PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With America’s 250th birthday next year, Philadelphia is positioning itself front and center in the celebration, considering the pivotal role the city played in the Revolution.
Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer for Visit Philadelphia, said for the semiquincentennial, they’re making a push to drive up tourism. In 2024, the city saw just under 27 million visitors, while about 44 million came to the greater region.
“We’re hoping to see an increase of 10% - 20% in visitation and economic impact than we have over the course of a regular year,” he said.
Visit Philadelphia launched a $9 million marketing campaign on Tuesday to attract visitors nationwide and engage residents, emphasizing year-long celebrations throughout 2026. The effort includes $4 million in funding from the City of Philadelphia.
"The City of Philadelphia is excited to support this effort to welcome visitors for an unforgettable 2026," said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "When the world turns its attention to the birthplace of America, they'll see a city that honors its revolutionary past while actively building a more inclusive future. Every business and organization displaying this mark becomes part of telling that story."
Big sporting events like the World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, and PGA Championship are sure to drive tourism, but Frauenglass said there will be plenty for the non-sports fan as well.
“A Franklin Universal exhibit, TED Democracy happening over the summer, the flower show, and Rocky Day. We have a calendar of events,” Frauenglass said. “It is an opportunity for us to be on the world stage, to show off our city in a way that we’ve never done before.”
A full schedule of 2026 events can be found on Visit Philly’s website.