Disney Entertainment Television is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America with a special 24-hour block of programming. The Disney Celebrates America lineup begins on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 10pm ET and wraps up with Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash airing live at 8-11pm ET on July 4th.
“Storytelling has always been at the heart of The Walt Disney Company, creating generations of fans around the world for more than a century,” stated Debra OConnell, chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. “Disney Celebrates America continues that legacy by bringing together the breadth of our portfolio to create something only Disney can, and we’re proud to bring audiences everywhere together to celebrate America’s stories.”
The special celebration will air on ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ESPN, FX, Freeform, and ABC News Live.
World News Tonight‘s David Muir guides viewers through the special programming lineup that includes Fourth of July celebrations, performances, and interviews with MrBeast, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brandi Carlile, and Nick Jonas.
Disney Celebrates America 250
America the Beautiful
10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT
• The 24-hour multiplatform broadcast kicks off on July 3 with a primetime special anchored by David Muir, with rare reporting from deep inside the Statue of Liberty, including the torch and crown, for an immersive story on the monument’s history and resonance.
• “Liberty Lights,” a first-of-its-kind artistic illumination of the Statue of Liberty, will transform the iconic monument and how the world sees it, produced in close partnership with the consulate general of France in New York. This tribute marks the 250th anniversary of America by celebrating France’s iconic gift to the United States and the lasting bond between the two countries. Deborah Roberts will also take to the skies, joining the Patrouille de France of the French Air and Space Force in the cockpit during their flyover above Liberty Island.
• There will be a special performance of “America the Beautiful” by 11-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Brandi Carlile accompanied by musical duo SistaStrings and a special message from The Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D’Amaro.
Pre-Party Across America
11:00-11:35 p.m. EDT
• Prime anchor and World News Tonight Sunday anchor Linsey Davis will host live from New Orleans. Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer and Sam Champion will anchor from New York City with a live audience, spotlighting celebrations across the country.
Party Across America
11:35 p.m.-12:37 a.m. EDT
• Linsey Davis, Lara Spencer, and Sam Champion will continue anchoring from across the country.
• Davis will report from Bourbon Street on the music and culture of the influential city and will interview jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, correspondent John Quiñones from the San Antonio River Walk, correspondent Trevor Ault from a Disney cruise ship along the coast of Alaska, contributor Cameron Mathison live from Las Vegas as the city celebrates, and KABC reporter Anabel Munoz in Los Angeles covering the fireworks spectacular.
• Additional programming includes performances by the Tony®-nominated Broadway musical Ragtime and Dancing with the Stars, fireworks at Walt Disney World and Mount Rushmore, and coverage of the 4th of July Midnight Parade, the first Independence Day parade in the nation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Nightline (Special Edition)
12:37 a.m.-1:07 a.m. EDT
• A special edition of Nightline co-anchored by Juju Chang and Byron Pitts will celebrate 80 years of news storytelling at ABC News, profile the Hartford Courant, the oldest newspaper in the country, and feature reporting by correspondent Ashan Singh.
GMA’s 50 States in 50 Weeks
1:07-5:00 a.m. EDT
• The festivities continue on July 4 with the culmination of the comprehensive “50 States in 50 Weeks” franchise from Good Morning America. GMA hit the road to showcase the beauty across America starting in July 2025, with a GMA anchor or correspondent visiting a new state each week, following the order in which they joined the United States. Spotlighting the beauty of the land and the people, GMA invites viewers to peek inside the best places across the country.
Dawn in America
5:00-7:00 a.m. EDT
• David Muir leads coverage tracing American history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence, with exclusive access to the archives in Philadelphia on the words that helped shape America’s most important documents, such as the Constitution.
• Coverage will also highlight a series of live sunrise moments and reporting from the following:
• Live with Kelly and Mark co-host and executive producer Kelly Ripa honors the legacy of “Schoolhouse Rock”
• Chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent Ginger Zee from Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes in Michigan
• What You Need to Know host and senior political correspondent Rachel Scott boards the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle to preview the Tall Ship Parade in the New York Harbor and will report from Ellis Island throughout the day
• Senior correspondent Steve Osunsami will document his personal family story and the history of immigration and naturalization live from a ceremony in Monticello
• Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and transportation correspondent Gio Benitez from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine
• Correspondent Jay O’Brien from Old North Church in Boston on Revolutionary-era re-enactments
• Correspondent Maggie Rulli with active service members and their families from Ramstein Base in Germany
• WPVI chief meteorologist Cecily Tinan from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia
• Additional stories will include features on the national anthem, the history of the American flag, and children reading the Declaration of Independence.
Good Morning America (Special Edition)
7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. EDT
• On a special edition of Good Morning America, co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan will each present a deep dive into their own American journeys and how their families arrived in the United States, in addition to reporting on the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army, respectively.
• In an unprecedented and exclusive Robin Roberts report in collaboration with the “10 Million Names Project,” will uncover the extraordinary human story behind one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks: the White House. In a genealogical breakthrough years in the making, Roberts will sit down with the first confirmed living descendants of an enslaved individual who helped build it.
• Plus, GRAMMY CEO Harvey Mason Jr. discusses great moments in GRAMMY history. The 2027 GRAMMY Awards will be live on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027.
