PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philadelphia will ring in the New Year and launch the countdown to America’s 250th birthday with a massive, free concert and fireworks display Wednesday night on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Wednesday night, city officials announced.
Philadelphia 2026 and Mayor Cherelle Parker are presenting the New Year’s Eve celebration, transforming the Parkway into the centerpiece of a citywide moment marking the start of the nation’s semiquincentennial in its birthplace.
Gates open at 6 p.m., with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. and fireworks lighting up the skyline at midnight. The event is free, open to the public, and tickets are not required.
The concert will feature Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and two-time Grammy Award-winning hip-hop icon LL Cool J, joined by special guest Adam Blackstone, an Emmy Award-winning music director and Grammy Award-winning writer from Trenton, New Jersey. City officials said the performances and fireworks are designed to showcase Philadelphia’s cultural energy while ushering in a yearlong national celebration.
All attendees must enter through a secured checkpoint at Binswanger Triangle, located at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Security screenings will include magnetometers and bag checks, and the event space will be general admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
City officials urged attendees to arrive early and plan ahead, citing extensive road closures and heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the Parkway area. Large sections of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Eakins Oval, Kelly Drive, MLK Drive, Spring Garden Street, and surrounding roads will close beginning as early as Wednesday morning, with some closures extending into early Thursday.
For real-time updates on weather, safety, and event logistics, residents are encouraged to text “NYEPHL” to 888-777 to receive free alerts from the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management.
Enhanced police, fire, and emergency medical services will be deployed throughout the secured event zone, which stretches from at least 22nd Street to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and surrounding areas. The Philadelphia Fire Department’s EMS Division will have a medic team stationed at 2300 Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the north side. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency is urged to call 9-1-1.
Unauthorized drone use is prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration, and attendees are asked to report any drone activity to police immediately. Officials also warned against leaving bags unattended and urged the public to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
SEPTA will operate subway, bus, and regional rail services on a Sunday schedule, with additional rail cars added around the conclusion of the event. Riders are encouraged to check schedules and alerts at https://www.septa.org, use the official SEPTA app, or call customer service at 215-580-7800. Information on New Jersey Transit service is available at https://www.njtransit.com.
Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft will have designated pickup and drop-off areas north of Pennsylvania Avenue near Spring Garden Street and east of the Parkway near 20th Street.
City officials advised attendees to dress warmly, wear layers, and take extra precautions for children and older adults due to potentially cold conditions.
The event is fully accessible, with wheelchair-accessible roadways, curb cutouts, ADA-compliant portable restrooms, and additional video screens positioned along the Parkway.
Following the fireworks, city crews will begin cleanup operations. Residents can report excess trash after the event by calling 3-1-1 or 215-686-8686.
Officials stressed that the New Year’s Eve celebration is not only a sendoff to 2025, but the opening chapter of a historic year for Philadelphia and the nation, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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