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The city’s year-long Semiquincentennial celebration offers an opportunity for institutions across Greater Philadelphia and The Countryside to curate massive exhibitions to share with residents and visitors alike.
Art on view includes: A Nation of Artists, a dual-museum exhibition between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; ArtPhilly’s five-week-long What Now festival; and a scavenger-hunt worthy series of Bells Across PA.
The Franklin Institute’s latest exhibit takes visitors on an immersive tour through how theme parks come to life, while The Academy of Natural Sciences re-examines its Lewis and Clark collection through an Indigenous lens.
History takes center stage across the region — including the Independence Seaport Museum’s look at how our nascent country sought profit and power — and the Museum of the American Revolution’s in-depth examination of the Declaration of Independence.
Check out this guide to the biggest exhibitions on view in 2026.
Now on view
What better way to celebrate the Semiquincentennial than by letting freedom ring? Bells Across PA — a statewide art exhibition in partnership with America250PA and Mural Arts Philadelphia — is showcasing festively painted Liberty Bell replicas in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, with Philadelphia alone set to display 27.
Philly’s large fiberglass Liberty Bell sculptures have been installed at commercial corridors and public parks, with each bell’s design capturing the spirit and identity of a different neighborhood.
Vibe: Scavenger hunt, anyone? Don’t miss: Our guide to where you can find all 27 of Philly’s bells.
Where: Leon H. Sullivan Human Services Center, 1415 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Now on view (dates vary by attraction)
To commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, The Clay Studio — the nation’s largest ceramic arts organization — creates an expansive exhibition showcasing work from 45 artists across 20 arts and culture sites.
Artists ground their creative work in historical research conducted at these sites to inspire pieces that explore themes of independence throughout the evolution of America.
Radical Americana’s exhibition includes: American Crib: What’s Happening at The Clay Studio, Radical Americana at Andalusia Historic Home, Gardens & Arboretum, and more.
Know before you go: Check the official site for ongoing updates. Vibe: Radical and empowering art
Where: The Clay Studio, 1425 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA
Now open
The National Liberty Museum showcases three different exhibitions in one, each offering a different perspective on one of the United States’ most core freedoms: the First Amendment’s freedom of assembly — the right to protest, express opinions and gather peacefully for a shared cause.
Good for: Lovers of freedom Know before you go: The National Liberty Museum is open daily.
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, August 2, 2026
Inspired by one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Philadelphia — the Rocky Statue — this brand-new exhibition explores the concept of monuments: Why we make them. Who gets one. And the role they play in society.
Curated by Paul Farber, co-founder of Monument Lab and the host of NPR and WHYY’s acclaimed podcast The Statue (TL:DR: he knows his stuff), the expansive exhibit covers 2,000 years of history and features over 150 artifacts and works of art by 50-plus artists, including Keith Haring, Carrie Mae Weems and Andy Warhol.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, August 9, 2026
Film, video and immersive art installations tell the stories of how Americans of color have helped shape our shared identity throughout the past 250 years at this Barnes Foundation exhibition.
Moving-image artists Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary and Tourmaline create a contemporary meditation on the past, present and future, and ask viewers to contemplate how Americans of color have carved out spaces of joy and resistance despite systems that seek to oppress.
Know before you go: Access to the special exhibition comes with regular museum admission, good for two days. Don’t miss: Sky Hopinka: Red Metal Dust, also at the Barnes (see below).
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 7, 2026
How are theme parks made? This world-premiere exhibit, brought to you by The Franklin Institute and Universal Destinations & Experiences, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and world-building that goes into each Universal amusement park.
Spanning 18,0000 square feet and eight immersive galleries, the experience showcases over 100 vehicles, props and other original artifacts from world-famous rides, attractions and live shows, including Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda, and Universal Monsters.
Good for: Theme park lovers of all ages Know before you go: The exhibit has special evening hours Thursday through Saturday.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Friday, November 13, 2026
The Biddle family rose to be one of the most prominent in early America, with members contributing significantly to the military and Congress. In honor of the Semiquincentennial, this new exhibit looks at the family’s integral role in America’s independence movement.
Featuring personal stories, manuscripts and historic objects, the exhibit marks the first time Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum has told the family’s comprehensive story surrounding their role in America’s creation.
Vibe: Opulence on the Delaware River waterfront Know before you go: Andalusia is open each Monday, Tuesday and Friday, plus select Saturdays in 2026.
Where: Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum, 1237 State Road, Andalusia, PA
Through November 2026
This brand-new exhibition at the National Marian Anderson House — part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places — showcases rare collections honoring one of American history’s most celebrated opera singers and Civil Rights icons.
Along with glass-encased gowns, photos, authentic letters, paintings and original vinyl presses, the exhibition highlights who Marian Anderson was as a person — and how Marian Anderson, at her heart, was a true Philadelphian: kind, approachable, determined and deeply human.
Don’t miss: The museum’s additional special events, concerts and celebrations for 2026. Know before you go: Advanced tickets are required for both the exhibition tours and the events.
