Disney Celebrates America: 24-Hour July 4 Broadcast, Soarin' Across America, and a $2.5M Military Commitment

The Walt Disney Company detailed 'Disney Celebrates America,' a company-wide tribute to the nation's 250th anniversary. Highlights include a 24-hour July 3–4 broadcast led by David Muir, a June 29 ABC primetime special, the new Soarin' Across America attraction, and an expanded Blue Star Families partnership.

The Walt Disney Company has unveiled a sweeping lineup for "Disney Celebrates America," a company-wide initiative honoring the nation's 250th anniversary. The centerpiece is an unprecedented 24-hour, multi-platform broadcast led by World News Tonight anchor David Muir beginning July 3, alongside a two-hour ABC primetime special, the debut of Soarin' Across America, and an expanded commitment to military families.

Key Details

Primetime special: "Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness," airing on ABC June 29, 8–10 p.m. PT/ET
24-hour broadcast: Begins July 3 through July 4 across ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ESPN, and more
New attraction: Soarin' Across America — now open at EPCOT; debuts July 2 at Disney California Adventure
Military commitment: Expanded $2.5 million partnership with Blue Star Families

A 24-Hour, Coast-to-Coast Broadcast Event

Disney describes "Disney Celebrates America" as a reflection of more than a century of helping shape the American story. "As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, 'Disney Celebrates America' is our way of honoring this historic milestone by celebrating the people, places, and shared moments that define who we are," said Ken Potrock, President of Major Events Integration at The Walt Disney Company.

Disney Celebrates America honors the nation's 250th anniversary.

On June 29, ABC airs the two-hour primetime special Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness, hosted by 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World and national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland Resort. Using Disney Parks attractions as a portal — from Main Street, U.S.A. to Tomorrowland — the special spotlights tales of American "firsts."

ABC News anchors preparing for the 24-hour Disney Celebrates America broadcast — David Muir leads a 24-hour cross-platform broadcast July 3–4.

Beginning the evening of July 3 and running through July 4, ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ESPN, and National Geographic present a 24-hour event spanning ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ABC News Live, ESPN, and affiliate stations. Led by David Muir and featuring Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Michael Strahan, and more of the ABC News team, the programming travels across all 50 states. Curated segments include:

Disney Celebrates America: Nashville's Star-Spangled Bash — a live celebration with performances and one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the U.S., scored live by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony
Countdown to America's 250th — rare access inside the Statue of Liberty, in partnership with the Consulate General of France in New York
GMA's "50 States in 50 Weeks: America The Beautiful"
Dawn of America — tracing history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence
A tribute to U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families
America Expands Westward — including broadcasts from Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder in Ketchikan, Alaska
Innovation and Invention and Wonders of America, the latter a National Geographic and ABC News collaboration

The "Wonders of America" segment will reveal the newly created "Seven Natural Wonders of America" — the first, Hawaii's volcanoes, was announced on Good Morning America, with six more revealed on the Fourth of July. ESPN joins with a special two-hour SportsCenter live on ABC July 4, plus an "AMERICA 250 Road Trips" series on ESPN.com.

Coast-to-Coast Celebrations in the Parks

Soarin' Across America, now open at EPCOT and debuting July 2 at Disney California Adventure, is a reimagined flight experience created by Walt Disney Imagineering. It carries guests across more than a dozen U.S. locations — the New England coastline, Mount Rushmore, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Grand Canyon West among them — set to a new arrangement of the iconic Soarin' score by composer Bruce Broughton. At EPCOT, National Geographic photography and a new trivia challenge, The Soarin' Challenge Across America, enhance the queue.

Patriotic décor along Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World for Disney Celebrates America

Spaceship Earth at EPCOT lit in red, white, and blue for the America 250 celebration

Voices of Liberty performing during Disney Celebrates America at EPCOT

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in new patriotic red, white, and blue attire

Dapper Dans in patriotic costumes performing at the Disneyland Resort

Celebrate America fireworks spectacular returning to the Disneyland Resort

Across Walt Disney World, the celebration brings patriotic lighting on Spaceship Earth, performances from Voices of Liberty and the Electrical Water Pageant, themed décor along Main Street, U.S.A., flag retreat ceremonies, the Dapper Dans and Main Street Philharmonic, and an extended run of the Portraits of Courage exhibit honoring post-9/11 veterans. At Disneyland Resort, West Coast offerings include flag retreat ceremonies, a pre-show fireworks tribute ahead of World of Color, the return of the Celebrate America! fireworks spectacular, and a celebratory cavalcade. During Los Angeles Fleet Week on May 21, 2026, more than 100 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen took part, and Mickey and Minnie debuted new patriotic attire.

Honoring Veterans and Military Families

Disney is expanding its longstanding relationship with Blue Star Families through a previously announced $2.5 million commitment to strengthen military families and communities. The company has supported the organization for over a decade.

Disney and Blue Star Books event bringing military families together at the Library of Congress

Belle from Beauty and the Beast greeting military children during a Disney Blue Star Families event

Buzz Lightyear and Woody meeting military families at a Disney reading event

Disney VoluntEARS assembling welcome kits for military families

The 25th Disney and Blue Star Books event at the Library of Congress brought more than 500 military children and family members together, with thousands of donated Disney and National Geographic books — part of more than 370,000 books Disney has donated over the years. Character appearances included Belle, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Mickey, Minnie, and Sofia the First. Disney also hosted a special screening of Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian and Grogu for military families, with a screening of Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 planned ahead of its June 19 debut.

Additional Experiences Nationwide

From themed activities aboard Disney Cruise Line to a Sam Eagle merchandise collection from The Muppets at select Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com, fans nationwide will find ways to join the celebration. Disney has signaled even more offerings to come on Fourth of July weekend.

Why This Matters for Disney Fans

"Disney Celebrates America" folds nearly every Disney brand — parks, news, sports, streaming, cruises, and National Geographic — into a single multi-week event anchored by a genuinely new attraction in Soarin' Across America. For park guests, the most actionable items are clear: Soarin' Across America is already flying at EPCOT and opens July 2 at Disney California Adventure, and the broadcast specials begin June 29. Expect additional food, merchandise, and entertainment reveals as the Fourth of July approaches.