The march to America’s 250th birthday unofficially kicked off in the sports world at the Super Bowl with a flyover spectacle and jersey patches. But as the Fourth of July approaches, the celebrations have hit a new gear.
Next up, UFC will stage a massive spectacle on the White House lawn this Sunday. The event has been in the works for more than a year, forged through a friendship between UFC boss Dana White and president Donald Trump, as Ilia Topuria will vie with Justin Gaethje in the main event on Paramount+.
Sports is heavily invested in the America250 campaign. Here’s how the major pro sports and networks are marking the occasion.
League Participation
MLB
MLB has been planning the semiquincentennial for seven years, back to when it announced the 2026 All-Star Game would be in Philadelphia. This May, the league debuted its “For the People” marketing campaign, set to a mix of “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to showcase how the sport has unified Americans for 150 years.
During the July 4 weekend, MLB has a loaded slate of national games, with an Apple TV doubleheader Friday (there is a promotion for baseball fans to receive a one-month free trial), and a Fox game primetime Saturday. During all July 4 games, MLB teams will wear stars-and-stripes uniforms, and red, white, and blue hats. Then, MLB is collaborating with NBC for “Star-Spangled Sunday,” where two games will air nationally on the broadcast network and all 15 MLB games will air live on Peacock on July 5.
NFL
While the NFL has participated in the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th birthday throughout 2026, its most visible tribute took place at Super Bowl LX. The game kicked off with a joint flyover of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft, and used the historic Libertas Americana coin—originally commissioned by Benjamin Franklin in 1782 to celebrate America’s victory in the Revolutionary War—for the coin toss. Players on competing teams also wore special jersey patches commemorating America250.
The 2026 NFL Draft was another big moment for celebrations. America250 was recognized during an onstage immediately before the start of the draft, and representatives from each military branch were featured in a special video package that aired ahead of the New England Patriots second-round pick.
Additionally, beginning in Week 18, commemorative footballs featuring the America250 logo were used in games, and every field sported an America250 sideline stencil.
NBA
The NBA’s America250 celebration is visible on its biggest stage. During the 2026 NBA Finals, players from the Spurs and Knicks are wearing jerseys featuring a commemorative “USA 250” patch, connecting the league’s championship series to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.
However, the league’s efforts to honor America’s 250th birthday have been underway throughout 2026, with a strong focus on service and community engagement. Across the country, the NBA has organized volunteer initiatives and encouraged its “players, coaches, legends and community partners” to “share reflections on the importance of service to American communities” all year long, per a league statement.
WNBA
The WNBA has been quieter about its America250 celebration plans. On June 4, a spokesperson for the league told Sportico it is still “exploring how best to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary” during its upcoming All-Star Game in Chicago, adding “nothing has been finalized at this time.”
However, not all WNBA players are supportive of potential America250 celebrations. In response to the Sportico report, Aces forward Brianna Turner wrote on X/Twitter: “Whoever called for the WNBA all star uniforms to have the USA 250 patch should have thought that through considering no WNBA players would have been free 250 years ago. The majority wouldn’t even have their freedom 100 years ago.” She has since deactivated her account.
NHL
The NHL is incorporating America250 branding into its Stanley Cup Final with patches on player jerseys. It’s providing what a league spokesperson says is a “special curated selection of one-of-a-kind NHL memorabilia” for America’s Time Capsule, which is getting buried in Philadelphia on July 4 and slated to be opened in 2276, America’s 500th birthday.
Network Plans
Fox
Fox has a loaded slate during July 4 weekend, including World Cup matches in the Rounds of 32 and 16, and an IndyCar race, the Honda 200. It will also air the MLB All-Star selection show leading into the aforementioned MLB game, followed by the actual All-Star Game in Philly on July 14. Fox will also air the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., an IndyCar street race, on Aug. 23.
NBC
In addition to the loaded baseball slate on July 5, NBC has six hours of Sail4th 250 coverage from New York Harbor; the third round of the U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship; USA Track & Field’s Prefontaine Classic; and the Macy’s Fireworks show, all on July 4.
ESPN
ESPN’s America250 celebrations will be anchored by a two-hour edition of SportsCenter airing live on ABC from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. ET on July 4. The special, hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, will highlight the “people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture,” according to the network. Viewers can expect live reports from additional SportsCenter anchors around the country, historical retrospectives, and talent-driven segments featuring top ESPN personalities.
Online, ESPN.com will run a five-day series of visual-heavy stories under the title “AMERICA 250 Road Trips: A journey through the mystery and majesty of sports.” The network sent five reporters on different cross-country trips to document sports’ impact on American identity.
