Boston: A City of History, Culture and Celebration

With a spirit both timeless and ahead of the curve, the city of Boston offers an irresistible blend of revolutionary history and contemporary energy, a historic city but not the same old story as you will soon find! 

Learn more about the historic side of Boston and tour the world-famous Freedom Trail or see a different perspective from the Revolutionary Women tour or take a beautiful evening lantern tour. Seek out new initiatives on offer including the Chinatown Immigrant History Trail and Afrimerican Academy’s tours to discover yet more untold stories of Boston’s past. Walking tours of Harvard and MIT perfectly showcase the blend of history with the forward thinking and innovative nature of the city. 

Boston is the perfect city to explore year-round, with beauty to be found in every season from the elegance of Beacon Hill and Back Bay to the creative flair of Fort Point, the cultural mosaic of South End, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Chinatown, Boston’s neighbourhoods’ pulse with diversity. Outdoor concerts, seasonal Holiday stroll tours, pop-up markets, sporting events galore, green spaces and much more……here is just a taste of things to come…….

Boston 250th Anniversary

FIFA World Cup 2026 & Sports

Boston’s passion for sport is renowned throughout the year, with Boston home teams in every major US sport including ice hockey, basketball, American football and baseball. Boston will hit new heights in the summer of 2026 as Gillette Stadium becomes Boston Stadium and welcomes the FIFA World Cup. There will be viewing locations and parties all over Boston and an official FIFA Fan Festival™ in downtown Boston.

Known as the home of Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and the six-time Super Bowl champions New England Patriots, the stadium is no stranger to hosting world-class competitions. This time, however, it will be football taking centre stage.

Take advantage of the opportunity to combine a holiday to Boston with a chance to watch the men’s football World Cup. On 13 June 2026, 'Boston' Stadium in Foxborough will host its first match of the 2026 World Cup. That will be the opening salvo for a summer of celebration, and five more group-stage matches will follow over the subsequent two-plus weeks. Finally, one of the quarter final knock out games will take place in Boston on 9 July. The football matches will be the first on American soil for a men's World Cup since 1994 and the atmosphere promises to be electric, with supporters bringing colour, music and energy to the stands.

Sail Boston 2026

With a history dating back centuries, Boston is an important maritime harbour. As an official port of Sail250®, Boston will see a global gathering of tall ships and military ships to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States. 

Taking place from 11-16 July 2026, Sail Boston® will see the waters of Boston Harbour once again transformed into a stunning maritime stage for this spectacular event. Spot the billowing sails of tall ships arriving from all over the world alongside a fleet of military ships in an epic peacetime gathering. This bustling hub of activity is endlessly fascinating to watch and makes an exciting backdrop to the city. Explore the historic waterfront and enjoy views of the ocean and city architecture. Stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, a public walkway that follows the water's edge and 43 miles of piers, beaches, wharves, parks and shoreline around Boston Harbor. The newly developed East Boston Waterfront parks add a new perspective and more viewing opportunities. 

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is the world's largest annual marathon, traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. In 2026 it takes place on Monday 20 April. The Boston Marathon ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors.

The event attracts 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event. Though starting with 18 participants in 1897, over 33,000 people have now qualified for the 130th Boston Marathon in 2026. The legendary 26.2 mile course starts in the rural New England town of Hopkinton, MA and ends on Boylston Street in Boston, finishing near the Boston public library in Copley Square.

Join the crowds and cheer on the runners at this epic event which supports a tradition of athletic excellence and perseverance and a community celebration which is fun to witness.

First Night Boston

Get ready to ring in 2026 at First Night Boston, a beloved New Year’s Eve tradition since 1976! This year’s celebration promises a full day of artistic performances, dazzling ice sculptures and family friendly entertainment throughout the city. The festivities will begin at lunchtime, continue throughout the day and well into the early hours, and every event is free!

Boston comes alive with shows at City Hall, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the Rose Kennedy Greenway and beyond. The excitement continues with the First Night Parade, followed by fireworks on Boston Common. Music lovers can enjoy the First Night Party on the Plaza and as midnight approaches, the city will gather at City Hall Plaza for the countdown to midnight and a dazzling light show, culminating in breathtaking harbour fireworks over Boston’s skyline to welcome 2026 in spectacular fashion.

Head of the Charles Regatta

This October Weekend is one of Boston and Cambridge’s busiest but the crisp October weather and perfect fall foliage along the Charles River and Harvard campus makes it an unforgettable experience. The Head of The Charles Regatta is the world’s largest 3-day rowing competition. This relentless 3-mile course winds through the heart of Boston and Cambridge, passing the storied campuses of Harvard, MIT, and BU. Since its inception in 1965, The Head of The Charles Regatta has attracted hundreds of thousands of rowers to the banks of the Charles River accompanied by scores of spectators. The HOCR racecourse stretches 4,702m down the Charles River. Find a spot to watch the action or book one of the hospitality options on offer to enhance your weekend. The Head of the Charles promises a weekend full of fun for all.

Boston Art Galleries

Boston is home to world-renowned museums and art galleries and now some of the more notable ones are preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence with a series of major exhibitions and new programmes. The Museum of Fine Arts will unveil a complete reinstallation of its 18th-century Art of the Americas galleries on 19 June 2026, coinciding with its annual Juneteenth open house. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will contribute through exhibitions and performances that connect its distinctive collection to themes of cultural exchange, identity and resistance. At the Institute of Contemporary Art, expect projects that bring contemporary voices into dialogue with the legacy of revolution and freedom. The Harvard Art Museums, meanwhile, will draw on their rich holdings and academic scholarship to offer new perspectives on art and society in the Revolutionary era, entry is always free to all. Together, these institutions, along with smaller galleries and cultural spaces across the city commemorate Boston’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding through a diverse and city-wide cultural programme.

Dine Out Boston ®

Dine Out Boston® offers the perfect opportunity to discover why Boston is one of the culinary capitals of the world whilst sipping and sampling your way around the city. This twice-yearly event brought to you by Meet Boston in partnership with participating restaurants, features prix fixe menus at multiple price points for lunch and dinner. Dine Out Boston® traditionally takes place in the winter between February and March and again in August. Participating restaurants offer lunch and/or dinner options at four different price points, which offer considerable savings. No passes, tickets or coupons are required, simply visit one of the participating restaurants and ask for the Dine Out Boston® menu. Reservations are encouraged to secure your preferred establishments.

Boston Pops Summer & Winter

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) based at Symphony Hall is renowned for its masterful renditions of the classical repertoire and its support of 20th-century composers. Led by Music Director Andris Nelsons since 2014, the Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its inaugural concert in 1881.

From May to July, the Boston Pops brings a more popular, festive flair to the stage. The BSO is the largest orchestral organisation in the world, encompassing both the Boston Pops and its summer home at Tanglewood. The Boston Pops Orchestra performs the best music of the past and present, appealing to the wide audience with a broad spectrum of styles, from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook, and Broadway to classical, making it the perfect orchestra for people who don't know they like orchestras. It’s also possible to do a free behind-the-scenes tour of Symphony Hall at certain times of year - a worthwhile addition to your Boston itinerary. Celebrate Fourth of July in style with a traditional and free Boston Pops Firework Spectacular, whilst in the winter the orchestra perform one of Boston's most beloved traditions – a Holiday Pops concert at historic Symphony Hall, just one of the fantastic elements that make Boston a great place to visit during the winter, along with ice skating at frog pond, holiday markets, gift shopping and holiday light tours.