Oklahoma City details Route 66 centennial plans for 2026, featuring festivals, art, and museum exhibits

A statewide milestone, with Oklahoma City positioning itself as a key stop

Oklahoma City is preparing a slate of public events, cultural programming and new installations for 2026, when historic U.S. Route 66 reaches its 100th anniversary. The centennial year is expected to bring sustained attention to Oklahoma, which has more than 400 drivable miles of Route 66—widely recognized as the longest continuous stretch of the roadway in any single state.

Planning for the centennial in Oklahoma is being coordinated through a state commission created to organize commemorative, educational and community-focused programming throughout 2026. The commission’s published 2026 meeting schedule includes dates beginning Feb. 17, 2026, with additional meetings planned through Dec. 1, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

May 30, 2026: ‘Kickin’ It on Route 66’ set for Scissortail Park

Among the signature Oklahoma City events on the calendar is “Kickin’ It on Route 66,” a centennial birthday bash scheduled for May 30, 2026. The event is planned for Scissortail Park, with programming also referenced in connection with the Myriad Botanical Gardens as part of a broader city-center celebration.

City promotional materials describe the day as a festival-style gathering designed to mark Route 66’s centennial with live entertainment and family-oriented activities. Organizers have framed it as part of a yearlong series of centennial-focused events intended to draw visitors to Route 66 landmarks and districts within Oklahoma City.

New public art planned: the 35-foot ‘Kicks 66’ boot installation

Oklahoma City’s centennial plans also include a major public artwork: a roughly 35-foot-tall neon boot installation known as “Kicks 66.” The sculpture incorporates the lyric “Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty,” echoing the well-known “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.”

City announcements previously outlined design requirements for the commemorative artwork, including the lyric text, graphic musical notes, and an element of public participation tied to fabrication and/or installation, along with a public event timed with the artwork’s debut.

In late 2025, the Oklahoma City Council approved relocating the installation to a site near the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, with the project described as visible from Interstate 44, which follows Route 66 through the city. The installation has been presented as targeted for spring 2026.

Museum programming highlights Route 66 history beyond the roadway

In addition to outdoor events and public art, Route 66 centennial programming is expanding through museums. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City has opened “Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops,” running from Feb. 6 through May 4, 2026. The exhibit includes maps, vehicles and roadside-era artifacts, and it incorporates loans from partner collections.

Key dates and elements currently identified

• May 30, 2026: “Kickin’ It on Route 66” centennial celebration at Scissortail Park (with related programming tied to downtown venues).
• Spring 2026: Installation timeline described for the “Kicks 66” neon boot artwork near the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
• Feb. 6–May 4, 2026: “Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops” exhibit at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Route 66, established in 1926, remains one of America’s most recognized travel corridors, and Oklahoma City’s 2026 plans combine large public gatherings, permanent visual landmarks and curated historical interpretation as the centennial approaches.