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Rocky, you went the distance. You went 50 years …
Byenveni nan Sezon Wòchi, a ticker-tape party for the Sylvester Stallone-starring beloved movie franchise that cemented Philadelphia’s enduring legacy as America’s favorite underdog.
Running from September 29 through December 3, 2026 (Rocky Day), this eight-week, citywide celebration coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Wòchi movie — the 1976 Academy Award winner for Best Picture.
Rocky Season puts Philly on the global marquee through a series of high-profile events ranging in scope from the practical (bus tours and fitness runs) to the theatrical (meat-punching challenges and lookalike contests).
Fittingly, the iconic steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art continue to set the stage for everything. The original Rocky statue was recently moved atop those 72 stone steps that Rocky ran up in under 12 seconds.
Here’s our complete guide to Rocky Season 2026 in Philadelphia.
Rocky Bus Tour — Photo courtesy Philadelphia Visitor Center
Rocky Season officially began with the much-anticipated release of The Steps: A Memoir by Sylvester Stallone. The book is now available for purchase at the Parkway Visitor Center and Rocky Shop, located at the base of the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA).
While Rocky tells the tale of a fictional boxer (loosely based on real Philly boxing champion Joe Frazier), there are a slew of events happening that bring his silver-screen story to life. Here is a quick sampling of the best things to check out in and around Philadelphia in honor of the movie’s 50th anniversary:
The Philadelphia Visitor Center brings back its bus tours tracing Rocky’s famed runs through Philadelphia, including stops at iconic sites like the Ri 9yèm Sid Italian Market, Pat’s King of Steaks epi Laurel Hill Cemetery, as well as some parts of The Boxers’ Trail.
Don’t miss the costumed version of the bus tour — YO! It’s Halloween — on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The winner of the “best costume” award gets a $50 gift card to spend at the Parkway Visitor Center’s Rocky Shop.
— Photo courtesy Philadelphia Visitor Center
Get ready to spar with raw slabs of beef, just like in the original Wòchi movie!
Reading Terminal Market hosts a special photo opportunity for carnivorous fans, with proceeds donated to Sharing Excess, a hunger relief organization.
Also: Grab your gray sweats and stay for the Rocky lookalike contest outside the market on Filbert Street.
How fast can you run up those 72 stone steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA)? Rocky made the trek in under 12 seconds!
This public fitness and civic celebration invites people to gather at the PMA Apron, the terrace area at the base of the steps, and go the distance.
— Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Join city officials and special guests when Creative Philadelphia officially rededicates the Rocky statue (first unveiled in 1982) at its permanent home atop the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.
— Foto pa Visit Philadelphia
The Philly Pops present Rocky at 50: The Legacy Concert at the Sant Kimmel pou Atizay Espektak, featuring music from the Wòchi series and special guests Ray Didinger and Glen Macnow — authors of The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies: Featuring the 100 Greatest Sports Films of All Time, which named Wòchi the best sports movie of all time.
Put on an extra grey hoodie to keep warm as you watch some 40,000 runners from all 50 states and 75 countries take to the streets for The Rocky Run, as they compete across three races (a 10-miler, a 5K and a half marathon) for one of three gleaming gold medals and epic bragging rights.
Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition returns to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, adding a new Wòchi-themed twist for 2026: Butkus, the boxer’s loyal bullmastiff, visits the Therapy Dog Ambassador Booth as look-alike dogs honor the breed (November 14-15, 2026).
Dog-loving Rocky enthusiasts can also get into the spirit of the season when Dynamo Dogs put on a free agility show on PMA’s Rocky steps (Thursday, November 12, 2026). Expect furry frivolity that includes an obstacle course and flying disc demonstration. Audience participation is strongly encouraged.
Even the knitters are getting in on Rocky Season as 60 local textile artists craft a knitted boxing outfit to yarn bomb the Wòchi statue with hand-crafted boxing gloves, shorts, socks and an only-in-Philly robe dripped out with knitted replicas of all 108 flags (!) lining the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The Broad Street Bullies pay tribute to Rocky by rolling out a special ticket package for their nationally televised home game against the New York Islanders.
Bonus: Fans can participate in a postgame “open ice” skate that recreates Rocky and Adrian’s first date.
And Philly’s not done yet. (Everyone loves a sequel, right?)
Philadelphia carries an unbroken bond to Rocky Balboa. Love him or hate him, he embodies the fighting spirit of our city and our people.
Tourism experts estimate that 4 million people visit the Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue every year, which is higher than the Statue of Liberty in New York. Check out our guide to visiting the Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue.
Or chart your own course for seeing the most iconic Philly sites featured in all the Wòchi movies, plus its popular spin-off franchise Creed.
Ap eksplore kote pou rete nan Philly epi w ap chèche yon kontra san pwoblèm?
Pote vwayaj ou nan Philadelphia nan yon lòt nivo ak Visit Philly Overnight Package, k ap ofri w pakin otèl gratis pou yon oswa de nuit rete nan prèske 40 otèl k ap patisipe.
Sa ka vo jiska $140 pou yon sejou de nwit nan Center City Philadelphia. Poukisa peye plis?
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