Philadelphia’s host city committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has revealed detailed plans for the city’s official FIFA Fan Festival, a free public event set for Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park during the tournament. The festival will run for 39 days, beginning June 11 and continuing through July 19, the date of the final World Cup match.
The event will occupy more than one million square feet of space at Lemon Hill Park, located at 1 Lemon Hill Drive in Philadelphia. Organizers say the site will serve as a central gathering point for fans who want to watch matches and join festival programming throughout the World Cup.
Large screens across the grounds will broadcast World Cup matches live, giving visitors a place outside the stadium to watch games together. The area will also include spaces where visitors can play soccer as well as interactive activities connected to the sport.
Meg Kane, the host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, described the overall concept of the event as “soccer Coachella.”
City officials estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors may attend the festival each day in what organizers call a “free-roam” space. Entry will be free, though access will be managed through an online registration platform that will be introduced closer to the tournament.
City Representative Jazelle Jones announced the free access during a press conference held at Lemon Hill.
“And here’s the headline for today. FIFA Fan Festival is completely free,” Jones said. “No financial barriers, just world-class soccer right here and open to everyone.”
Festival programming will include live music, cultural programming, and community events throughout the tournament. A pavilion at the site will host live entertainment and interactive experiences, while ticketed concerts and additional performances will also take place during the festival period.
Food offerings will feature a rotating lineup of more than 75 local food trucks and vendors. Organizers say the lineup will highlight small, diverse, and independent businesses from the Philadelphia area.
A Vendor Village will also be set up at the festival. The space will serve as a marketplace where local makers, artists, and artisans can sell handmade goods and merchandise throughout the tournament.
Festival organizers are currently accepting applications from local vendors interested in participating in the Vendor Village. Applications are also open for artists, performers, cultural organizations, and community groups that want to be part of the festival’s programming.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the festival will serve as a central gathering place for residents and visitors during the World Cup.
“The City of Philadelphia is fully committed to making FIFA Fan Festival the heartbeat of our FIFA World Cup experience,” Parker said in a news release. “We have brought together City agencies, our parks system, and local partners to activate Lemon Hill in a way that reflects the best of Philadelphia—welcoming, vibrant, and truly for everyone.”
City officials are planning transportation carefully ahead of the event. Because Lemon Hill has limited parking, visitors are encouraged to use public transit, walk, or bike to the festival.
Michael DelBene, executive producer of the fan festival, advised against driving to the site.
“We’ve really encouraged people to not drive to fan festival, because there’s nowhere to park,” DelBene said. “They should take public transportation, they should walk, they should bike, there will be dedicated ride share drop-off and pickup zones that will be announced. But driving is really the worst way to come here.”
Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure will increase transit options for visitors traveling to the park. SEPTA will add capacity to existing routes serving the Fairmount Park area during the festival.
A new stop will also be added to the Philly PHLASH seasonal transit loop at Fairmount and Pennsylvania Avenues. The PHLASH is operated by the Philadelphia Visitors Center and connects several locations across the city.
Officials also plan to implement road closures around the festival site during the event. The Philadelphia Parking Authority will increase patrols in residential areas near Lemon Hill to manage parking activity.
Philadelphia will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field. Five group stage matches are scheduled for June 14, June 19, June 22, June 25, and June 27.
A Round of 16 match will take place on July 4. The match date coincides with celebrations tied to the United States semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Construction of the temporary festival infrastructure will begin shortly before the tournament begins. Crews are expected to start building the site in mid-May, approximately two to three weeks before the opening of the World Cup.
Preparatory work at Lemon Hill is already underway. The improvements include installation of sidewalks, ADA-accessible ramps and pathways, roadway upgrades, and the removal of invasive plant species within the park.
Meg Kane said the first phase of the project, which focuses on preparing the park so temporary infrastructure can be installed, is about 80 to 85 percent complete.
After the World Cup ends, additional improvements to Lemon Hill will take place as part of later phases of the project. These phases will involve permanent infrastructure upgrades and park enhancements.
The post-tournament improvements will include new sidewalks, ADA-accessible pathways, basketball courts, and a playground.
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson said Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is contributing financial support for those improvements, along with investment from the city.
“Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is committing millions of financial support for post-tournament improvements and the city is investing in enhancements that will make this park more welcoming, more accessible, more vibrant for generations of Philadelphians to come,” Slawson said.
Funding for the fan festival itself will come from a combination of state funding, city funding, and private support from foundations, corporate partners, and other funders.
Philadelphia will also receive more than $48 million from the federal government to support preparations for hosting World Cup matches and related activities. The funding comes through a FEMA grant awarded to all 11 U.S. cities hosting games during the tournament.
City and state officials plan to use the grant funding for operational training, background checks for staff, cybersecurity improvements, and additional police and EMS services at World Cup venues, hotels, and transportation hubs.
All 16 host cities originally committed to organizing fan festival sites during the World Cup. However, several cities have canceled or scaled back their events. According to The Athletic, Philadelphia and Houston remain the only host cities still operating a full 39-day festival.
Philadelphia native Juelle Love, a soccer player who now competes for the Puerto Rican National Team, spoke about the event during an interview about the festival.
“I’m so excited for summer, growing up in Philly, being a native,” Love said. “It means so much more to me that it’s a full circle, bringing soccer to the community and showing the beauty of the sport and how much it’s given me.”
