đź“… January 2026 (All Month)
Joplin History and Mineral Museum Closed for Renovation & Route 66 Exhibit Build-Out
Joplin, Missouri
The Joplin History and Mineral Museum closes for the entire month of January 2026 for remodeling and exhibit updates, including the completion of a new 100th anniversary Route 66 exhibit. The museum is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, unveiling the updated displays for visitors.
January 8, 2026
Missouri Route 66 Beef Trail announced
Missouri (Route 66 corridor)
Missouri Beef Industry Council launches the Route 66 Beef Trail culinary tour featuring 10 restaurants and cultural stops.
January 9, 2026
New Mexico Route 66 Centennial Passport Program begins
New Mexico (statewide)
Passport sticker program encouraging travel to MainStreet communities from Gallup to Tucumcari.
📅 January 12 – April 4, 2026
“Mother Road: Route 66 in New Mexico” Mural Exhibit
Governor’s Gallery, New Mexico State Capitol — Santa Fe, New Mexico
An exhibition at the Governor’s Gallery (inside the Roundhouse) showcasing large-scale mural mock-up designs from five finalists selected out of nearly 200 artists. The show interprets Route 66’s cultural and historical impact through contemporary art and includes designs by Gabriel Eng-Goetz, Michael Ferrarell, Brianna Gardocki, KEY DETAIL, and Molly Mendenhall, whose commissioned mural also appears in the museum lobby..
January 31, 2026
Oatman Bed Races
Oatman, Arizona
Pajama-clad teams race beds through town to kick off Arizona’s centennial season.
February 1 – September 30, 2026
Route 66 Beef Trail Active
Missouri
Visitors check in at participating restaurants to earn prizes and celebrate beef heritage.
📍 Missouri Route 66 Beef Trail — Participating Locations
(All are part of the centennial culinary tour where visitors can check in to earn points and prizes)
-
Red Cedar Inn — Pacific, MO
Classic Route 66 diner-museum celebrating decades of travelers and beef heritage. -
Muddy Banks Brewery — Sullivan, MO
Veteran-owned brewery with signature burgers along the trail. -
Skippy’s — Leasburg, MO
Comfort classics and roast beef sandwiches. -
Missouri Hick — Cuba, MO
Smoky BBQ and beef specialties on the Mother Road. -
Public House Brewery — St. James, MO
Local fare with tavern favorites on Route 66. -
Dowd’s Catfish & BBQ — Lebanon, MO
Southern-style BBQ and beef options on the scenic Route 66 stretch. -
Gailey’s Breakfast — Springfield, MO
Historic diner blending classic burgers and beef dishes. -
Joplin Regional Stockyards — Carthage, MO
Iconic cattle auction site and cultural stop reflecting beef heritage. -
Red Onion Café — Joplin, MO
Bold-flavored café offering hearty beef-centric menu items. -
Bricktown Brewery — Joplin, MO
Craft beers and beef-friendly menu including roast beef dip.
February 8 – November 8, 2026
“Route 66 to the Grand Canyon” (Theatrikos Theatre)
Flagstaff, Arizona
Route 66-themed comedy play running most of the centennial year.
February 14, 2026
Route 66 Centennial Info Fair
Needles, California
California’s Route 66 Centennial kickoff event.
February 20, 2026
Balloon Museum Student Art Contest Deadline
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Submission deadline for “Balloons Over Route 66” exhibit.
February 22, 2026
“Shades of Route 66” GIS Presentation
Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Special historical mapping presentation.
April 2026 (TBD)
Route 66 Festival & Car Show
Holbrook, Arizona
Festival with entertainment, food, and classic cars.
April 23–26, 2026
Route 66 Bike Week
Arizona (Needles, CA → Seligman, AZ)
Motorcycle rally benefiting Route 66 preservation.
April 30, 2026
Seligman Centennial Celebration
Seligman, Arizona
Monument unveiling and day-long party.
May 1–3, 2026
Route 66 Fun Run
Seligman → Kingman → Topock, Arizona
World-famous 140-mile classic car caravan.
May 16, 2026
Ash Fork Heritage on Route 66 Day
Ash Fork, Arizona
Parade, chili cookoff, crafts, and pioneer celebration.
May 30, 2026
Route 66 Capital Cruise
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Guinness World Record attempt for largest classic car parade.
May 30, 2026
Route 66 “Kickin’ It” Centennial Birthday Bash
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Statewide birthday celebration.
June 4–6, 2026
Rolla’s Route 66 Summerfest
Rolla, Missouri
Live music, parade, classic cars, and family activities.
June 5–6, 2026
Williams Route 66 Car Show
Williams, Arizona
Over 500 classic vehicles displayed downtown.
June 6, 2026
Flagstaff Route 66 Centennial Celebration
Flagstaff, Arizona
Major signature event: skywriting, 3D street art, reenactments, live music, classic cars.
June 6, 2026
Centennial Route 66 5K
Springfield, Illinois
Official 5K race celebrating the Mother Road.
June 2026
Bloomington Route 66 Centennial Sidewalk Mural Project Opens
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Public art celebrating Route 66.
June 2026
Balloon Museum Route 66 Centennial Exhibit Opens
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Student artwork featured above Route 66 mural.
July 18, 2026
Oklahoma Route 66 MuralFest
Statewide Oklahoma
Murals unveiled along Route 66 communities.
August 15, 2026
Mother Road Classic Charity Car Show
Flagstaff, Arizona
Car show benefitting local charities.
September 25–26, 2026
Standin’ on the Corner Festival
Winslow, Arizona
Music festival with enhanced Route 66 programming.
October 15, 2026
“Route 66: The Main Street of America” Screening
Kingman, Arizona
Film screening, car show, and block party.
October 16–17, 2026
Kingman Route 66 Fest
Kingman, Arizona
Major centennial festival with art, music, pin-ups, and exhibits.
October 26, 2026
“Wagon Road to Mother Road” Exhibit Ends
Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Exhibit tracing travel evolution to Route 66.
November 11, 2026
Official Route 66 Centennial Day
Nationwide
100th anniversary of Route 66’s establishment (1926).
November 13–16, 2026
Route 66 UltraRun
Seligman → Topock, Arizona
140-mile endurance race on the longest unbroken stretch of Route 66.
All Year 2026 (Ongoing Programs)
-
New Mexico Route 66 Passport Program
-
Flagstaff Digital Passport (“66 Things to Do”)
-
Missouri Route 66 Beef Trail
-
Cosmic Highways Tour (Lowell Observatory)
-
Needles Centennial Tourism Programming
-
Oklahoma Statewide Centennial Programming
