National-level Route 66 Centennial activities and events

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, in collaboration with the National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program (NPS), is providing an update and preview of national-level Route 66 Centennial activities and events that have been approved by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. legislated intent of the Commission, and its work to date:

• Per its enabling legislation, the Commission is responsible for studying and recommending activities to Congress that are fitting and proper to honor Route 66 on its 100th anniversary. It is also charged with identifying one or more entities within the Federal Government it considers most appropriate to carry out recommended activities.
• Parties interested in submitting ideas for national, multi, or single-state Route 66 Centennial activities to the Commission for its consideration are encouraged to do so via the Commission’s website at www.route66-centennial.com/activity-project-ideas-submission.
• The Commission has adopted a Route 66 Centennial Strategy Statement which notes: “The strategy of the Route 66 Centennial is to celebrate and commemorate the historic milestone of the 100th Anniversary of Route 66—and leverage it to honor the road by helping the millions who live, work, and travel along it.”
• Based on this strategy, the Commission has, to date, recommended 26 official events, projects, activities, and/or programs to Congress.
• The Commission has recommended the National Park Service as the Federal Agency to carry out 21 of these activities/programs.
• The Commission has no implementation authority and no funding to support recommended activities/programs.
• In addition to the Centennial activities recommended by the Commission, the NPS is planning NPS-specific projects, potentially including a Find Your Park on Route 66 initiative, Jr. Ranger Program, NPS-Route 66 Map Update, and more.
  
  

A critical and exciting opportunity for all is the National Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off event. The NPS and Road Ahead propose this as a virtual, live-stream broadcast from a Host City along Route 66 to unite the nation in launching the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. Initial Kick-Off plans include:

• A National Route 66 Centennial Proclamation delivered by the President or key members of the administration.
• State Route 66 Centennial Proclamations from the eight Route 66 state Governors, Route 66 State Associations and/or State Route 66 Centennial Commissions/Coordinating Groups.
• Announcement of the designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the President of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Live Music and other entertainment from the kick-off host city and via remote hook-ups to cities across Route 66.
• Announcement of the launch of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan.

Thursday, April 30, 2026, is being suggested as the date for the National Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off. This date holds historical significance as it was on that day in 1926, when ‘66’ was assigned as the number for this new highway from Chicago to Santa Monica.

THE ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL WEBSITE
Launching in early 2025, the Route 66 Centennial website is designed to:

• Provide a one-stop information resource for national and state Route 66 Centennial activities, projects, events, and programs.
• Raise the public’s awareness of and participation in the Official Route 66 Centennial projects and activities identified by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
• Promote tourism attractions and Centennial plans in each Route 66 state through a collaboration established between the Road Ahead Partnership and Tripadvisor.
• Announce national and state-level Centennial activities and events via a centralized Centennial Calendar, to which Route 66 State Associations, state tourism departments, Route 66 Scenic Byways, State Centennial Commissions/Coordinating Groups, and other approved stakeholders may input information.
• Provide the public a fun way to participate in the Route 66 Centennial through the Route 66 Centennial Birthday Party Club Program.
• Promote state and local Route 66 Centennial activities, projects, events, and programs through the Route 66 Centennial Certified Program—similar to a “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval”—recognizing local, city, state, and regional Centennial events and activities.