Where: Marian Anderson Historical Society & Museum, 762 Martin Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Thursday, December 31, 2026
The Mütter Museum — part of Philadelphia’s oldest medical society at The College of Physicians — hosts a slate of exhibitions to celebrate medical milestones throughout the past 250 years.
Vibe: Not for the squeamish Good for: Quirky medical history
Where: The Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Heroes to some, villains to others, the infamous Doan Gang once roamed what is now Bucks County during the earliest days of the American Revolution, plotting, scheming and plundering their way through a world divided.
This immersive exhibition at Doylestown’s Mercer Museum explores the Doans’ legendary exploits, from espionage and robberies to mythical lost treasures. Learn how these local outlaws plotted and schemed through a divided world, and why their loyalty to the British rule made them enemies of the Founding Fathers.
Know before you go: Museum admission grants access to the exhibit. Don’t miss: Mercer’s treasure trove of relics in the main part of the museum
Where: Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA
Through December 2026 (dates vary by event)
The University of Pennsylvania hosts a robust schedule of exhibitions, art commissions and performances for the Semiquincentennial, including:
Know before you go: Timing and location vary by exhibit. Check the official site for info. Vibe: Educational and engaging programs
Where: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, January 3, 2027
“When in the course of human events …” The document from which that seminal phrase originates is the centerpiece of the Museum of the American Revolution’s 2026 programming.
Through records, art and artifacts, The Declaration’s Journey exhibition traces the history of America’s founding charter and its continuing influence, inspiring over 100 independence movements worldwide.
Don’t miss: The prison bench where Martin Luther King Jr. penned Letter from a Birmingham Jail Know before you go: General museum admission includes exhibit access.
Where: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Unbeknownst to many, the Declaration of Independence served many roles and went through numerous drafts before becoming the document we know today. The American Philosophical Society Museum (APSM) — located within Independence National Historic Park — tapped into its vast holdings to tell a fuller version of the document’s history in its latest exhibit.
Visitors can also see a rare first printing of Thomas Paine’s influential Common Sense, as well as the chair Thomas Jefferson sat in while he wrote.
Know before you go: Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Vibe: Colonial rabble rousing
Where: American Philosophical Society Museum, 104 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Friday, January 8, 2027
The curators at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania have crafted two brand-new exhibitions honoring 250 years of American history:
Good for: Digging into the weeds of history for new insights Know before you go: Exhibitions are free and open to the public during library hours.
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, January 18, 2027
The Barnes Foundation commissioned Indigenous artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) to create 11 immersive panels for the museum’s Walter and Leonore Annenberg Court — all to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.
Hopinka’s immersive panels layer emotion-laden landscape photographs on copper sheets and ask viewers to ponder America’s complex history with Indigenous peoples — and what remains of their land.
Know before you go: Access to Red Metal Dust is free and open to the public. Don’t miss: Ongoing discussions and deep-dive talks
Through Sunday, January 31, 2027
Over the last 250 years, few things have become as synonymous with America’s Independence Day celebrations as the loud crack and colorful sparks of a fireworks display. But the origins of these light shows are much older — going as far back as the second century B.C.
The Science History Institute in Old City illuminates the history and chemistry of fireworks in an explosive new exhibition, featuring historic rare books, fine art, the latest in modern-day pyrotechnic technologies and more.
Know before you go: The museum is free and open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. Vibe: Behind-the-curtain takes on science
Where: Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Saturday, February 13, 2027 (dates vary by event)
Channeling the spirit of the 1976 Sin Colonias March (aka “the People’s Bicentennial”), Fairhill Puerto Rican arts and culture organization, Taller Puertorriqueño, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with WE WILL NOT HIDE: Hidden Histories, Collective Voices and Creative Futures, a year-long slate of programs amplifying Puerto Rican and Afro-Latine perspectives.
The robust calendar of programs includes an exploration of the intersection of transgender experiences with Afro-Boricua culture, a children’s art exhibition, a retrospective look at Kensington’s textile history and much more.
Good for: Amplifying oft-marginalized voices Know before you go: Gallery admission is free.
Where: Taller Puertorriqueno, 2600 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, February 14, 2027
Botany of Nations retells the famous Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 1806 through an Indigenous lens using plants as portals to under-shared stories, cultures and science.
The exhibit blends botany (the study of plants) with ethnobotany (the study of how people use plants) to reshape the way we interpret the Colonial journey — not as something “discovered” but as an interaction with cultures and traditions with long, rich lineages.
Good for: A comprehensive retelling of history. Know before you go: Exhibit access comes with general museum admission.
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, April 25, 2027 (dates vary by event)
Montgomery County’s Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center commemorates the 250th with a full year of events, programs and exhibits, focusing on the area’s rich Revolution-era history.
Up first — learn about how the American Revolution impacted the Perkiomen Region in These Truths Are Not Self-evident (through Saturday, March 27, 2027). Then, Independence weekend offers three days of food, fireworks and family-friendly fairs (July 3 to 5, 2026). Plus, a look at the Evolution of the Pennsylvania Longrifle (July 18 to October 18, 2026).
