Disney Parks to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with new Soarin’ and limited-time offerings

Disney's plans include a brand-new version of Soarin', a 24-hour broadcast culminating with the fan favorite Disney Fourth of July fireworks, and more.
Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky (Photo: Disney)

Travel destinations across the United States are preparing for what is sure to be a busy 2026. From National Parks to iconic cities, families will be on the lookout for ways to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Theme parks have already begun to announce their plans for America 250, and today, the Walt Disney Company announced a lineup of exciting plans for the occasion.

(Photo: Carly Neil, The World of Spark)

In fact, Disney’s celebrations begin this year and continue well into summer 2026, which will be anchored by the debut of a new version of Soarin’! Let’s get caught up on what was announced today and what we can expect in the months to come.

Disney Celebrates America broadcast will feature popular Disney parks fireworks

“Disney Celebrates America” will begin on Veteran’s Day 2025 (November 11) and continue through the Fourth of July weekend in 2026. The celebration will be marked with special offers across Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Cruise Line for eligible service members in appreciation of their service and in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. More details will be revealed this November. 

It was also announced that Disney will honor America’s 250th anniversary with a 24-hour “Disney Celebrates America” broadcast over the Fourth of July holiday weekend across Disney+, ABC, ESPN, and more.

Disney Celebrates America coming in 2026 (Photo: Disney)

The night will end with special fireworks broadcast from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. The Fourth of July fireworks is always a special occasion at the parks, so I can only imagine how epic the 2026 fireworks will be!

Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky (Photo: Disney)

If you’re in the parks around the Fourth of July, you’ll have multiple opportunities to catch the fireworks. “Disney’s Celebrate America! — A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” will play on July 3, 4, and 5 at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom.

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Soarin’ Across America coming to EPCOT and Disney California Adventure

But wait, there’s more! In what is perhaps the most exciting announcement of the day, a brand new version of Soarin’ called Soarin’ Across America will debut at both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure in the summer of 2026! This “limited-time itinerary” will highlight the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. In total, we’ll see over a dozen locations featured in this new ride sequence.

Soarin’ Across America (Photo: Disney)

Keep an eye on this space as more announcements are made leading up to the kickoff of Disney Celebrates America. This multi-month celebration will surely have exciting offerings (I can already see the red white and blue cupcakes and Uncle Same Mickey Mouse plush…), so be sure to follow along as you make your 2026 Disney Parks travel plans!

PLANNING A 2026 VACATION TO WALT DISNEY WORLD OR DISNEYLAND? CATCH UP ON PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED RIDES AND MORE COMING TO THE PARKS

Disney Parks To Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary With New Soarin’ and Limited-Time Offerings was originally published on The World of Spark.

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Carly Neil, The World of Spark
The World of Spark was launched in 2023 to help families plan their next theme park vacation better than their last. Whether you’ve been to Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, or Universal one time or one thousand, my goal is to provide you with actionable tips and tricks. At the end of the day, I want you — dear reader — to be empowered to be your own expert when it comes to all things vacation planning. A little bit about me — my name is Carly, the voice behind The World of Spark. I am a published travel writer with articles across the world wide web, helping countless readers over the years plan their next Disney World and Disneyland vacation. My work can be seen in Tripadvisor, Fodor’s Travel, Business Insider, FamilyVacationist, and more. My finger has been on the pulse of all things Disney from a young age. I wrote my first “unofficial” Disney World guide book in grade school while planning a family trip and the rest is history. I’ve been a Disneyland Cast Member, Annual Passholder, long-distance fan — you name it, I’ve probably experienced it in some way, shape, or form. The World of Spark is my way of sharing my love of theme parks with like-minded fans and newcomers alike.