Everything To Look Forward to in Philly in 2026

Philly takes center stage next year. The birthplace of American democracy is celebrating 250 years since the country’s founding with festivals, special exhibits and sports, as some of the world’s biggest athletic competitions are coming to town.

January 2026

Already on view at the Museum of the American Revolution, is "The Declaration’s Journey," which explores the complex history and legacy of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibition spans 250 years dissecting the impact of the document and America’s founding.

Philly’s love for women’s sports has been growing and fans are eager for the arrival of our own WNBA team in 2030. While we impatiently wait, get a taste of what to expect with Unrivaled. The three-on-three league features the biggest names in women’s basketball, showcasing WNBA players during the offseason. Unrivaled tips off in Philly on Jan. 30 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

February 2026

The theme for this year's Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world, is “Rooted: The Origins of American Gardening.” The show, competition, and workshops will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28 to March 8.

March 2026

The Ministry of Awe officially opens its doors to the public on March 14. Once home to the Manufacturers National Bank, the space is being transformed into a six-story immersive art experience.

If you’re looking forward to even more basketball, March Madness is coming to town. The NCAA Division I Men’s basketball championship is taking over the court at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20 and 22. Saint Joseph’s University will host the first and second rounds.

On March 20, the Independence Seaport Museum will take a look at the post-Revolutionary War economics of the nation. Now that the war has been won, how do you sustain a country? "Seeking Power and Profit: Philadelphia, China Trade, and the Making of America" will examine the early trade relationships that would lay the foundation for the economic superpower the United States is today.

Opening March 28 at the Academy of Natural Sciences, "Botany of Nations" works with ethnobotanists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and scholars to recenter the plantlife and people who existed in these lands long before they were “discovered” by colonists.

April 2026

Learn what went down during the Continental Congress — through song. “1776 The Musical” retells the critical moments in our nation’s founding, and it does so just blocks away from where it all happened, at the Walnut Street Theatre. Hear the perspectives of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson starting April 14.

In a collaboration between the Philadelphia Art Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Middleton Family Collection, “A Nation of Artists” brings together work from the three collections depicting life in the United States across 250 years. The exhibition will be on view at the Philadelphia Art Museum beginning April 12 and at PAFA in May.

Independence Day celebrations are never without fireworks. But why do we light up explosives for fun and how do fireworks actually work? The Science History Institute’s “Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks” opens April 10.

Rocky Balboa has been a fixture at the Philadelphia Art Museum for years. Now Rocky is taking you beyond the museum steps and inside the museum for “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” opening April 25.

While we attribute most of the action of the Revolutionary War having occurred stateside, there’s more to the story. The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History shines a light on tiny Caribbean island St. Eustatius and the role that Caribbean Jewish communities played in securing America’s independence. “First Salute” opens April 23.

May 2026

Just outside of Philadelphia in Newtown Square, golfers will converge for the 2026 PGA Championship. Between May 11 and May 17, the Aronimink Golf Club will be hosting the major competition for the second time ever.

We’re obviously focused on the United States when it comes to semiquincentennial festivities, but what about the other major players in the Revolutionary War? The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus’s “British Invasion” will pay tribute to major artists from across the pond while mixing in Philly pride. Performances will be at the Independence Seaport Museum from May 28 to 30.

Art Philly’s “What Now” celebrates Philadelphia’s creative community as it interprets our country’s history through art. The festival kicks off May 27.

June 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup features soccer teams representing 48 countries playing tournaments across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Philadelphia will be hosting six matches at Lincoln Financial Field:

That’s right, there’s a game on Independence Day at the Linc (or “Philadelphia Stadium,” as it will be called during the World Cup).

If you can’t make it to the games, head to the fan festival at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park all tournament long.

Ted Democracy: Founding Futures is a series of Ted Talks, performances, culinary pop-ups and other activities exploring the themes of “democracy” and “founding.” The event will be at Marian Anderson Hall on June 13.

In commemoration of when slavery ended in the United States, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival is June 21 in West Philly.

July 2026

The Highmark Mann Center will celebrate 50 years at Fairmount Park with an anniversary performance in July.

A concert with to-be-announced performers will fill the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Wawa Welcome America Festival on July 4.

Major League Baseball’s All Star Game is on July 14 and the Home Run Derby will be July 13, both at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies had several all-stars compete in 2025, including Derby champ Kyle Schwarber.

August 2026

The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back after a 10-year hiatus. The best bicyclists from across the globe will race through the city on Aug. 30.

December 2026

The year marks 50 years since the release of Rocky, and Rocky Fest will return to celebrate Philly’s favorite underdog.

Dec. 25 is the 250th anniversary of George Washington crossing the Delaware River. Washington Crossing Historic Park is gearing up for the anniversary with history programs and a reenactment of the crossing.

Revisit this page throughout the year as we update it with more events. Do you have an upcoming event for 2026 we should know about? Send us an email.