Historic Route 66 celebrates 100 years in 2026. In Springfield, Mo., widely recognized as the birthplace of the Mother Road, the city will launch the highway’s centennial with a kickoff event honoring one of America’s most storied roadways.
Springfield earned its nickname as “The Birthplace of Route 66” on April 30, 1926. That’s when officials gathered in the city and first proposed the now-famous highway name for the route linking Chicago and Los Angeles. A century later, the city marks the milestone with a three-day party and invites travelers to explore Springfield’s museums, landmarks and historic attractions tied to the legendary highway.
Springfield celebrates the Mother Road
Springfield’s Route 66 Centennial Kickoff brings three days of celebrations from April 30 through May 2, marking the start of nationwide events honoring the highway’s 100th anniversary. The festival will feature concerts, classic cars and community gatherings celebrating the culture that grew along America’s most famous highway.
The celebration opens with a national broadcast of NBC’s “3rd Hour of TODAY” from Springfield and continues with a dedication ceremony at Birthplace Plaza marking the moment the Route 66 name was proposed in 1926. A kickoff concert at Missouri State University’s Great Southern Bank Arena will headline the evening with performances by Little Big Town, Chris Janson, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and other artists.
“The centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the power and enduring legacy of Route 66,” said Bill Thomas, president and CEO of The Road Ahead Partnership and a member of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. “Launching the national celebration in Springfield reflects the road’s origins and its timeless ability to connect people, places and experiences.”
Route 66 experiences bring Springfield’s highway history to life
Visitors arriving for the centennial celebration will find that Springfield offers several ways to experience the story of Route 66 beyond the kickoff events. Museums, historic buildings and stretches of the original roadway help travelers see how the Mother Road shaped the city and the culture of American road travel…