New Orleans is scheduled as the first port of call for Operation Sail 2026, part of the America250 commemorations.
The planned tall-ship celebration begins in New Orleans from May 28 to June 1, 2026. It then moves to Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; and Boston. The event is designed to honor the 250th anniversary of American independence through port visits and races involving historic and modern sailing vessels.
Operation Sail, commonly known as OpSail, has previously brought large fleets of tall ships to American waters for national commemorations. The 2026 edition is expected to be the largest gathering of tall ships since the 1976 Bicentennial observances.
The sequence matters because New Orleans is the southern starting point before the fleet travels north along the Atlantic coast. The planned route ends in Boston in mid-July.