
Philly’s group stage games, where qualified teams initially compete against other countries in their semi-randomly assigned groups, will take place at the Linc on the following dates:
For more about the World Cup in Philadelphia, click the button below.
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Play ball! The Phillies will share their home stadium when the 96th annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game comes to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia in July 2026.
Citizens Bank Park — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
The Midsummer Classic returns to Philly for the first time in 30 years (and first ever at “The Bank”). Bonus: Home run derby!
For more about the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Philadelphia, click the button below.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
A college basketball hotbed for a century, Philadelphia will feel the March Madness firsthand in 2026. St. Joseph’s University will host the First and Second Rounds of the 87th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Philly’s Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The action hits the court on March 20 and March 22. NCAA subscribers can scoop up tickets starting in October. Philly last hosted games in the annual tournament back in 2022, when the University of Pennsylvania hosted the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight regional rounds at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
For more about the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Philadelphia, click the button below.
2026 PGA Championship
The 2026 PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments, will crown its champion at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Delaware County May 11-17, 2026. Past winners have included Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
— Photo courtesy PGA Championship
2026 will mark the second time Aronimink will play host to the PGA Championship; the club hosted previously in 1962 with Gary Player taking the championship title.
For more about the 2026 PGA Tournament in Philadelphia, click the button below.
Museums across the city will offer special exhibits and programming surrounding the 250th celebration.
One of 2026’s most anticipated highlights will be the opening of a brand-new museum dedicated to the history of the American economy in the historic First Bank of the United States at Independence National Historical Park. Built in 1797 under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton, the building was the home of the nation’s first centralized national bank and the precursor to the Federal Reserve. The new museum, which will make the building publicly accessible for the first time in over a half-century, will focus on the bank’s important role in the development of the U.S. economy in the country’s earliest days.
First Bank of the United States — Photo courtesy Independence Historical Trust
Philly’s Museum of the American Revolution (which opened its doors in 2017) will host special programming for the 250th, including a new exhibition entitled The Declaration’s Journey: 250 Years of America’s Founding Document. The exhibit explores how the Declaration of Independence influenced modern society through the creation of similar documents in more than 100 other nations. The Declaration’s Journey will open in October 2025 and run throughout the Semiquincentennial year.
Museum of the American Revolution — Photo courtesy Museum of the American Revolution
The Please Touch Museum — which first opened during the Bicentennial year of 1976 and whose current home (Memorial Hall) was constructed for the 1876 Centennial — will open Discovering Democracy, a nearly $2 million kid-focused exhibit for 2026, introducing children to the concept of democracy and its role in their lives.
The curators at the National Constitution Center have reimagined how to tell the history of the country’s origin through two new galleries set to open in 2026. Philly’s Constitution Center stands as the only museum in the world dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. America’s Founding Gallery will feature a rare copy of the historic document, one of only 14 known to exist. This new gallery will tell the story of how America created its founding principles to develop a new form of government. The new Separation of Powers Gallery will focus on how the Constitution created a balance of powers between three separate branches of government.
National Constitution Center — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University holds the honor of being the oldest natural sciences institution in the Western Hemisphere. Its newest exhibit, Botany of Nations, will open on March 28, 2026 and run throughout the Semiquencentennial year. The new exhibit will reframe the story of Lewis & Clark through an Indigenous lens, focusing on the plants in the Lewis and Clark Herbarium.
World-renowned art institutions, the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will partner for a blockbuster joint exhibit called A Nation of Artists. The exhibit will pair well-known artists with underrepresented creators to showcase the history and evolution of American art. The Philadelphia Art Museum will open its exhibit on April 12, 2026 followed by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ grand reopening of its Historic Landmark Building in spring 2026.
More museum commemorations will be announced as 2026 approaches.
The United States armed forces kick off America’s Semiquincentennial with two of their own celebrations. Leading up to the big year, the U.S. Navy celebrates its 250th birthday from October 9-16, 2025 with Homecoming 250, which includes a black-tie gala at the National Constitution Center and a historic parade of ships on the Delaware River representing every major military conflict in which the Navy has participated.
Not to be outdone, the very next month the U.S. Marine Corps will then celebrate its 250th birthday from November 7-11, 2025 with another assemblage of ships on the Delaware, as well as christening a recreation of historic Tun Tavern, the former watering hole near Penn’s Landing where the Marines were founded in 1775.
— Photo courtesy Independence Seaport Museum
Are you so excited for the big party that you want to help out? Consider volunteering for the festivities to help ensure the millions of visitors to Philly have the best time possible.
One way to get into the action is with PHILADELPHIA250, the independent nonprofit organization tasked to get the community involved in creating a “commemoration that is truly by the people, for all people.” Visit PHILADELPHIA250’s website to find out how to volunteer, spread the word, join an event or donate.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
The statewide organization America250PA will focus on Pennsylvania’s role in the nation’s birth and also has opportunities to volunteer. Sign up on their website to receive notifications of volunteer opportunities as they arise.
The City of Philadelphia will also be sprucing up many spaces in preparation to welcome America. The city’s Ring it On! program will focus on neighborhood collaborations, clean-ups and celebrations. The city’s 250 webpage also features a long list of community partners across the city who will need helpers, too.
We sure do! If you’ve never been to Philadelphia before or need a refresher about the best ways to navigate the city, check out these Visit Philadelphia resource pages.
The city has so many ways to get around, whether you walk, bike, share a ride, or take public transit. SEPTA provides public transit across the city and suburbs via trains, trolleys and buses.
If you prefer to drive into the city, you’ll need to find somewhere to park. Know that the city’s Parking Authority will ticket you if you park illegally or forget to renew payment for parking.
— Photo courtesy Philadelphia Parking Authority
Visitors to Philadelphia in need of accommodations to fully enjoy their time here should bookmark this guide to accessibility in the city.
And, sometimes nature calls and you just gotta go … so knowing the locations of public bathrooms will come in handy.
Oh man, you already have plans for July 4, 2026? Bummer.
Well, the good news is Philly isn’t going anywhere and will be around all year long for you to enjoy on your schedule. Events for the Semiquincentennial (both official and unofficial) happen throughout the year. From the FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Game to historical reenactments, museum days, concerts and community-based events, great experiences are ready for your visit across 2026.
July Fourth in Philly — Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia
But between us, you don’t need an event or scheduled activity to experience the Semiquincentennial year in Philly with so much to do and see (and eat and drink). If you’ve always wanted to visit (or return to) Philadelphia, what better time than 2026 for America’s birth year? We’re always open.
In addition to all the great events listed here (and more to come), let us be your personal concierge for your Semiquincentennial visit. Visit Philadelphia updates these guides on where to eat, where to stay and what to do regularly.
As details continue to emerge about events, parties, concerts and celebrations, this page (and others throughout visitphilly.com) will be updated and amended frequently, so smash that bookmark and come back regularly, sign up for the Visit Philly newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and more.
— Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and priceless peace of mind.
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