Additional stories include the following:
• Ginger Zee with a national holiday forecast and a look at how her home state of Michigan celebrates the holiday
• Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and World News Tonight Saturday anchor Whit Johnson from the 9/11 Memorial and Freedom Tower in New York on America’s resilience
• This Week co-anchor and chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz from Pearl Harbor on active military and survivors
• Chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce from Washington, D.C., to preview July 4 events at the Capital
• Correspondent Bob Woodruff from Walt Disney World with Blue Star families
• Correspondent Matt Rivers sits down with family members about their careers as firefighters, police officers and members of the armed forces and how their commitment to public service inspired his path to journalism
• National correspondent Stephanie Ramos live from Fort Campbell Army Base in Kentucky
• Correspondent Faith Abubey from Parris Island, South Carolina, on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
• Correspondent Elizabeth Schulze from the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, honoring the legacy and creation of national parks
Hometowns & Heroes
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT
• David Muir will anchor storytelling on America’s westward expansion on a cross-country adventure, including:
• Live with Kelly and Mark co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos go on a desert adventure to one of the most beautiful places in America—Indian Canyons—to visit the largest oasis in the world
• Linsey Davis on the crucial role of the Louisiana Purchase and the legacy of New Orleans in the growth of America
• This Week co-anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, live from Mount Rushmore, where he spent his childhood
• Ginger Zee explores the magic of Adventures by Disney
• Chief business, technology and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis from the Taste of Minnesota food festival on how her home state celebrates the holiday
• John Quiñones from San Antonio on the acquisition of Texas and the growth of Latino and Tejano culture
• Steve Osunsami on slavery and the descendants of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings
• The View co-host Sunny Hostin on the rich cultural legacy of Puerto Rico
• The View co-host Sara Haines from Iowa on the multigenerational American farmers’ experience
• ESPN’s Joe Buck from his hometown of St. Louis on the journey of Lewis and Clark from the Mississippi to the Pacific
• GMA First Look and World News Now co-anchors Sophie Flay and Hannah Battah from Bristol, Rhode Island, at America’s oldest July 4 parade
• KSFN anchor Vanessa Vasconselos from Yosemite National Park on the legacy of Ansel Adams
• KTRK anchor Charly Edsitty from Houston
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
12:30-1:00 p.m. EDT
• ESPN’s annual coverage of the American pastime “Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest” will feature top-ranked Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo, and more.
7 Wonders of America
1:00-3:00 p.m. EDT
• The broadcast will feature the Seven Natural Wonders of America and how they have shaped the people and culture of the country. Beloved ABC News anchors are paired with National Geographic Explorers throughout the segment, taking viewers on an adventure to some of the most beautiful places in the nation.
• The Seven Natural Wonders of America include:
• The Grand Canyon via air, land and water with David Muir reporting on the historic landmark with National Geographic Explorer Pete McBride and the Redwoods in Redwood National and State Park and the Sequoia Skywalk with National Geographic Explorer at Large Nalini M. Nadkarni
• The Appalachian Mountains with anchor Diane Sawyer hiking with National Geographic Explorer Gabby Salazar into the Great Smoky National Park, encountering the flora, fauna and local people
• The Everglades with Robin Roberts and National Geographic Explorer Carlton Ward Jr. by airboat and foot to learn about protecting the keystone species within the ecosystem and meet with Betty Osceola, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, to talk about her ancestral homeland
• Niagara Falls with Michael Strahan and National Geographic Explorer M Jackson below and above the majestic rapids
• The volcanoes of Hawai’i, which Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang and National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo will explore together
• Yellowstone National Park with Deborah Roberts and National Geographic Explorer James Edward Mills across multiple locations to discover the secrets of America’s first national park
• The NFL’s Myles Garrett in North Dakota on a prehistoric dig to discover dinosaur bones with National Geographic Explorer Tyler Lyson
• Also, viewers will get an exclusive glimpse of National Geographic’s brand-new Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C.
Dreamers & Innovators
3:00-5:00 p.m. EDT
• David Muir will anchor continuing coverage of parades and other live events happening around the country in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, featuring anchors and reporters from more than a dozen local stations around the nation.
• In addition, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg presents a special look at the birth of Hollywood cinema; Deborah Roberts reports on the history of American fashion with the segment “Red, White and Blue Jeans”; Gio Benitez documents the space race, lunar landing, and Artemis II; Chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas on the Supreme Court’s most consequential decisions over the years; contributor Jesse Palmer spotlights Americans’ obsession with cars and the automobile industry; and the legendary oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer at Large Bob Ballard is interviewed aboard the research vessel The Nautilus.
SportsCenter (Special Edition)
5:00-7:00 p.m. EDT
• ESPN’s flagship news and information program, SportsCenter, will present a special two-hour edition live on ABC on July 4, celebrating the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture. Co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, the program will feature live reports from across the country, alongside original storytelling, historical retrospectives, and talent-driven segments from SportsCenter anchors. Coverage will include features on iconic American sports moments and the enduring cultural impact of sports in America, complemented by essays, featured storytelling, and appearances from multiple ESPN personalities.
World News Tonight with David Muir (Special Edition)
7:00-7:30 p.m. EDT
• David Muir presents a special edition of ABC’s No. 1 flagship evening program, with the latest headlines and stories on America’s anniversary.
Countdown to Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash
7:30-8:00 p.m. EDT
• This special preview will feature a look at the upcoming Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash celebration with host Ryan Seacrest and feature interviews with performers Boyz II Men and Clint Black, as well as an all-access pass to the Camp Rock 3 nationwide bus tour as it stops in Nashville. Plus, Jesse Palmer visits MrBeast’s headquarters in Greenville, North Carolina, to discover the secrets behind the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world.
Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash
8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT, live from coast to coast
• In collaboration with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) and ITV America Nashville, ABC celebrates America turning 250 with a one-of-a-kind celebration live from the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
• Hosted by Emmy® Award-winner Ryan Seacrest, this unforgettable night will feature must-see performances by iconic artists and musical acts spanning multiple genres.
• The superstar lineup includes The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, John Crist, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime, and Tim McGraw.
• Hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in person for this milestone event, which will also feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States, set to a live score by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony.
• Adding to the magic will be coverage of the patriotic-themed fireworks displays at Disneyland Resort, which will light up this unforgettable evening.
