City Council on Thursday approved spending $45 million on preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary, the largest public investment to date for Philadelphia’s 2026 events.
In addition to an expanded Fourth of July celebration, Philadelphia will next year host six FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, among other activities.
Millions of dollars were allocated Thursday for upgrades to Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill, which will be the site of FIFA’s fan festival. More than $5 million is going toward pruning, pedestrian improvements, drainage work and updates to the area’s overlook structure.
About $14 million is being transferred to the Department of Fleet Services to purchase vehicles, and $4 million was earmarked for radio equipment and security cameras.
The spending bill incorporated just over $11 million for organizations planning marquee 2026 events. Visit Philadelphia, the region’s tourism agency, is receiving $3 million for marketing, and $2 million was set aside for the Welcome America July 4 celebration.
City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas said “tough negotiations” surrounded the legislation, part of a mid-year budget transfer.
“While I am proud of some of the things that we are spending money on, I do have concerns about other things that we’re spending money on,” he added, following the unanimous vote in favor of the bill.
In a statement, Thomas’s office highlighted about $17 million dedicated to groups hosting large-scale celebrations. Some of the other line items are only tenuously connected to the 250th, his staff argued.
During a hearing Thomas organized in November, leaders from tourism-focused and arts and culture organizations urged lawmakers to devote more government resources to 2026 festivities. At that point, philanthropic foundations had contributed most of the funding.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal, unveiled last month, included $64 million to cover 250th-related costs across Pennsylvania.
Thomas said he hopes to “see 2026 be more of a priority to the administration, as well as to our state partners and our federal partners.”
More funding for the celebrations could be a topic of forthcoming municipal budget negotiations, which will commence March 13 when Mayor Cherelle Parker introduces her proposed spending plan to Council.
Parker’s team, in a news release Thursday, said the administration has now committed nearly $60 million from the city’s general fund for the anniversary, which is also known as the Semiquincentennial.
“2026 is not just a year for Philadelphia — it’s a defining opportunity to highlight our city’s passion and unwavering spirit on the global stage,” Parker said in a statement. “We’re committed to ensuring Philly is ready to welcome the world.”
Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who will be leading budget talks for the 17-member body, said his main priority for the 250th is ensuring organizations focusing on Black and brown culture are properly funded.
“If you’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of America, we need to make sure it’s diverse and inclusive and not just focus on one particular group of individuals, in terms of this country,” he told reporters Thursday.
