How PBS Plans to Celebrate the American Semiquincentennial in 2026 (Exclusive) (2025)

As the American federal government is turning its back on PBS, PBS is celebrating the republic.

PBS is going all-in on America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. You, of course, know what that word means: the country’s 250th birthday. From June 27-July 4, 2026, PBS will run an entire week of programming celebrating the milestone, which it is calling “the largest national and local engagement effort in its history.” A host of programming in the months leading up to that week is also in the works.

How much of it will be funded by the tax dollars of viewers remains an open question.

The PBS America @ 250 concept was first announced in 2024; The Hollywood Reporter can now announce the details. The initiative will be headlined by Ken Burns’ next big doc, the six-part, 12-hour The American Revolution, but history buffs — and Burns buffs — already knew about that one.

New today are its companion series. On November 24, the network will debut A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America, which airs following the Burns doc and “examines how we think about America’s founding and how the ideas and values articulated 250 years ago remain relevant to conversations about governance today.” On tap for spring 2026 is a two-parter from BBC Studios, Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution. Worsley will dissect how the British Empire, the most powerful in history, lost the War of Independence against “a ragtag band of American rebels.” Their jackets and line formation probably didn’t help.

There’s more — so much more.

Like, in summer 2026, Antiques Roadshow will air a “250 Years of Americana” special episode will feature items from 1775 through today, and a journey through time via material culture.

And for the littlest patriots, PBS Kids will premiere Map Zappers, a new series from Arkansas PBS that follows three ordinary kids who stumble across a museum exhibit that contains artifacts from every U.S. state and territory. “When they accidentally activate a piece of technology that teleports, or ‘zaps,’ all the artifacts back to their place of origin,” the Map Zappers logline reads, “the trio of friends travel across the country, recovering the lost artifacts and learning about what it means to be an American along the way.”

There will also be a special new episode of Molly of Denali, plus new “civics-themed content” from Rosie’s Rules and Alma’s Way. Because kids these days simply cannot get enough civics-themed content.

“PBS America @ 250 is an extraordinary undertaking, made possible by the dedication of our member stations, PBS LearningMedia, PBS Digital Studios, producers, and countless others,” Paula Kerger, the president and CEO of PBS, told THR.“I could not be prouder of the powerful content emerging from these collaborative efforts. Our nation’s history deserves to be honored, and through this work, we are doing just that. PBS was made for this type of national reflection.”

Here is a whole bunch more PBS America @ 250 programming, with descriptions in the broadcast channel’s own words:

Handwork: A Craft in America 250 Special, a four-part series, will celebrate 250 years of handmade artistry with the first two episodes, “East” and “West,” premiering Dec. 19. Each episode is told through the hands of makers and explores ancestral traditions and modern innovation. Celebrating the significance of handcrafted objects in shaping and reflecting America’s diverse cultural heritage, these episodes are one part ofHandwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a multi-faceted, national initiative organized by Craft in America. Exhibitions and community events will be held nationwide in collaboration with PBS member stations, and educational programs for K-12 will be available on PBS LearningMedia.

Declarations of Independence, a documentary from Virginia Public Media, explores the American Revolution through the eyes of free and enslaved Black people in the 1700-1800s. It will premiere in summer 2026.

Great Performances “Suffs” based on the Tony Award-winning musical created by Shaina Taub, tells the story of thepassionate American women who fought for the right to vote and explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality. It will premiere in spring 2026.

PBS will bring back several American Experience: Presidential Profiles, examining the history of the American presidency, in addition to several original films. Capitol Concerts 2026 will feature a variety of well-known musical artists to celebrate America.

In the Margins, from PBS Digital Studios and WHYY, reveals lesser-known figures who made huge impacts on the shape of the country and tells stories that expand our understanding of American history. Season 2 will premiere on June 25, on PBS Origins Channel.

Civics Made Easy is a digital series hosted by author Ben Sheehan that explains how the American government and the U.S. Constitution work. Produced by Second Peninsula, the team behind PBS’s Brief but Spectacular, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the series premieres June 26, on the PBS YouTube Channel.

There will also be local member station activations, including: