Also, discover the worldwide ships taking part in the festivities.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, dozens of tall ships will glide into Boston Harbor for Sail Boston 2026 in July, and many hail from New England.
More than 60 ships from more than 20 countries will make a grand entrance during the Parade of Sail on July 11, one of the largest gatherings of tall ships in the United States in decades. The parade will be led by the USS Constitution, known as Old Ironsides, which was built in 1797 in the North End and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship. Check out the Parade of Sail route and viewing locations.
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“Sail Boston 250 celebrates the rich maritime traditions of Boston Harbor and New England, which served as a backdrop for pivitol moments in our nation’s history,” said Crystal Schaefer, USS Constitution commander, in a statement.
Boston is the fifth and final stop of the nationwide Sail250 tour. The tour kicked off in New Orleans (May 28-June 1), and will visit Norfolk (June 19-24), Baltimore (June 25-July 1), New York City (July 4-8), and, finally, Boston (July 11-16).
The global fleet includes dozens of Class A vessels (more than 131 feet long); 18 international flagships, chosen to represent a country in foreign and domestic events; naval and training ships from around the world; and historic and modern sailing vessels.
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Upon conclusion of the Parade of Sail, the ships will tie up in berths around Boston and conduct free programming through July 16. Visitors can tour the ships and attend festivals, fireworks, and street parades.
Below is a list of participating ships from New England:
Massachusetts:
Adirondack II from Boston: 80-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1999
Adirondack III from Boston: 80-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1997
Adventure from Gloucester: 137-foot schooner built in 1926
Ardelle from Gloucester: 72-foot gaff topsail ketch built in 2011
Bloodhound from Provincetown: 98-foot gaff-rigged cutter built in 1993
Captiva from Boston: 45-foot sloop built in 2011
Denis Sullivan from Boston: 137-foot schooner built in 2000
Fame from Salem: 72-foot schooner built in 2003
Hindu from Provincetown: 80-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1925
Isabella from Gloucester: 51-foot schooner built in 2006
Lewis H. Story from Essex: 35-foot schooner built in 1998
Liberty Clipper from Boston: 125-foot schooner built in 1983
Liberty Star from Boston: 67-foot schooner built in 1982
Lynx from Nantucket: 122-foot schooner built in 2001
Malabar II from Vineyard Haven: 42-foot schooner built in 1922
Mayflower II from Plymouth: 106-foot barque built in 1957
SSV Tabor Boy from Marion: 115-foot schooner built in 1914
Thomas E. Lannon from Gloucester: 93-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1997
TS Patriot State from Buzzards Bay: 525-foot national security multi-mission vessel built in 2024
USS Constitution from Boston: 305-foot frigate built in 1797
When And If from Salem and Key West, Fla.: 80-foot marconi schooner built in 1939
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Maine:
American Eagle from Rockland: 123-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1930
Angelique from Camden: 130-foot gaff topsail ketch built in 1980
Bowdoin from Castine: 88-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in 1921
Tyrone from Rockland: 73-foot schooner built in 1939
Virginia from Bath: 65-foot pinnace built in 2022
Connecticut:
Fire Fighter from Mystic: 134-foot fireboat built in 1938
USCGC Eagle from New London: 295-foot barque built in 1936
Ships from around the world will also take part in Sail Boston 2026.
Below is a list of participating ships from outside of New England and the U.S.
Amerigo Vespucci from Italy: 331-foot full-rigged ship built in 1931
Bell Poule from France: 123-foot schooner built in 1932
Bima Suci from Indonesia: 364-foot barque built in 2014
Bluenose II from Canada: 143-foot schooner from Canada built in 1963
Capitán Miranda from Uruguay: 210-foot schooner built in 1930
Columbia from the U.S.: 141-foot schooner built in 2014
Cuauhtémoc from Mexico: 295-foot barque built in 1982
Dar Młodzieży from Poland: 357-foot full-rigged ship built in 1982
Elissa from Texas: 205-foot barque built in 1877
Esmeralda from Chile: 371-foot barquentine built in 1953
El Galeón Andalucía from Spain: 162-foot galleon built in 2009
HMS Gladan from Sweden: 129-foot topsail schooner built in 1947
ARC Gloria from Colombia: 212-foot barque built in 1968
Gorch Fock from Germany: 292-foot barque built in 1958
BAE Guayas from Ecuador: 257-foot barque built in 1976
Juan Bautista Cambiaso from Dominican Republic: 178-foot barquentine built in 2009
LHD Juan Carlos I from Spain: multi-purpose amphibious assault ship built in 2009
Kalmar Nyckel from Delaware: 141-foot full-rigged ship built in 1997
ARA Libertad from Argentina: 341-foot full-rigged ship built in 1954
Mircia from Romania: 266-foot barque built in 1938
Oosterschelde from Netherlands: 164-foot topsail schooner built in 1918
Picton Castle from Cook Islands: 179-foot barque built in 1928
Pride of Baltimore II from Baltimore: 157-foot topsail schooner built in 1988
Sagres from Portugal: 293-foot barque built in 1937
Spirit of Bermuda from Bermuda: 118-foot schooner built in 2006
INS Sudarshini from India: 177-foot barque built in 2011
BAP Unión from Peru: 378-foot barque built in 2015
STV Vela from British Virgin Islands: 112-foot schooner built in 2020
Kristi Palma
Travel writer
Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.
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