The City of Tulsa is planning a statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026, that includes a huge car parade and other events.
News on 6 in Tulsa was the first to have the story, though details still are a bit fuzzy.
One of the tentative events is a parade featuring thousands of classic cars that aims to set a Guinness World Record. Tulsa officials are evaluating the plan before proceeding.
More from the report:
Tulsa leaders say the event could draw European tourists eager to experience America’s famed roadways.
Ken Busby, chair of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission, said the milestone represents the beginning of a new chapter for the historic route.
“The centennial of Route 66 in 2026 is the start of the next 100 years. It doesn’t stop because we got through the centennial,” Busby said. “The folks who come in ’25 and ’26 will come in ’27 and ’28, or other folks will be coming.”
Visit Tulsa estimates that every dollar spent attracting international tourists brings $40 to the city through hotels, restaurants, and retail.
“The whole point of having an event is to bring people here so they leave their money in our hotels and restaurants, our retail, and that they leave their money in Tulsa,” said Renee McKinney with Visit Tulsa.
News on 6 reports that over 40 other Oklahoma towns are planning Route 66 centennial events, as well.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has a centennial page where it lists events in the state in 2026. One is the AAA Route 66 Road Fest on June 27-28, 2026.
Earlier this month, Illinois was the first to take the plunge in scheduling a 2026 event for Route 66’s centennial. That one is set for Nov. 11, 2026 — the same day many people consider to be the official birthdate for the highway.
(Image of one of the Route 66 gateways in Tulsa by Dennis Whitaker)