Brand USA has launched its new ‘Get Facts, Get Going’ initiative, designed to help international travellers across trusted, up-to-date travel information and plan their USA holidays with confidence ahead of the busy summer period.
Summer moments & events in the US
As the USA prepares for a vibrant summer season in 2026, travellers from Australia and New Zealand will have no shortage of reasons to explore across the country. Alongside the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026, the season will bring a diverse line-up of celebrations and experiences, from America’s 250th anniversary events and rodeos to arts festivals, food and wine experiences, Pride celebrations and cultural events.
America250 & Iconic US Celebrations
Sail4th 250, New York State
To mark America’s 250th birthday on 4 July 2026, Sail4th 250 will see the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world, creating a majestic nautical spectacle and an unforgettable once-in-a-generation event on land, sea and air. A fleet of majestic tall ships from more than 20 nations, each a symbol of tradition, adventure and international goodwill, will sail into New York Harbor for a spectacular tribute to US history and maritime tradition. The event will also feature a rich tapestry of events, festivities and celebrations.
- 4 to 7 July 2026
The Great American State Fair, Washington D.C.
To celebrate 250 years of the USA, Washington, DC will host the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. Designed as a “50 states in one place” experience, the event will bring together regional food, live performances and cultural showcases from across the country. Set against the backdrop of the National Mall, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the diversity of the USA in a single location, easily combined with visits to the Smithsonian museums, monuments and local dining spots.
- 25 June to 10 July 2026
West of the Pecos Rodeo, Texas
Known as the “World’s First Rodeo,” the West of the Pecos Rodeo returns to Pecos, Texas this summer with classic rodeo events including bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling.
Beyond the arena, visitors can experience parades, live music, food vendors and family-friendly entertainment celebrating the heritage and spirit of West Texas cowboy culture.
- 24 to 27 June 2026
Cody Stampede Rodeo, Wyoming
One of the most iconic Fourth of July celebrations in the American West, the Cody Stampede Rodeo has been a Wyoming tradition for more than a hundred years. Pull on your cowboy boots and experience nightly rodeos at the grounds, patriotic parades along the streets of downtown Cody, fireworks on the night and authentic cowboy culture in the Rodeo Capital of the World.
- 30 June to 4 July 2026
Seattle Seafair, Seattle, Washington
It’s a boating event, air show and festival rolled into one. Seattle’s Seafair runs throughout July and August, with a number of huge events. The first is Seafair 4th of July, with activities during the day and a fully choreographed fireworks display at night. The Seafair Torchlight Parade (25 July) returns for the second year, with floats, marching bands and cultural performances on the waterfront. It all comes to a spectacular close during the Seafair Weekend Festival (31 July–2 August), including the Boeing air show, hydroplane races and all the great food and family-friendly activities people have come to love.
- July to August 2026
Route 66 Centennial Celebrations, Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica will celebrate the Route 66 Centennial with a special edition of Locals’ Night on the Santa Monica Pier on 4 June, featuring nostalgic music, classic cars, line dancing and themed food and beverage experiences. The celebrations continue with the Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan departing the Santa Monica Pier on 6 June, travelling across the length of the historic route and celebrating communities along the way.
- 4 to 6 June 2026
Pride & community celebrations
Pride Celebrations, New York State
As the birthplace of Pride, New York State will celebrate LGBTQ+ history, culture and community with events across the state throughout summer 2026. Highlights include Pride in the Sky (30 May) in the Hudson Valley, featuring a Pride and Trans flag procession across the Walkway Over the Hudson, live music and a sunset dance party, while Long Island’s Planting Pride (6 June) will combine LGBTQ+ storytelling, live performances and America250 celebrations. In the Greater Niagara region, Rainbow City Pride (27 June) will feature drag performances, family-friendly activities and a spectacular light show illuminating Niagara Falls in Pride colours.
- May to June 2026
Nashville Pride, Nashville, Tennessee
Long recognised as one of the most vibrant and inclusive cities in the American South, Nashville Pride 2026 will blend music-driven energy, community programming and a welcoming atmosphere in the heart of downtown Nashville.
Highlights include the Nashville Pride Pageant on 14 June at Play Dance Bar, featuring this year’s “EXTRATERRESTRIAL” theme, alongside the Nashville Pride Festival and Parade on 27 June at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, where Broadway fills with live performances, community groups and celebrations throughout the city.
