Philadelphia has a packed schedule in 2026. Here's what to look forward to

Philly’s ’52 Weeks of Firsts’
Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition opens
Philadelphia Flower Show
NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments exhibit opens
Bear Country Renovation to be completed
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival
FIFA World Cup 26 and FIFA FanFestival
Wawa Welcome America Festival
Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival
Major League Baseball All-Star Game and All-Star Week
Monster Jam
Philadelphia Cycling Classic
RockyFest
Other noteworthily must-see Philadelphia concerts, entertainment events

Philly’s ’52 Weeks of Firsts’ , Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition opens, Philadelphia Flower Show, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments exhibit opens , Bear Country Renovation to be completed, Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival , FIFA World Cup 26 and FIFA FanFestival, Wawa Welcome America Festival , Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival , Major League Baseball All-Star Game and All-Star Week, Monster Jam, Philadelphia Cycling Classic , RockyFest, Other noteworthily must-see Philadelphia concerts, entertainment events

Philadelphia Skyline Aerial View With River And Blue Sky

Get ready! In 2026, the City of Brotherly Love is going all out.

From massive sporting events and must-see concerts to grand openings and citywide celebrations, there’s something happening all year long.

Whether you’ve lived here forever or you’re just visiting, excitement will be waiting for you around every corner.

Check out our list of events you won’t want to miss:

Philly’s ’52 Weeks of Firsts’

📍Several locations

📅Several dates

The 52 Weeks of Firsts is part of Philadelphia’s yearlong commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Free public events will take place each week in 2026 to honor a different Philly-related “first” with storytelling, art, and community festivities.

The events will include celebrations of world-changing inventions, iconic traditions and more. They will also include a new “Saturday First-ival” each week across more than a dozen Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition opens

📍Franklin Institute

📅World Premiere on February 14

Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute has teamed up with Universal Destinations & Experiences for a first-of-its-kind exhibit.

This is your chance to step inside the creative and innovative world of theme parks through the lens of Universal’s fan-favorite attractions, including Jaws, Illumination’s Minions, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon and more.

Philadelphia Flower Show

📍February 28 through March 8

📅Pennsylvania Convention Center

The world’s oldest and largest indoor horticultural event, hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will showcase stunning floral and landscape designs.

The popular event also features live demonstrations, gardening tips, shopping, food and more.

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship

📍Xfinity Mobile Arena

📅March 20 and March 22

Experience the excitement in Philadelphia as Saint Joseph’s University hosts the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments exhibit opens

📍Philadelphia Art Museum

📅April 25 through August 2

The Rocky statue calls the Philadelphia Art Museum home, so it makes sense that the museum will soon feature a new exhibit on the iconic statue and other monuments.

This April, the statue of the Sylvester Stallone character will be at the center of a new exhibit that’s set to debut just in time for the 50th anniversary of the original “Rocky” movie.

The exhibit, titled “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments,” will feature more than 150 works by more than 50 artists and artifacts spanning more than 2,000 years.

Bear Country Renovation to be completed

📍Spring 2026

📅Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo is updating and expanding Bear Country.

The renovations include:

– A Zoo360 exploration trail that will allow the bears to rotate through all habitats

– A third habitat to expand space for bears and aid in the Zoo’s breeding program

– An additional off-exhibit habitat to aid in the rearing of cubs

– New water features, landscaping, and the removal of moats to add space to the bears’ habitats

– Water features will include recirculating water to help the Zoo achieve sustainability goals

– Additional opportunities for animal keepers to set up behavioral enrichment

– Glass viewing areas to allow guests to come nose-to-nose with the bears

– New areas to allow guests to watch keeper training with bears

– Improved structural designs for the Zoo’s animal keepers to facilitate efficient care

Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

📍June 4 through August 2

📅Franklin Square

The iconic Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is set to return.

The festival has a long-standing tradition of transforming Franklin Square into a sparkling display of handcrafted sculptures.

FIFA World Cup 26 and FIFA FanFestival

📍Lincoln Financial Field

📅June and July (Select Dates)

Philadelphia is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The City of Brotherly Love will host five Group Stage matches — June 14, June 19, June 22, June 25, and June 27 — and a Round of 16 match on the semiquincentennial, July 4, 2026.

The FIFA FanFestival will also take place in Philadelphia at Lemon Hill in the city’s East Fairmount Park neighborhood, featuring game-watch screens, food, entertainment, and more.

Wawa Welcome America Festival

📍June 19 through July 4

📅 Independence Hall and other locations

Wawa Welcome America is Philadelphia’s ultimate summer festival, celebrating freedom from Juneteenth to July 4th. As the nation’s biggest July 4th event and one of the largest free festivals in the country, it packs sixteen days with family-friendly art, culture, music, and history you won’t want to miss.

Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival

📍Sunday, June 21

📅Various locations, including Malcolm X Park

The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival celebrates freedom and community with a vibrant lineup of activities, including live music, dance performances, youth activities, local food and craft vendors, and community resource tables.

Major League Baseball All-Star Game and All-Star Week

📍Tuesday, July 14

📅Citizens Bank Park

The country’s best baseball players will gather in Philadelphia for the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14, 2026, alongside a week of all-star sporting events.

This will be the first time the Midsummer Classic returns to the City of Brotherly Love in 30 years.

Monster Jam

📍Lincoln Financial Field

📅Saturday, April 18

Make sure to grab your earplugs before the Monster Jam trucks are set to roar into the Linc. Watch as 12,000lb trucks stand on two wheels and fly through the air.

Philadelphia Cycling Classic

📍Sunday, August 30

📅Logan Square

Dust off those bikes — a popular sporting event is gearing up to make a return.

During a press conference back in September of 2025, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Former Mayor Michael Nutter and other city officials announced the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.

The race is scheduled for August and will spotlight Philadelphia landmarks, including the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, the legendary Manayunk Wall, Strawberry Mansion, Lemon Hill, and Boathouse Row.

Dating back to the 1980s, the race typically draws thousands of spectators and is remembered as the event where cyclists ride up a grueling uphill section in Manayunk, known as “The Wall.”

RockyFest

📍Benjamin Franklin Parkway

📅December

Yo, Philly! Plans are in the works for RockyFest 2026 and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the film’s release. To stay in the know and get the latest, visit www.phlvisitorcenter.com/rockyfest.