Operation Sail 2026 was scheduled to begin in New Orleans as part of America250 tall-ship celebrations.
The 2026 edition was planned as a major gathering of sailing ships marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its itinerary listed New Orleans, Louisiana, as the first port of call, from May 28 to June 1, 2026.
The planned route then continued to Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; and Boston. New York City was scheduled to host the ships around July 4, linking the maritime event directly with the main America250 anniversary date.
Operation Sail is best known for bringing historic and modern tall ships together for port visits and sailing activities. The 2026 plans were intended to create the largest gathering of tall ships since the 1976 United States Bicentennial, making the event a maritime counterpart to other nationwide anniversary programs.