Springfield tapped as national host city for 2026 Route 66 centennial celebration

Springfield has been named as the host city for the national Route 66 centennial kickoff next year, with its celebration to be livestreamed around the world.

It’s a distinction conferred by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission and the Road Ahead Partnership, a national nonprofit working to sustain Route 66 as an international destination.

Gov. Mike Kehoe made the announcement today at the historic Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven motel, where Elvis Presley famously spent the night in room 409 in 1956. The host city status opens the door for more overnight stays in the Queen City.

Kehoe said his farm is located in Jerome, Missouri, right on Route 66.

“It’s unbelievable, but people come from all over the world to drive on that stretch,” he said.

He called the host city status a well-deserved honor for Springfield, the city where it began.

“I have no doubt this centennial will be something truly unforgettable,” he said.

Cora Scott, Springfield’s director of public information and civic engagement, chairs the state’s Route 66 Centennial Commission. When asked in an interview how the honor came about, Scott said she applied for it.

“We just applied,” she said. “And then we got the great news that we were selected.”

Among the requirements was that the host city would have a celebration on April 30. That checked a box for Springfield, where on April 30, 1926, a telegram proposing the name Route 66 was sent from the Colonial Hotel to federal officials, resulting in the city’s moniker as the birthplace of Route 66. The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is an annual event here.

Springfield is taking a leadership role in Route 66 tourism because of the tie-in, Scott said.

“We’re definitely taking some leadership in the state of Missouri, and we’ve got great momentum with all the cities across Missouri,” she said.

She noted St. Louis plans to host its Route 66 festival on April 30 and May 1, and live shots are planned from that city and other key Route 66 locations, including Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Scott said she gives a lot of credit to Kehoe.

“When he was lieutenant governor, he really leaned in on this,” she said.

The Route 66 Centennial Commission is charged with preparing cities across Missouri for the celebration through citizen involvement. The commission has incentivized Missouri communities to plan events and design tourist attractions with more than $1 million in investments funded by the state, according to a news release provided by the city.

Springfield’s celebration will begin with a kickoff concert at the Historic Shrine Mosque. The concert will be livestreamed internationally with cut-ins from Route 66 cities from across the United States, the announcement states.

Mark Hecquet, president and CEO of Visit Springfield, Missouri, formerly the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it’s a great honor for the Queen City to be selected as the national host city.

“Certainly, the committee could have picked anywhere along Route 66, and to be chosen is just such an exciting day for Springfield,” he said.

Springfield’s claim of being the birthplace of Route 66 is deeply woven into the fabric of the city, according to Hecquet, who added that the governor’s announcement marks a historic milestone.

“Route 66 has certainly shaped Springfield into what it is today,” he said. “From a tourism perspective, not only will this put us in the national spotlight, but we truly believe Springfield will be an attraction worldwide as we welcome people from around the world to experience the iconic Route 66.

Hecquet said the centennial celebration will undoubtedly provide an economic boost, though he said the effect will be hard to quantify. He noted that every day, the city’s Route 66 welcome center is visited by fans of the Mother Road from around the world.

“These are visitors who are driving the road or on bikes, doing family trips, looking to experience real America,” he said. “This centennial celebration will only further intensify Route 66’s reputation as that iconic bucket-list experience, not only for people in the U.S., but for those around the world.”

Visit Springfield officials have been attending international events to talk up the centennial to tour operators and travel planners, Hecquet said, with recent visits to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and London. The goal is to position Springfield as a must-see destination for Route 66 travelers.

“The interest is sky high,” he said. “Springfield is already working on looking to roll out the red carpet and ensure every visitor has a wonderful experience here.”

Asked how many Route 66 travelers already visit the Queen City, Hecquet said there’s no telling.

“Any number I give you I think would be understating the true impact,” he said.

He said Visit Springfield counts visitors to the welcome center, which closes most days at 4:30 p.m. and is not open on the weekends.

“We’re missing a large share to give you a really true and accurate number,” he said. “We probably have tens of thousands of people coming through Springfield specifically for Route 66, and I anticipate that could potentially double in 2026."