- 14 to 28 June 2026
Queer Wine Fest, Oregon
The world’s first Queer Wine Fest returns to Oregon’s Willamette Valley for its fifth and final edition in 2026. Founded by Remy Drabkin, the festival celebrates wineries with LGBTQI2S+ leadership and has become recognised globally for its community-driven and sustainability-focused approach. The 2026 edition will feature the largest showcase of LGBTQI2S+ led wineries to date.
- 28 June 2026
Seattle Pride, Seattle, Washington
It’s been more than 50 years since the first Seattle Pride March took place and, in 2026, its vision to connect, strengthen and advocate for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community has never been more important. In summer, Seattle Pride hosts two big events. The first is Seattle Pride in the Park (6 June), with music, drag performers, a massive dancefloor, food trucks, bars and booths featuring queer and BIPOC artists and businesses. Of course, the second is the Seattle Pride Parade (28 June), where 300,000 people gather in the streets to march or support joy, justice and belonging.
- June 2026
Food, wine & culinary experiences
MICHELIN Guide Southwest Ceremony, Las Vegas, Nevada
In a major moment for the U.S. culinary landscape, Las Vegas will host the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Southwest Ceremony at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, unveiling the region’s top restaurants across Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The ceremony marks the return of MICHELIN recognition to Las Vegas for the first time since 2009, spotlighting the city’s evolution into a globally recognised dining destination.
- 16 August 2026
GrapeFest, Grapevine, Texas
One of the largest wine festivals in the Southwest, GrapeFest returns to Grapevine, Texas in 2026 celebrating its 40th anniversary. Set along Historic Main Street, the event brings together Texas wines, international tastings, live music and classic festival moments including grape stomping.
- 17 to 20 September 2026
Arts & entertainment
DATALAND, Los Angeles, California
Co-founders Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkılıç have announced that DATALAND, the world’s first Museum of AI Arts, will open to the public on 20 June 2026. Located at The Grand LA, the Frank Gehry-designed complex in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, DATALAND is the newest addition to the performing arts and cultural institutions that comprise the Grand Avenue Cultural District. Conceived as a living museum where architecture is no longer static, but part of an intelligent framework, DATALAND was built without compromise, utilising the most advanced technologies available and redefining artistic expression in the age of machine intelligence.
- Opens 20 June 2026
The Denver Chalk Art Festival, Denver, Colorado
Denver’s most colourful arts festival is free to attend. The Denver Chalk Art Festival from 6-7 June brings the work of more than 200 artists together on the footpaths of Denver’s Golden Triangle Neighbourhood. Denver Chalk Art Festival follows street painting traditions that originated in 16th-century Renaissance Italy, when artists began transforming asphalt into canvas using chalk. Food and beverage vendors and live music further enliven the streets during the event, while the Little Spoon Kids Corner gives children the chance to create their own temporary masterpieces.
- 6 to 7 June 2026
Outdoor adventures & sporting events
Held within one of the world’s most renowned International Dark Sky Parks, the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival offers visitors the chance to experience Utah’s night skies alongside storytelling, astronomy programming and cultural experiences. In 2026, the festival will feature “Planetary Storytellers,” weaving Indigenous legends and American history into the constellations above Bryce Canyon’s famous hoodoo landscapes.
- June 2026
FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis
The first event of the PGA Tour FedExCup Playoffs, the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship will welcome the top 70 players on the FedExCup points list to Memphis this August. Held in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the tournament combines world-class golf with one of the sport’s most recognised charitable legacies.
- 12 to 16 August 2026
Indigenous experiences & cultural storytelling
International Indigenous Peace Powwow, North Dakota
Sponsored by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, the first International Indigenous Peace Powwow (3–6 July) will take place in Dunseith, in conjunction with the Chief Little Shell Powwow and the grand opening of the US$4 million Powwow Arbour. This historic event will bring together dancers, drum groups, families and visitors from across the United States, Canada and other international indigenous communities. There will be activities throughout the week, with the First International Indigenous Peace Conference taking place on 11 July at the International Peace Garden.
- 3 to 6 July 2026
Indigenous Cultural Experiences, Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage continues to expand its Indigenous cultural experiences in 2026, including the installation of new Indigenous Place Names Markers highlighting traditional Dena’ina Athabascan names, stories and artwork across the city.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is also continuing its multimillion-dollar expansion, introducing new exhibits and immersive cultural storytelling experiences. Key experiences include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the “Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage” exhibition at the Anchorage Museum, and Indigenous-led touring experiences throughout the region.
- Summer 2026
