Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary With Disney+

Disney Celebrates America brings live coverage, experiences, and patriotic Disney+ picks for America’s 250th anniversary

This year the United States celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The milestone is known as the Semiquincentennial. The Walt Disney Company is marking the occasion with Disney Celebrates America, a company-wide initiative spanning programming, storytelling, and experiences across its iconic brands and businesses, plus a big Fourth of July weekend. Disney+ subscribers can join in through live coverage of the festivities, themed programming, and Disney+ Perks.

How Disney Is Celebrating America’s Stories

America is a nation of stories, something Disney is pretty familiar with. From Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Main Street, U.S.A. and National Geographic-captured landscapes to Disney+ programming that will bring families together at home, Disney Celebrates America is all about spotlighting the dreams, innovation, communities, and geography that have shaped the country. The spirit is simple. Appreciate how far we’ve come, celebrate today, and dream forward. Summertime on Disney+ is loaded with epic opportunities to celebrate.

Disney Celebrates America: Programming & Events

ABC News Special: Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit Of Happiness

Coming to Disney+ on June 30, Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness highlights America’s greatest stories, triumphs, and traditions in a two-hour special. The special uses Disney Parks and attractions as a gateway into American history, moving from the turn-of-the-century nostalgia of Main Street, U.S.A., to the future-facing energy of Tomorrowland. Hosted by 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World Resort and national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland Resort.

Fourth Of July Multiplatform Weekend Broadcast

The celebration culminates during the Fourth of July weekend with a 24-hour multi-platform broadcast as part of Disney Celebrates America. The event highlights Semiquincentennial celebrations nationwide and audiences can tune-in with the ABC News Stream on Disney+. Led by World News Tonight anchor David Muir, the broadcast will take viewers across all 50 states with live celebrations, immersive storytelling, performances, and reporting that honor America’s past, present, and future.

24-Hour Stream Broadcast Segments

For more celebration beyond Disney+, check out special editions of Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, and Nightline, and curated segments featured across July 3 and 4. 

• Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash, a one-of-a-kind live celebration from downtown Nashville featuring must-see performances by iconic artists and musical acts spanning multiple genres, plus one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States set to a live score by the GRAMMY® Award-winning Nashville Symphony.

• Countdown to America’s 250th celebration reporting, featuring rare access inside the Statue of Liberty and a once-in-a-lifetime tribute produced in close partnership with the Consulate General of France in New York.

• Good Morning America’s “50 States in 50 Weeks: America The Beautiful,” a culmination of the showcase series celebrating the beauty of America’s land and people.

• Dawn of America, tracing American history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence.

• A look at the brave U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families who have helped defend their country for two and a half centuries.

• America Expands Westward, highlighting America’s growth through a cross-country adventure, including broadcasts from Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder with celebrations from Ketchikan, Alaska.

• Innovation and Invention, presenting a special look at the birth of Hollywood cinema, the history of American fashion, the space race, and more.

• Wonders of America, a special collaboration between ABC News anchors and National Geographic Explorers.

• On July 4, ESPN’s SportsCenter will present a special two-hour live edition on ABC from 5 to 7pm ET / 2 to 4pm PT, co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, celebrating the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture.

National Geographic: Wonders Of America

As part of the Wonders of America broadcast segment, National Geographic and ABC News will spotlight the newly announced “Seven Natural Wonders of America,” a list highlighting awe-inspiring locations across the country that represent the beauty of the United States.

The first wonder revealed was the Hawaii volcanoes, with the additional six locations revealed during the Fourth of July broadcast through on-the-ground reporting from ABC News talent and conversations with National Geographic Explorers. National Geographic will also further explore the nation’s stories through an expansive summer storytelling package across print, digital, and social platforms. You can continue to discover the wonders of the natural world through National Geographic’s acclaimed documentaries and docuseries, now streaming on Disney+.

More Ways Disney Is Celebrating Coast To Coast

Beyond the broadcast, Disney Parks will continue the celebration with patriotic experiences at Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort, including special entertainment, themed décor, character experiences, limited-time merchandise, food and beverage offerings, flag retreat ceremonies, and Fourth of July weekend moments.

You can also look for themed activities onboard Disney Cruise Line and a Sam Eagle merchandise collection featuring the patriotic character from The Muppets, available in select Disney Stores and on DisneyStore.com. Keep the magic going with Disney Parks-inspired specials, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes content streaming on Disney+.

Disney Celebrates America: Disney+ Perks*

As Disney Celebrates America rolls out, Disney+ subscribers should keep an eye on our Perks article for new offers, sweepstakes, and fan experiences. Subscribers can log in using the same email address associated with their Disney+ subscription. Consider it your pre-fireworks scroll.

Celebrate 250 Years Of America With Disney+

Check out our answers to a few key questions covering Disney’s celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

When is the 250th anniversary of America?

The big day is July 4, 2026. Across the country, celebrations are planned to spotlight the nation’s history, its people, places, progress, and future.

How is Disney celebrating the occasion?

Big. Like, coast-to-coast big. Disney Celebrates America will bring together programming, experiences, storytelling, service, and community across Disney’s brands and platforms. Major highlights include Soarin’ Across America, now open at EPCOT at Walt Disney World® Resort and debuting July 2 at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland® Resort, plus a 24-hour cross-platform broadcast beginning the evening of July 3 and continuing through July 4.

How long is Disney celebrating America’s 250th anniversary?

Disney Celebrates America officially kicked off on Veterans Day 2025 with announcements and events through to the Fourth of July weekend 2026.

What To Watch On Disney+ For America’s 250th Anniversary

Ready to build a perfect Semiquincentennial Watchlist on Disney+? Get the popcorn. America’s 250th anniversary is the perfect excuse to press play on these patriotic stories on Disney+, filled with history, adventure, music, and plenty of American spirit.

*Disney+ Perks requires an active Disney+ subscription and enrollment in the program; terms apply. See each promotion for applicable terms.