Governor Maura Healey on Thursday announced the Commonwealth will provide $2.5 million to the Boston Symphony Orchestra to produce a signature July 4, 2026 concert and fireworks display on the Esplanade as part of the statewide Massachusetts 2 50 commemorations. The governor described the event as the centerpiece of the state'backed program and said it will include national broadcast elements, tributes to veterans and large-scale public attendance.

"We're providing 2 and a half million to the BSO to produce this centerpiece of MA 2 50," Healey said, describing plans for "top national talent," expanded storytelling and what she called "the country's best fireworks and musical celebration on 07/04/2026." The governor also said the administration has devoted $6,000,000 to support ongoing MA 2 50 events and programming statewide.

Why it matters: The state-funded concert will turn an established local tradition into a nationally promoted event, with implications for public safety, transportation, tourism revenue and neighborhood access. Officials said the partners expect a large in-person crowd on the Esplanade and viewing from bridges and riverfront areas across Boston.

Chad Smith, CEO and president of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, said the BSO will work with state and local agencies to produce the event and broaden its reach through a national media partnership. "We literally couldn't do this without you," Smith said, thanking the administration and naming CNN as a national broadcast partner and WHDH (Channel 7) as the regional partner. He also credited the Department of Conservation and Recreation for permitting the Esplanade as the site and praised the Massachusetts State Police for planning security.

Smith highlighted Colonel Jeffrey Noble and the Massachusetts State Police's role in assembling a security plan that will include local, state and federal partners to manage an estimated crowd the BSO noted has numbered as many as 500,000 in past years.

Private fundraising and corporate sponsors: Bob Rivers, chair of the MA 2 50 executive committee and executive chair of Eastern Bank, said the public'private fundraising effort aims to raise at least $8 million to support the statewide program. Rivers announced early corporate commitments, including Takeda at $1 million, Vertex at $500,000 and a significant role from Biogen. He listed additional sponsors that have committed at least $250,000, naming Amazon, Bank of America, Fidelity Investments, Liberty Mutual, New Balance, Optum, Sanofi and others.

Rivers said the private funds will support production costs, expanded programming and statewide events connected to the 250th anniversary celebration.

Grant awards and local projects: Officials said MA 2 50 has already awarded grants to more than 96 organizations, totaling about $3.5 million, to support local commemorations and programming. Kate Fox, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, thanked grant recipients and regional partners and said the state'level investment is intended to ensure "every community can celebrate." "As we enter the second year of Massachusetts 2 50, our momentum is growing through major investments in the arts, culture, and community programs that will bring people together from every corner of the state," Fox said.

Cultural partners and production team: The BSO said creative director Brian Rafanelli will help shape the production, and that the program will feature headline performers across a range of American music genres along with local youth talent. The BSO emphasized the event will remain free to the public and include access and accommodation plans with community groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Economic and tourism context: Eric Paley, secretary of economic development, framed MA 2 50 as an economic as well as cultural initiative, providing data on tourism that state officials said will be a key driver of the celebration: "It's over $24,000,000,000 in revenue every year to the state. It employs about 150,000 people in the state. It brings 52,000,000 visitors a year to Massachusetts," Paley said, urging coordination to maximize benefits to communities statewide.

Local projects and immersive history: Revolutionary Spaces, which operates the Old South Meeting House, announced a new immersive, multisensory experience launching in July 2026 that the organization said will be supported in part by MA 2 50 destination development and grant funds. Nat Shidley, president and CEO of Revolutionary Spaces, said the experience will pair layered sound, animation and technology to make the Freedom Trail sites "feel" immediate to visitors.

Next steps and public details: Officials said they will announce headline performers and production details in coming months. The BSO identified CNN as its national media partner; organizers said corporate sponsors, security plans and production schedules are moving forward but that specifics on artists, exact crowd-management plans and final budgets will be released later.

For now, state and city leaders described the effort as a coordinated public'private undertaking to mark the nation'wide 250th anniversary with a high'profile, free public event on July 4, 2026, while directing funds to local programming across Massachusetts.