Two Milestones, One Unmissable Destination

Colonial Williamsburg marks 100 years as America turns 250 — and 2026 is the year to go

Some travel moments are worth planning years in advance. This is one of them. In 2026, Colonial Williamsburg celebrates its centennial at the exact same moment the United States marks 250 years since independence — and the result is a year of programming, exhibitions, and commemorations unlike anything the site has seen before. If there was ever a time to visit the world's largest living history museum, it's now.

How It All Began

Colonial Williamsburg's story starts with a rector and a vision. In the 1920s, Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin — alarmed at the disappearance of Williamsburg's historic buildings — pitched his idea to philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. Rockefeller and his wife Abby agreed to back the project, and in 1926, one of the most ambitious restoration efforts in American history was born.

What followed was decades of meticulous work: buildings along Duke of Gloucester Street were acquired and studied; archaeologists uncovered foundations that guided the reconstruction of landmarks including the Governor's Palace and the Capitol; historians and craftspeople collaborated to recreate 18th-century life with scholarly rigour. Today, Colonial Williamsburg stands as the world's largest U.S. history museum — and it turns 100 this year.

What's On in 2026

The centennial calendar is packed, with anchor events running from January through to the official 100th Anniversary Celebration on November 14. Key highlights include:

Colonial Williamsburg: The First 100 Years (year-round). A major new exhibition at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg traces the Foundation's evolution from Goodwin's early vision to the global institution it is today. Through archival documents, photographs, and immersive storytelling, visitors see not just what was restored, but how and why — and how scholarship has continued to shape the experience. Ideal for repeat visitors looking for a fresh perspective.

The New Archaeology Center (open now). A purpose-built facility giving visitors a transparent, real-time look at nearly a century of excavation and preservation. Artifacts from 17th- and 18th-century Williamsburg are studied and conserved on-site — including finds that shed light on the daily lives of enslaved individuals whose stories are central to a complete telling of American history.

5th Virginia Convention Commemoration — May 15–16. On May 15, 1776, Virginia delegates passed a resolution calling for American independence — weeks before the Declaration itself. Colonial Williamsburg marks the 250th anniversary with a special evening program on the very grounds where it happened, free and open to the public.

First Virginia Declaration of Rights — June 12–13. Events celebrating the document that directly shaped the U.S. Bill of Rights — safeguarding individual freedoms and limiting government authority. An essential chapter of American democracy, often underappreciated.

July 4th Celebrations — July 2–5. The centrepiece of the entire year. Four days of programming on historic Duke of Gloucester Street, culminating in a grand ceremony on July 4 produced in partnership with Virginia 250. Expect public readings of the Declaration of Independence, live performances by top American musicians (including a world premiere by a renowned Williamsburg poet), and the largest fireworks display in the Foundation's history — broadcast live on PBS across the country. Free Historic Area admission on July 4 from 10am–5pm.

African Baptist Meeting House Dedication — October 9–10. One of the most significant cultural moments of the year. The reconstructed African Baptist Meeting House and Burial Ground is dedicated at its original location — built by enslaved and free Black parishioners in the face of laws that prohibited African Americans from gathering. Archaeological discoveries including graves and the church's original layout guided the project, ensuring both the physical and cultural legacy of the congregation is honoured.

100th Anniversary Celebration — November 14. The official centennial milestone event. Mark the calendar.

Plan Ahead — Visitor Numbers Are Rising

Williamsburg welcomed around 1.8 million visitors in 2024. Tourism officials project that number could exceed 2.1 million in 2026. Accommodation in and around the Historic Triangle is already filling fast — particularly for July 4 weekend, which is expected to be one of the most heavily attended days in the city's modern history.

For those wanting flexibility, late February through April is the strongest off-peak window with shorter queues and full access to programming. The Virginia 250 Passport — a 64-page keepsake booklet with discounts across 70 museums and historic sites statewide — is a worthwhile companion for anyone exploring the broader Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

Colonial Williamsburg is approximately 45 minutes from both Richmond International Airport and Norfolk International Airport. For full event listings and tickets: colonialwilliamsburg.org