This beloved 46-year holiday tradition is America’s annual birthday party at the U.S Capitol, with all-star musical and patriotic performances by pop, country, R&B, Broadway, classical, and gospel artists along with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. Stay tuned for exciting talent announcements and updates coming soon!

In honor of the nation’s 250 birthday, the concert finale will feature a spectacular live fireworks show over George Washington's Mount Vernon. The fireworks will be the biggest display ever at the iconic home of America’s first president.

“We are excited to be the first live nationally televised celebration for the nation’s 250th birthday,” said Michael Colbert, Executive Producer. “Every year, Americans look forward to watching A CAPITOL FOURTH as part of their annual Independence Day tradition, and this year they will be able to start the party one night early on July 3rd for this big and historic anniversary weekend.”

A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250th WEEKEND CELEBRATION premieres live Friday, July 3, 2026 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. MT on public television stations nationwide (see PBS Utah's full schedule here), and is seen by our service members around the world on American Forces Network. The concert will also be streaming on YouTube and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 3 to July 17, 2026.

A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250th WEEKEND CELEBRATION is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, and the Department of the Army. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

The program is a production of Capital Concerts Inc.

Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill, as well as the George Washington PresidentialLibrary at Mount Vernon. Learn more at www.mountvernon.org.

ABOUT TRACE ADKINS: Over the course of his three-decade reign in Country music, MULTI-PLATINUM hitmaker Trace Adkins has emerged as a full-fledged icon whose reach spans far beyond the genre’s borders. A multi-award-winning singer and actor who’s scored 40 hit singles on Country radio and sold 12 MILLION albums to date.

Press contacts:

Kristina Hallman: (202) 361-7090
Carol Marshall: (213) 598-5888

Visit the program website at: http://www.acapitolfourth.org