America’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration in 2026 Kickoff concert featuring A-list entertainment will be held in the Historic Shrine Mosque on April 30, 2026, livestreamed around the world with cut-ins from Route 66 cities across the United States. April 30 is the anniversary of the telegram that was sent in 1926 from Springfield to Washington, D.C. requesting that a new transcontinental road be named Route 66.
A Night on the Mother Road: The National Route 66 Centennial Telegraph Ball
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Springfield will once again reclaim its place at the heart of American history as the National Route 66 Centennial Telegraph Ball makes its debut at the stunning Historic Shrine, at 601 E. St. Louis Street, Springfield, Missouri, hosted by Missouri’s First Lady Claudia Kehoe and Springfield’s First Lady Mary Helen Schrag.
This isn’t just a gathering. It’s a journey back to 1926, when a telegram sent from Springfield launched the now-legendary Route 66, forever binding the city to the open-road dream. Over a decadent dinner, with Governor Mike Kehoe and Mayor Jeff Schrag among the distinguished guests, you’ll step into a world transformed: the Mosque’s ornate Moorish architecture, its iconic stage, and soaring arches will transport you to an era of roaring engines, big-band swing, and the promise of adventure.
