A Capitol Fourth 2026 Lineup, Performers & PBS Special

PBS Capitol Fourth Special — Trace Adkins, Carly Pearce, Alan Jackson and more performed during PBS’ 2026 A Capitol Fourth special.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: September 7, 2026

PBS celebrated America’s 250th birthday with a special edition of A Capitol Fourth featuring performances from Trace Adkins, Carly Pearce, Alan Jackson, Chicago, Patti LaBelle, Kool & The Gang and more.

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration aired Friday, July 3, 2026, from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol Building. Alfonso Ribeiro hosted the annual PBS Independence Day concert, which also featured patriotic tributes and fireworks from George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

The 2026 broadcast marked the 46th year of the annual holiday tradition and helped launch the nation’s Semiquincentennial weekend.

Who Performed on A Capitol Fourth 2026?

The 2026 A Capitol Fourth lineup featured performers from country, rock, R&B, Broadway and classical music.

Performers included:

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 appeared through a previously recorded performance from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, adding another country music connection to the national celebration alongside Trace Adkins and Carly Pearce.

A Capitol Fourth 2026 Country Music Performers

Country music had a strong presence during the 2026 A Capitol Fourth celebration.

Trace Adkins performed “Still A Soldier” and debuted his song “American Made” during the special.

Carly Pearce performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Alan Jackson was also featured in the 2026 program through a previously recorded performance from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Who Hosted A Capitol Fourth 2026?

Alfonso Ribeiro returned to host A Capitol Fourth in 2026.

“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 would bring families together across the country for “a patriotic night of incredible music and fantastic fireworks.”

When Was A Capitol Fourth 2026?

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

The special was also broadcast to service members around the world through American Forces Network and streamed online through PBS and YouTube.

What Was Special About A Capitol Fourth 2026?

The 2026 edition of A Capitol Fourth helped launch America’s 250th birthday weekend.

The finale included a large fireworks display over Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, with Loren Allred performing during the celebration.

The broadcast also included a salute to the Artemis II mission and crew introduced by Gary Sinise. Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were featured as part of the tribute.

Team USA’s Olympic athletes were also recognized, with the National Symphony Orchestra participating in a musical salute 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 were part of the 2026 program.

The special included the “1812 Overture” with live cannon fire from the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.

The concert finale also featured patriotic music from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and The Joint Armed Forces Chorus.

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

Where Can You Watch A Capitol Fourth 2026?

The full 2026 A Capitol Fourth special was available on demand for a limited time following the July 3 broadcast.

PBS currently lists no full episode of the 2026 special on its main A Capitol Fourth page, but individual performances and clips from the program remain available through PBS.