New Orleans is listed first for the 2026 Operation Sail port calls honoring America250.
The 2026 event is planned as a gathering of tall ships connected with the 250th anniversary of American independence. The published schedule begins in New Orleans from May 28 through June 1, before moving to Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston.
Operation Sail, often called OpSail, has historically brought large sailing vessels together for maritime celebrations. Its best-known earlier event was held during the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial, making the 2026 gathering a deliberate link between the two national anniversaries.
The port sequence is easy to misremember because several famous U.S. harbor cities participate. New Orleans is the opening listed stop, while New York City hosts ships around July 4 and Boston is the final listed port.