New York/New Jersey's Spectacular Plans to Mark America's 250th Birthday
WHAT: To mark America's semiquincentennial, the Port of New York and New Jersey is readying the largest international maritime spectacle in U.S. history. It will feature 60 international tall ships from more than 20 nations, 40+ allied and U.S. naval vessels, a British aircraft carrier, Cunard's Queen Mary 2, and over 100 aircraft led by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. This seven-day celebration is expected to surpass all previous Operation Sail historical events (1964, 1976, 1986, 1992, 2000, 2012) in scale and scope.
Economic Impact: A NYC Economic Development Corp. analysis projects $2.85 billion in economic activity, including a net new economic impact of $730 million to NYC, with some eight million spectators expected to witness these events.
WHEN & WHERE: Port of New York and New Jersey | July 3-9, 2026
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
July 3, 2026
- Sail4th 250, the non-partisan, non-profit organization behind the region's Semiquincentennial activities, will host an introductory Parade of 25 smaller "Class B" Tall Ships sailing down the East River from Long Island Sound to anchorages in Gravesend Bay (off Brooklyn), ending at the Statue of Liberty
July 4, 2026 - The Main Event
- Sail4th 250 hosts an International Parade of Sail: More than 20 majestic Class A Tall Ships (most range in size from 340 to 371 feet in length) that are used as naval training vessels and goodwill ambassadors by the nations they represent. They will be joined by the Class B's and sail under the Verrazzano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge, then navigate to their respective berthing locations.
- International Naval Review 250 (INR250): 40+ allied and U.S. naval vessels participate -- only the seventh international naval review in U.S. history and the fourth in NYC
- International Aerial Review: More than 100 allied and U.S. aircraft, led by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels
- Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and thousands of spectator boats coalesce in New York Harbor for premium on-the-water viewing
- 50th Anniversary of Macy's July 4th Fireworks Show over Manhattan
July 5-8, 2026
- Free public access to international tall ships berthed at multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. (Stepping aboard is equivalent to stepping on foreign soil-no passport required.)
- Food festivals and cultural events throughout the region
- A planned exhibition of rare 18th-century historical documents
- July 6: NYC "Homecoming of Heroes" NYC-hosted ticker tape parade honoring post-9/11 combat veterans and first responders
July 9, 2026
- Class A Tall Ships depart for Boston
- A race from New York to Boston for the "Five Sisters Cup" between four of the five identical sister ships still in service: USCG's barque Eagle (U.S.), Sagres (Portugal), Mircea (Romania), and Gorch Fock (Germany), which has held the Tiffany-made trophy since 1976.
INTERNATIONAL TALL SHIPS CONFIRMED (TO DATE):
Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, and the United States (led by USCG Barque Eagle). Additional nations are still confirming their ships' participation.
LIVE NATIONAL COVERAGE:
The July 4 International Parade of Tall Ships will be carried live on NBC stations across the country.
EDIT OPS:
This once-in-a-generation celebration offers unparalleled opportunities for news coverage-from public boarding to visiting foreign tall ships to shoreline vantage points where 8 million spectators are expected to line the 15-mile NYC/NJ waterfront. Details on media credentials and access will be available on the Sail4th website in early 2026. The event is part of Sail 250 , a five-city tall ship consortium including New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York, and Boston.
FAQ:
Visit Event FAQ website
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
President John F. Kennedy was a key supporter of Operation Sail, the predecessor organization to Sail4th 250. In 1961, he officially endorsed the non-profit OpSail, Inc. to "promote international friendship, maritime heritage, and support for sail training through spectacular gatherings of the world's tall ships." Kennedy's deep love for sailing and belief in its power to unite nations positioned him as the visionary behind the inaugural event, even though he did not survive to see it come to fruition. His early endorsement was critical in launching the first OpSail, timed with the 1964 New York World's Fair. This tradition, rooted in Kennedy's vision, continued for decades and is set for a major revival this July for the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
