Properly celebrating America’s 250th birthday is a tall order, so Boston’s planning ahead.
Mayor Wu has announced that tall ships — read: large, traditionally rigged vessels — from around the world will dock at Boston Harbor from July 11-16, 2026 in honor of the United States’ semiquincentennial (say that five times fast).
Sail Boston 2026 festivities will invite the public to learn about Boston’s rich maritime history. The tall ships also docked in Boston for America’s bicentennial in 1976, and most recently visited the city in 2019.
Local leaders predict the event will attract ~5 million people, who will support local businesses.
“It’s a reminder for all of us that Boston at our heart has always been about providing safe harbor to all,” Mayor Wu said. “It’s why we came into existence as a community nearly 400 years ago, and it’s what we strive for today.”
