Tall ships parade under flyovers during the International Parade of Sail, part of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence with parades, fireworks and patriotic celebrations across the country, as a sweltering heat wave and political divisions shape this year’s historic Fourth of July.
___
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
People look on during an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)Navy sailor Mykalya Jones dances with a flag as she waits for the start of an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Military personnel salute from the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review, ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)Vice President JD Vance speaks on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)Brian White, dressed in a bald eagle costume and patriotic U.S. flag-based clothing, stands along the route of an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)The French Air Force acrobatic squad Patrouille de France perform a flyover during the International Aerial Review, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Sydney Schaefer)People watch as the French Air Force acrobatic squad Patrouille de France perform a flyover during the International Aerial Review, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Sydney Schaefer)A red, white and blue haze hangs over the Manhattan skyline after military planes perform a flyover of the Hudson River, as seen from Weehawken, N.J., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)People take cover from the heat under umbrellas as they wait for a parade of tall ships and flyovers in Weehawken, N.J., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Children line up to watch an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)New U.S. citizen U.S. Air Force senior airman Stephen Kissi, from Ghana, poses for a portrait following a naturalization ceremony on Independence Day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)Members of the Young Marines stand at attention before an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Children cool off from the hundred-degree heat at a spray park on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Dean LeCrone waves to people during an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Members of the National Guard patrol near the Washington Monument before Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)Members of the National Guard direct a person riding a bicycle with various flags attached to a cart before an Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)Madyson White wearing an inflatable Uncle Sam costume waves while watching an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Runners in patriotic-colored tutus participate in a run on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)People wave flags during an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A person rides a scooter past a large “USA” installation on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Runners draped in American flags participate in a run on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)People watch as a truck blows red, white and blue confetti during an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
