Springfield, Missouri, has been chosen from a national search to be the host city for the kickoff of Route 66’s centennial celebrations next year.
According to the Springfield News-Leader, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Springfield had been selected by the U.S. National Route 66 Centennial Commission and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership.
As the host city, Springfield will hold a kickoff event for the centennial celebration April 30, 2026, at the Historic Shrine Mosque downtown. The event will include a concert featuring an A-list performer, a classic car showcase, Route 66 storytelling, food and cut-ins from other cities on a live broadcast. City’s chief spokesperson Cora Scott, who also chairs the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission, said the hope is to secure a national TV broadcast of the event to share with the rest of the nation and internationally. […]
Scott told the News-Leader Springfield was selected after responding to a request for proposal. She said it was the decision of the state commission to advance Springfield as the state’s sole application, instead of also Kansas City or St. Louis also applying. […]
Bill Thomas, chairman of the Road Ahead Board of Directors, told the News-Leader Springfield was selected because its proposal melded all the aspects that other cities had put forth, showed organization capabilities due to similar past events and had the leg up for being the birthplace.
More details about Springfield’s Route 66 celebrations and in Missouri can be found in the coming weeks and months here.
Springfield claims to be the birthplace of Route 66. Good-road advocates in the city in 1926 sent a telegram requesting that the highway be named U.S. 66.
Springfield also hosts a Birthplace of Route 66 Festival each August that typically draws 60,000 to 70,000 people. This year’s festival will be Aug. 8-9.
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