Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in Philadelphia
Date
November 12, 2024
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 short of major events leading up to 2026. Football fanatics will get a taste of the World Club 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.
Opening in 2025 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Calder Gardens will bring to life the work of Alexander Calder, an innovative sculptor known for inventing 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, kicking off a series of events leading to America’s semiquincentennial. Held in Philadelphia, Camden, and along the Delaware River, the celebrations mark the Navy’s founding on October 13, 1775, and the Marine Corps’ founding on November 10, 1775. From October 9 to 16, 2025, visitors can enjoy free, family-friendly events, including historical exhibits, ship tours, and a breathtaking Blue Angels flyover.
Celebrating 250 Years Philly Style!
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, 2024. This event, inspired by John Adams’s call for a day of “pomp and parade,” invites visitors to America’s most historic square mile for two days of festivities, including 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.
Philadelphia’s local institutions are planning to reinvigorate the spirit of the centennial’s 1876 World’s Fair with the Children’s World’s Fair. Scheduled from early May to mid-July 2026 in Fairmount Park, the Fair aims to engage children through diverse programming. The Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts will collaborate on programming around the arts, science, health, cuisine, and citizenship.
America250PA is creating “Bells Across PA,” an art series commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary 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 from April 2025 through December 2025, and all bells will remain on display until the end of 2026.
In collaboration with Visit Philadelphia, TED Democracy brings a global spotlight to discussions on democracy’s future, featuring 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 marking America’s 250th anniversary. 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, capturing the essence of living, creating, and 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 1st and 2nd round games. And just outside of Philadelphia, Aronimink Golf Club will host the 2026 PGA Championship.
New Philadelphia Museums and Exhibitions
In 2026, Philadelphia will welcome several new museums and exhibitions, each poised to enhance the city’s cultural landscape. The First Bank of the United States will transform into a museum of the American economy. Slated to open in time for 2026, the new museum — which has not been accessible by the public for a half-century — will showcase the founding of the American economy through five exhibits — land, money, slavery, trade and work.
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 will open 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.
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.
