New Orleans is listed as the first 2026 Operation Sail port call for America's 250th anniversary.
Operation Sail, often called OpSail, organizes maritime celebrations featuring tall ships and naval vessels. The 2026 schedule is planned as part of the semiquincentennial observances and begins with ships visiting New Orleans from May 28 through June 1.
The planned route then moves to Norfolk, Virginia, followed by Baltimore, Maryland, New York City, and Boston. These port calls connect major American waterfronts with an international fleet and continue a tradition associated with earlier national celebrations, including the 1976 Bicentennial.
New Orleans is not the same as the first city in the sequence of all historical Operation Sail events. The question concerns the published 2026 schedule, whose opening listed port is New Orleans. The itinerary also distinguishes port calls from the sailing passages and races between cities.