NPS Revises 2026 Free Entry Days, Adds Trump Birthday

The National Park Service announced changes to its free admission calendar for 2026, eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as fee-free days while adding President Donald Trump's birthday on June 14, which coincides with Flag Day, along with other patriotic observances. The updates, effective January 1, 2026, across the agency's 63 national parks, also restrict free entry to U.S. citizens and residents only, imposing higher fees on international visitors to prioritize American access and generate revenue for park maintenance.

Under the revised schedule, free admission will apply on Presidents Day on February 16, Memorial Day on May 31, the Independence Day weekend from July 3 to 5, the National Park Service's 110th anniversary on August 25, Constitution Day on September 17, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday on October 27, and Veterans Day on November 11. These dates emphasize national holidays and historical milestones, replacing a 2025 lineup that included Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, the first day of National Park Week in April, National Public Lands Day in September, and a day marking the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act in August.