PBS Capitol Fourth Special — Country stars join PBS for America’s 250th celebration.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: July 1, 2026

Country music will be part of America’s 250th birthday celebration as A Capitol Fourth returns to PBS with a special 2026 edition.

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration will air live Friday, July 3, 2026, from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol Building. Alfonso Ribeiro returns to host the special, which will kick off Independence Day weekend one night early with music, patriotic tributes and fireworks from George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

The 2026 broadcast marks the 46th year of the annual holiday tradition and arrives as the country celebrates its Semiquincentennial.

When Is A Capitol Fourth 2026?

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration airs live Friday, July 3, 2026, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET on public television stations nationwide.

The special will also be available to service members around the world on American Forces Network. Viewers can also stream the concert on YouTube and PBS.org. The program will be available as video on demand for a limited time from July 3 through July 17, 2026.

Who Is Hosting A Capitol Fourth 2026?

Alfonso Ribeiro will host the 2026 special.

“It is always an honor to host A Capitol Fourth, America’s annual birthday party at the U.S. Capitol Building and this year is extra special because we are celebrating 250 years of our great nation,” Ribeiro said.

He added that the special will bring families together across the country for “a patriotic night of incredible music and fantastic fireworks.”

Who Is Performing on A Capitol Fourth 2026?

The 2026 lineup features artists from country, rock, R&B, Broadway and classical music.

Performers include:

Chicago, with a special introduction from Joe Mantegna
Trace Adkins
Patti LaBelle
Kool & The Gang
Carly Pearce
Alan Jackson
The cast of the Broadway musical Just In Time
Angel Blue
Loren Allred
The National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jack Everly

Alan Jackson’s previously-recorded performance will come from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The appearance adds another country connection to the national special, alongside performances from Trace Adkins and Carly Pearce.

What Is Special About A Capitol Fourth 2026?

The 2026 edition of A Capitol Fourth will help launch the nation’s 250th birthday weekend.

For the finale, the special will feature the biggest live fireworks show ever over Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Loren Allred will perform during the fireworks celebration.

The broadcast will also include a salute to the Artemis II mission and crew, introduced by Gary Sinise. The segment will highlight America’s space program and feature Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

The special will also honor Team USA’s Olympic athletes, with a musical salute from the National Symphony Orchestra to America’s Milano-Cortina athletes and a look ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

A Capitol Fourth Traditions

Several long-running A Capitol Fourth traditions will return in 2026.

The special will include a performance of the “1812 Overture” with live cannon fire from the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery. The concert finale will also feature patriotic favorites from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and The Joint Armed Forces Chorus.

Also taking part in the program are The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the Armed Forces Color Guard, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music.

How to Watch A Capitol Fourth 2026

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration airs Friday, July 3, 2026, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Viewers should check local listings for the broadcast in their area.

The special will also stream on YouTube and PBS.org, with on-demand viewing available for a limited time from July 3 through July 17, 2026.