Semiquincentennial Historical and Cultural Events
2026 is shaping up to be a very special year for Philadelphians and tourists alike. Alongside the sports fanfare, museums, NGOs, nonprofits, community associations, businesses, and the city have been preparing a wide variety of festivities, exhibits, programs, initiatives and projects that showcase Philly's diverse heritages and communities, and all that the city has to offer.
From flower shows to art exhibitions to global conferences - there's something for everyone!
Betsy Ross House: Celebrating 250 Years of the American Flag
Throughout 2026
Step inside the home of America’s most famous seamstress as the Betsy Ross House marks the nation’s 250th birthday with a season full of special events.
Visitors can enjoy immersive tours and lively reenactments with Betsy herself, along with a brand-new exhibition featuring rarely displayed artifacts such as her personal spectacles and Bible. Highlights of the celebration include the Semiquincentennial edition of Flag Fest (June 6–14, 2025), outdoor movie nights throughout the summer, and more to come.
Visit the National Semiquincentennial Convention
Two-day cultural festival at the Pennsylvania Convention Center with:
- Forums
- Panels
- Screenings
Mann Center for the Performing Arts
The Mann will present a slate of original commissions and celebratory performances that highlight the history made on or near the Mann’s campus in 1876, 1976 and, soon, 2026. These signature programs include:
- A Hundred Years On with The Philadelphia Orchestra & The Crossing
- 50 Years of Music in the Park with The Philadelphia Orchestra
- BalletX's The Four Seasons Reimagined
- Mural Arts Partnership
Discover ArtPhilly's What Now? : 2026 Projects
May 29th - July 4th, 2026
In a city filled with art on every street corner, the projects What Now seek to "embody the visceral nature of living, being, and creating in the storied city of Philadelphia."
The event will feature "10 days of multidisciplinary arts examining showcasing what’s it like to live and create in Philly. What Now focuses on Philly’s history, neighborhoods and artistic legacy, placing each at the center of important civic dialogues about our country’s past, present and future." Locations for the festival vary and will be announced closer to the date.
Celebrate with the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps
October 9-16, 2025
The Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration will start on October 9-16, 2025. It will be the grand opening event of the Semiquincentennial, its largest event honoring the military and veterans, and the biggest event in the Nation’s birthplace before July 2026. We will have a week of spectacular events featuring the Blue Angels, at least eight Navy ships, two Coast Guard cutters, several historical and replica Navy ships, and more to celebrate 250 years of Navy and Marine Corps history. The Celebration will conclude on November 10, 2025, with special events on the Marine Corps 250th Birthday.
The Celebration is a national celebration, but it has many global aspects. The events should attract global tourists, especially our unprecedented gathering of ships which may include allied ships. Leaders of foreign navies will attend the celebration with the leaders of our military. Many international companies will be sponsors, and we are planning an Innovation Pavilion and Maritime Workforce Development that may include such sponsors and firms such as Leonardo and Hanwha.
Ceremony in Independence National Historical Park
Join the Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero, to bury a 250-year time capsule at Independence National Historic Park.
"In honor of the Spirit of '76 that inspired the colonists to declare their independence," 76 tree saplings will be planted around the park to celebrate 250 years of independence.
Philadelphia Flower Show
Attend the world’s oldest and largest indoor horticultural event!
This is, was, and will be Chinatown – Chinatown History Exhibit Project 这里是、曾经是、将来也是华埠 – 华埠历史展览项目
Chinatown History Exhibit Project aims to create a temporary exhibit to celebrate the history of Philadelphia’s Chinatown, illuminate the 150-year Chinese immigrant experience, and sharing the wider stories of Asian Americans today. This exhibit aims to open in April 2026.
National Constitution Center 2026 Galleries
- America's Founding Gallery (Opening February 2026) - Featuring one of only 14 known original,
official printed copies of the U.S. Constitution. Separation of Powers Gallery (Opening May 2026) - An engaging new space exploring how the Constitution defines roles and balances power.
Photo credit: National Constitution Center
The First Bank of U.S. Transformed
In a historic new project bridging heritage and finance, the First Bank of the United States is set to undergo a significant transformation in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Situated in Old City just steps away from the Museum of the American Revolution and the Liberty Bell, this architectural and historical treasure will emerge as a museum of economic history. With $22.2 million in federal funding, Independence National Historical Park has already begun the monumental transition to a museum that will trace America's fiscal evolution, one of just a few in the United States.
Neighborhood spotlight : Chinatown's 2026 Preparations
The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation has put together the Chinatown History Exhibit Project. Going on display in April 2026, this project is "a temporary exhibit to celebrate the history of Philadelphia’s Chinatown, illuminate the 150-year Chinese immigrant experience, and sharing the wider stories of Asian Americans today."
Museum Exhibits
Museum of the American Revolution
Explore the following exhibits:
- True Colours Flag Project
- “The Declaration’s Journey" (October 18, 2025 - January 3, 2027)
TED Democracy, a series of events curated by Visit Philly focusing on the future of democracy from 2024 to 2026, will culminate with "a daylong symposium in February 2026, while special exhibitions come to Philly museums, including at the Museum of the American Revolution."
Please Touch Museum
- Discovering Democracy exhibit for kids
The exhibit seeks to "focus on introducing kids to the concept of democracy and its role in their lives at an earlier age."
“A Nation of Artists” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia
Opens April 12, 2026
For the first time, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are collaborating on a groundbreaking exhibition drawn from the private collection of John S. and Leigh Middleton.
With more than 1,000 works spanning fine and decorative arts, this presentation will be the most comprehensive survey of American art ever staged in the city. Visitors can expect to see a sweeping range of voices — from iconic figures such as Mary Cassatt, Frederic Edwin Church, and Horace Pippin to contemporary innovators including Rina Banerjee, Mickalene Thomas, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. The show also highlights contributions from Indigenous, immigrant, and underrepresented artists, expanding the story of American creativity.
Old City Museum - The First Bank of U.S. Transformed
Following extensive advocacy efforts aimed at renovating the First Bank of the United States building, Independence National Historical Park secured $22.2 million in federal funding. This allocation will facilitate the transformation of the Old City landmark into a museum dedicated to the early stages of the American economy.
With construction underway, the museum is scheduled to be completed in time for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
read about the transformation from our journalists
Native North America Gallery at the Penn Museum
Opening Saturday, November 22, 2025
This fall, the Penn Museum unveils a major new gallery dedicated to the peoples who lived on this land long before the United States was founded — the Indigenous nations of North America.
Developed in close partnership with Indigenous consulting curators, the exhibition highlights themes of political, spiritual, linguistic, and artistic sovereignty. More than 250 objects and artworks bring these stories to life, representing communities such as the Delaware/Lenape, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Lingít, and many others.
Individual Events to Check Out
