Pennsylvania’s major 2026 events get a Philadelphia pep rally

Summer 2026 is the Keystone State’s time to shine – and state and local officials are optimistic about the commonwealth’s chances to deliver as a host.  

At Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia on Tuesday, a Visit PA-led pep rally – featuring members of the Shapiro administration and organizers from across the state – promoted the commonwealth and the importance of the events to future tourism and community development. 

The event, which featured appearances by the state’s unofficial mascot delegation – including the Hershey’s Chocolate Bar, Crayola Crayon and the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh team mascots – highlighted both the public and private sectors’ efforts to prepare the cities and host communities for their big events. 

“Now you may have heard that Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway, and it is, but in 2026 Pennsylvania, it’s a trip – and it is the trip of a lifetime,” Anne Ryan, state deputy secretary of tourism, said Tuesday. “And if this is our moment, then how we show up matters, and that is how we created something new, something bold, and something powered by people: the Visit PA Playmakers.”

Ryan said the “Playmakers,” also known as the state’s hype squad, is a group of creators, performers and storytellers working to bring the state and its summertime events into the national spotlight. 

“We are not chasing business here. We are creating something, and people carry it with them – a memory and, most importantly, a reason to come back,” Ryan added. “As we step into this once-in-a-generation year and put Pennsylvania on full display for the world, this moment calls for someone who knows exactly what it takes to leverage its full economic impact,” she added, pointing toward Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. 

The state’s slate of major events begins in April with the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, followed by the PGA Tour Championship at Aronimink Golf Course in Newton Square. The itinerary only gets bigger through the summer months, with FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star game and America 250 celebrations all taking place in Philadelphia. 

Siger said that with more than 200 million people expected to visit the aforementioned events in 2026, the economic outcomes for a proper host will be significant. 

“In the short term, we’re anticipating nearly $55 billion in visitor spending in 2026 in the cash registers, small businesses across Pennsylvania, restaurants, hotels, shops, gas stations and more,” Siger said. “And importantly, just as Anne said, in the long term, we’re showing our state off to future tourism, to future businesses, to future residents, and taking advantage of this generational opportunity to elevate Pennsylvania on the global stage.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro also announced that the state is investing an additional $40 million in the 2026 events to ensure they “go off well.”

“We’re putting more money into the Fan Zone for the World Cup, the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the All-Star game, and of course, the PGA Championship. We’re investing to make sure that these events are more open to the public, that there’s more opportunities for families to enjoy,” Shapiro said Tuesday. Adding that public safety is also top of mind, he continued, “I want to stress this: We are working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that these are not only fun events, but these are safe events for all to enjoy.”

The list of speakers included Jim Britt, vice president of sports events with Visit Pittsburgh; Jackie Endsley, championship director of 2026 PGA Championship; Meg Kane, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 CEO; Michael Harris, vice president of marketing and government affairs with the Philadelphia Phillies; and Michael Newmuis, Philadelphia’s 2026 director, appointed by Mayor Cherelle Parker. 

Newmuis, who’s leading event organizing in the city, hinted that Parker is considering signing an executive order to limit outside traffic entering Philadelphia from July 1 to July 4 – the peak of major summertime events, capped off by the America 250 celebrations and a World Cup match on Independence Day. 

“There’s going to be no reason for anyone to leave,” Newmuis said. 

Note: Michael Newmuis is the chair of the City & State PA advisory board.