In honor of America’s 250th birthday, Philadelphia will be bringing “activations, beautifications and celebrations” to neighborhoods across the city in 2026, Mayor Cherelle Parker and her team announced Wednesday.
The initiative includes physical improvements to business-lined avenues, supercharged block parties, fiberglass Liberty Bell-sized art pieces and neighborhood tours, among other things.
“We’re going to make sure that the benefits of this action-packed year are felt, not just downtown, but across every neighborhood,” Parker told a crowd packed into a second-floor room at Independence Visitor Center.
“The legacy, if we do it right,” she continued, “it will extend well beyond 2026 through increased visibility, a deeper civic pride and new economic opportunity.”
Philadelphia is set to be a centerpiece for celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, also known as the Semiquicentennial. The city will host FIFA Men’s World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th birthday and a souped-up Fourth of July party.
But city leaders have repeatedly stressed that they intend to bring the festivities to neighborhoods far from Independence Hall and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
That strategy, or at least part of it, was unveiled Wednesday and dubbed the “Ring It On! One Philly, A United Celebration,” a play on Parker’s frequently deployed “One Philly” slogan.
Twenty commercial corridors, to be selected with the help of City Council members, will receive upgrades, such as commemorative 250th benches, banners, planters and other physical improvements.
Local artists, with input from the community, will create 20 large Liberty Bell installations for public spaces around the city, with each designed to reflect the area, officials said. The bells should form “a scavenger hunt, inviting Philadelphians and visitors to explore,” added Michael Newmuis, Parker’s 2026 director.
Themed kits with 250th swag bags, decorations, toys, games and resource packets will be handed out at 250 block parties. Officials said the 25 blocks participating in the city’s yearly “Most Beautiful Block” contest will get “super-sized” parties featuring DJs, vendors, inflatables and more.
“It’s a Semiquincentennial twist on Philly’s most beloved tradition,” Newmuis commented.
From May to October, a tour series will put a spotlight on a different Philadelphia neighborhood every week. Historians and residents will help put together the information, and a companion workforce development component will train tour guides through the program, officials said.
In addition, city funding will be used to create new cultural events and support existing festivals, according to Parker’s office.
Her administration has not yet specified the locations for the tour series, block parties, Liberty Bells and business corridor improvements.
Block captains, community leaders, small business owners and residents will participate as “co-creators” in the initiative, Parker said.
“We’re not going to be bringing anything to a community,” she added. “They will build this with us.”
Parker and City Council have devoted more than $100 million in public money toward 2026 events, and an additional $16.25 million has come through philanthropic channels, officials said.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson said his priority is making sure the programming is “diverse and inclusive.”
“The same way we celebrate the Betsy Ross House, we will celebrate the Paul Robeson House,” he added. “The same way we celebrate the Independence Mall, we will also be celebrating Belmont Mansion, which has the Underground Railroad Museum.”
Jackie Williams, operations director at the West Philadelphia-based Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association CDC, spoke at the announcement and said she is grateful the city is inviting neighborhood voices to be a part of the celebrations.
“Every corridor, every business, every neighborhood has a place in this historic moment,” Williams told attendees. “It’s a chance for communities like ours to showcase our culture, our people, our businesses and our role in Philadelphia’s story.”
