America's 250th birthday party starts early in Philly. Here's what to expect over next 2 years

The United States of America turns 250 years old in 2026, but the party for the Semiquincentennial is already getting started in the birthplace of the country - Philadelphia.

City and state leaders -- including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis -- joined Visit Philadelphia leaders in front of the large Ben Franklin Statue at the Franklin Institute to preview the slate of activities celebrating America’s 250th birthday on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. They also highlighted the business benefits of all the tourism.

“Philadelphia is the birthplace of American democracy and has been the leading destination for advocates, innovators, and leaders since the first Continental Congress — and that long tradition continues through to today,” Shapiro said. "As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, Philadelphia and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be the place to be. From the TED Democracy Series starting this summer to the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All Star Game, the Commonwealth is ready to host millions of visitors and show off our incredible towns and cities, like Philadelphia, to the world."

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The Philadelphia 250 fun gets started more than two years ahead of July 4, 2026. The planning process, however, began 13 years earlier with businessman Sam Katz and former Gov. Ed Rendell laying the groundwork for the celebration, Visit Philadelphia President and CEO Angela Val told the crowd.

"We kick off what is going to be an exciting and engaging and entertaining two years celebrating our country and Philadelphia's role in the birth of this great nation," Val said.

Some of the future fun was already known, including the 2026 MLB All-Star game being hosted by the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field hosting FIFA World Cup games, but other events were revealed Tuesday.

Some of the other events include Young People's Declaration's Journey, the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, ArtPhilly What Now and 52 Weeks of Firsts. The annual Wawa Welcome America Festival will also play a critical role in Independence Day festivities in the years ahead, organizers said.

The fun starts this summer, with the first 2026 event set for July 2, 2024. Here's some of the events already being featured.

Starting as soon as July 2, 2024 and continuing through 2026, Philadelphia’s semiquincentennial line-up includes:

• Red, White, & Blue To-Do: John Adams famously declared that July 2nd should be a day of “pomp and parade.” So, starting July 2, 2024, and occurring annually, the Philadelphia Historic District partners will host this patriotic celebration taking place throughout America’s most historic square mile with parades, concerts and more.
• The Young People’s Continental Congress: In July of 2024 and 2025 Carpenters’ Hall will host this youth-focused event bringing together delegates from across the country to explore the themes of democracy and to engage in civic dialogue.
• 250th Birthdays of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps:  In October of 2025, Philadelphia will be partnering with the US Navy and Marine Corps as well as Homecoming 250 in hosting their 250th birthday celebration. More details on that event will be coming in the months ahead.
• The Declaration’s Journey: The Museum of the American Revolution will host this major special exhibition exploring the history and global impact of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 to today. The exhibition will run from Oct. 18, 2025 through Jan. 3, 2027.
• 52 Weeks of Firsts: The Philadelphia Historic District will commemorate the Philadelphia-born creativity and ingenuity that has been shared globally over the past 250 years with weekly acknowledgments starting January 2026.
• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament: March Madness comes to Philadelphia in 2026 when the city will host first and second round tournament play at the Wells Fargo Center.
• ArtPhilly What Now: This city-wide arts festival will launch in May 2026 and will highlight Philadelphia’s iconic arts institutions, neighborhood arts initiatives and talented artists.
• FIFA World Cup 26™: June - July 2026 Philadelphia will host matches at Lincoln Financial Field culminating in a knockout stage match on July 4, 2026. The World Cup FanFest will also run through July 17th giving soccer fans a great place to meet up, watch matches and celebrate victories.
• Wawa Welcome America: And, with the world watching, the city will host the biggest and best July 4th celebration Philadelphia’s ever seen.
• 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game: Citizens Bank Park will host this multi-day event honoring baseball’s best and celebrating America’s favorite past-time in the city where America was born.
• Printmaking by the People - Citywide Voices of 2026: Mural Arts Philadelphia team will begin concepting in 2024, and in 2026 will present this crowd-sourced mural that will create a lasting visual legacy that honors the semiquincentennial, our shared values and desired changes.

2026 organizers said for people to expect more events to be announced in the months ahead.

Shapiro noted how this two-year celebration can spotlight and highlight the best that the region has to offer. He and others also spotlighted a TED Democracy series that focuses on the struggles and triumphs.

"This gives us a chance to celebrate Philadelphia, to celebrate Pennsylvania, to celebrate this inclusive and tolerant place that we have strived to build, to pick up on the work that Franklin started," Shapiro -- a first-term Democrat -- told the crowd.

The TED programs will be spread out in a series of chats.

"Together, through a multi-year program, TED and Visit Philadelphia will honor the critical role of Philadelphia in the founding of the United States, and we are doing this in the lead up to America's very special 250th anniversary in 2026," TED Conferences CEO and Executive Director Jay Herratti said.

Philadelphia is leaning in on the 250th birthday celebration since the Declaration of Independence was crafted in Old City's Independence Hall and Revolutionary leaders had connections to the city.

The Semiquincentennial is about looking forward to the next 250 years of American democracy, as well.

“Philadelphia has a bold vision for 2026 as a historic opportunity to help define the next 250 years in America,” Michael Newmuis, 2026 director for the city of Philadelphia, said. “Our milestone events will not only further position Philadelphia on the national stage — they will establish Philadelphia as America’s new front door where folks from across the world will arrive and experience the best of our great nation and its future.”