Know before you go: Open Tuesday through Sunday, programs are free and open to the public. Don’t miss: The full list of events, here.
Where: Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA
Through mid-2027 (dates vary by attraction)
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) have teamed up with avid art collector (and Phillies’ managing partner) John Middleton and his wife and partner Leigh for a dual-museum blockbuster exhibition titled A Nation of Artists.
Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums, with art’s biggest names exhibited side-by-side with historically underrepresented artists and contemporary talents.
Know before you go: Purchase a full-price ticket to either PAFA or the PMA and get 50% off admission to the second museum (valid within seven days). A Nation of Artists is included with general admission at both museums. Don’t miss: This exhibit. Seriously. It’s huge.
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Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, January 3, 2028
We all know how the American Revolutionary War ended. Now, a brand-new exhibition at the Independence Seaport Museum explores how our new nation built its economy back up in the aftermath.
Featuring roughly 150 rarely seen objects and artifacts, Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade and the Making of America examines how the dream of America survived (and thrived) through new economic relationships and international trade alliances — and how China helped build America into the global superpower it is today.
Don’t miss: A chance to hop on board two historic ships, docked outside the museum Good for: History buffs looking for new insights
Where: Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Through April 2027 (dates vary by exhibition)
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History marks the Semiquincentennial by renovating its building to include two new permanent exhibit spaces and a 4,500-square-foot special exhibition space.
The First Salute, on view through April 2027, takes a look at never-before-told stories of the Jewish community’s connections to the American Revolution, featuring rare artifacts, original films and immersive videos to weave together stories of religious freedom, antisemitism in the colonial world, trade and life on the high seas.
Know before you go: Open Wednesday through Sunday, admission is free. Don’t miss: The museum’s new permanent exhibits open later this year.
Where: Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Ml East, Philadelphia, PA
The Print Center presents America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print, an exhibition showcasing the works of 37 artists reflecting on the current state of democracy. The exhibit features 42 print pieces, including the designs of five artists from Philly’s Brandywine Workshop and Archives.
In addition to opportunities to view the works, the Rittenhouse Square nonprofit gallery offers many public programs, including conversations with the artists, public tours and extended hours in June.
Don’t miss: An interactive printing event on Saturday, July 11, 2026 Know before you go: Admission to the gallery is free.
Where: The Print Center, 1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA
Each year, the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image hosts Philly Photo Day, which encourages anyone living in or visiting the city to submit a photo of Philadelphia for exhibition. This year’s prompt asked photographers to snap pics that responded to the question: How do we stay free?
See all the photographic responses on display in TILT’s Project Gallery in The Crane Arts Building as part of the organization’s How We Stay Free exhibition.
Know before you go: The exhibition is free and open to the public. Don’t miss: The works of five professional artists on display in TILT’s main gallery
Where: TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, 1400 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA
With the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration well underway, what better moment to look back at the last two-and-a-half centuries of American life and ask, “What now?” Enter: ArtPhilly.
The goal: a five-week arts and culture festival that answers that question through more than 30 experiences. The multidisciplinary arts and culture festival makes all of Philadelphia a stage, shining the spotlight on the city’s creative community with an impressive slate of thought-provoking performances, exhibitions and other artistic programming.
Know before you go: Venues, dates and ticketing vary. Check the official site to plan ahead. Vibe: Awe-inspiring art, Philly-style
Where: Various locations including The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
How have Philadelphia’s artists portrayed their ideas of America throughout the past 250 years? Woodmere — an art museum set on six acres of land in northwest Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood — hopes to answer that question with this commemorative exhibition.
Pulling from an expansive collection of more than 8,000 paintings, sculptures and works on paper, Arc of Promise focuses on art from the 1790s to today that examines the country’s painful histories while remaining hopeful about America’s future.
Don’t miss: Woodmere’s outdoor sculpture garden Know before you go: Access to the exhibit comes with general museum admission, open Wednesday through Sunday.
Where: Woodmere, 9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Spring 2026 through Winter 2027
German-speaking people played a significant role in our nation’s founding, with Historic Trappe in Montco commemorating the Semiquincentennial with three milestone initiatives:
Know before you go: Pay for admission to one museum, get access to a second for a few dollars more. Vibe: A step back in time
Where: Historic Trappe, 301 W. Main Street, Trappe, PA
Fairmount Park’s largest historic house hosts an art exhibition that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Committee of 1926 — the group that oversees the Historic Strawberry Mansion. The exhibition showcases the works of Philadelphia-based artists who were excluded from showing their art at the time the committee formed.
Invisible no more, the works of renowned Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ artists proudly take the spotlight with an array of media on display, including paintings, textiles, photographs, pottery and three-dimensional art.
Know before you go: $8 admission includes access to the exhibit. Good for: Honoring diversity in art
Where: Historic Strawberry Mansion, 2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Contributing Writer
Senior Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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