‘America’s 250’ special from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET to present largest maritime and aerial gathering in U.S. history live on NBC, Telemundo, NBC News NOW and Peacock
‘TODAY’s’ Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin to lead English-language coverage, Telemundo’s Carlos Calderon and Lourdes Stephen to host in Spanish
NEW YORK – June 4, 2026 – One month from today, NBCUniversal News Group will commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary by presenting six hours of exclusive Sail4th 250 coverage on July 4 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, which will be live on NBC, Telemundo, NBC News NOW and Peacock. The special will showcase the major international goodwill events taking place in New York Harbor, expected to be the largest maritime and aerial gathering in U.S. history with tall ships, naval vessels and aircraft from 46 nations.
The America’s 250 special coverage, which will be presented in English and Spanish, will feature the entirety of Sail4th 250’s International Parade of Sail in the Port of New York and New Jersey, which will include 48 tall ships from 20 foreign nations sailing from under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, and up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. The special begins when the tall ships form a line near Sandy Hook, N.J., at 7 a.m. ET, in preparation for their entrance into New York Harbor at 9:30 a.m. ET.
The Semiquincentennial coverage will also feature an International Naval Review (INR 250), the seventh in U.S. history and fourth in New York Harbor, with 52 U.S. and allied naval vessels anchored on the Hudson River from the George Washington Bridge into New York Harbor. In addition, viewers will witness an International Aerial Review, starting at 10:15 a.m. ET, with nearly 200 U.S. and international fixed and rotary wing aircraft – led by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels – flying in formation over the International Parade of Sail.
NBCU News Group’s special coverage will be anchored on Governors Island. TODAY co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin will host English-language coverage from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET, with TODAY’s Sheinelle Jones and Saturday TODAY’s Laura Jarrett hosting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET after contributing to earlier coverage. Telemundo’s Carlos Calderon, co-host of Hoy Dia, and Al Rojo Vivo co-host Lourdes Stephen will lead Spanish-language coverage of Sail4th 250.
TODAY’s Willie Geist, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dryer, Joe Fryer and NBC News correspondent Sam Brock will be reporting from key positions on and around New York Harbor, including on tall ships and naval vessels participating in Sail4th 250 events. Contributors will include personnel from NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations, including NBC 4 New York’s Janice Huff and David Price, Telemundo 47 New York’s Rosarina Breton and David Rodriguez, NBC10 Boston’s Melody Mendez and NBC4 Washington’s Tommy McFly.
America’s 250 will be presented from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on NBC, NBC News NOW, Peacock and the NBC-owned stations’ free streaming channels. Spanish-language coverage will be on Telemundo from 8 to 11 a.m. ET and on Universo and TeleXitos from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET and streamed on the Telemundo-owned stations’ FAST channels. NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations will also present a Sail4th 250 highlights special at 7 p.m. ET leading into the 50th Anniversary of Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks® on NBC and Peacock.
NBCU News Group’s Sail4th 250 production will utilize nearly 50 cameras across land, water and air along the 16-mile parade route. In addition to positions spanning both sides of the Hudson River and at iconic New York landmarks, cameras will be placed on several watercraft, including on participating ships such as the Queen Mary 2 and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Eagle, the 295-foot vessel known as ‘America’s Tall Ship.’ Aerial coverage will be provided by a fleet of drones, the NBC 4 New York helicopter and a blimp.
NBCU Local is an official media partner of Sail4th 250, a component of NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations’ Our 250, a comprehensive 100-day multiplatform campaign commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. Our 250 delivers extensive news coverage, specials, features and vignettes covering storylines showcasing America’s history, traditions, people and places, and covering events and activities taking place across the nation celebrating the milestone through Independence Day.
Additional NBC News coverage plans surrounding America’s 250th anniversary celebrations will be announced at a later date.
About NBCUniversal News Group
NBCUniversal News Group – comprised of NBC News, NBC News NOW, Telemundo Enterprises and NBCU Local – is the #1 most-watched news organization in the U.S., reaching more Americans across television, streaming and digital than any other news organization in the world.
About Sail4th 250
Sail4th 250 is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the successor to Operation Sail, Inc. — the organization President Kennedy endorsed in 1961 to use spectacular tall ship gatherings to “promote international friendship, maritime heritage, and support for sail training.” On July 4, 2026, Sail4th 250 will host an International Parade of Sail alongside the International Naval Review 250, creating the largest maritime gathering in U.S. history. Sail4th 250 is part of the Sail250® America five-city East Coast consortium. www.sail4th.org
About the International Naval Review 250 (INR250)
INR250 is only the seventh international naval review hosted in the United States, and the fourth held in the Port of New York and New Jersey, following reviews in 1976, 1986, and 2000. Naval forces, maritime services, and coast guards from nations around the world have been invited to participate, with naval chiefs from many nations expected to attend in person.
Contacts:
For NBCU: Brian Potter
For Sail4th 250: Peter Himler
Flatiron Communications LLC
Mobile/WhatsApp: +1 516-729-6461
