Boston Harbor is the site of The Tall Ships return for Sail Boston®! This spectacular event offers crews, cadets and visitors from all over the world an unforgettable experience and a world-class maritime celebration.

Boston’s history stretches beyond the land to the sea. Boston has a wealth of maritime history—both past and present. Bostonians welcome crews and cadets from all over the world to their harbor on a continual basis as part of the Visiting Ship Program and are gearing up to greet the return of the tall ship fleet for Sail Boston® 2026.

Known as America’s Walking City, Boston is home to many historic sites that date back to the American Revolution. Visitors to Boston are encouraged to stroll the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red-brick walking trail that passes through sixteen nationally significant historic sites. The Freedom Trail begins at Boston Common and ends at Bunker Hill, near the Charlestown Navy Yard and the home of the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world.

The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding in 1776—the United States of America’s Semiquincentennial. For this milestone occasion, a fleet of the world’s most magnificent international tall ships and military ships, in an epic peacetime gathering, will sail into the port of Boston as part of Sail250®.

Sail Boston® will entertain its younger audience with educational programs focusing on US and international maritime history. Cadets and crewmembers will be available to educate children of all ages about their personal experiences at sea, in their home countries, and more.