Celebrating 100 Years of Kicks on Route 66
On November 11, 1926 - US Highway 66 was established. In 2026, Route 66 celebrates its Centennial Year!
In 2019, the State of Oklahoma established a formal Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission. Led by Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, this commission works with public and private partners across the state to develop plans to celebrate and honor this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. This includes capital improvements, the Route 66 Unifier Project, events, and more!
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is proud to sit on the Commission and help guide decisions, especially in regards to preservation. We worked with artist and advocate Shellee Graham on a special Centennial Logo; two versions, in fact! One for the eastern side of the state and one for the western side. We offer this on a variety of items so that you can show YOUR support for Route 66! Check out the Shop link below.
The Association is also represented on Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, a nationally-focused non-profit that was engaged to help coordinate events across all eight states. Check out the national event calendar here!
Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Events
Oklahoma has more driveable miles of Historic Route 66 than any other state - and the whole road is celebrating!
Below is a list of upcoming Centennial-focused events across the state. The best way to check out what’s happening in Oklahoma in 2026 is to check out our full Event Calendar.
| City | Event Name | Month | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | Route 66 Tulsa Birthday Bash and Veterans Day Parade | November | Wednesday, November 11 |
Route 66: The Main Street of America
Filmmaker John Paget celebrated the centennial of the legendary highway with ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA, a powerful documentary told through unforgettable stories from along the road.
The film toured Route 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles, screening in historic venues along the way. It was a unique way for communities to see themselves on the big screen - and remember how they are part of the Main Street of America.
Note: First+Main Films is working to bring this experience to a wider audience in 2027. Learn more at www.mainstreetofamerica.com.
Support the Association
Help us with our mission to preserve and promote Route 66 in Oklahoma by picking up some of our exclusive Route 66 Centennial merchandise!
State Centennial Projects
Many projects outside of the Centennial Commission took place to celebrate the 2026 Centennial. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is proud to be involved in a number of those initiatives, including working with ODOT on signage improvement.
Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grants - This independent commission awards money for projects across the Route 66 corridor in Oklahoma. Take a look at the individual projects listed in the grant round documents on their webpage and check out their YouTube Video Series highlighting individual grant projects - updated regularly!
Beyond the state revitalization commission, there are other many projects happening at the local and regional level to help commemorate or celebrate the Route 66 Centennial. Here are links to a few:
National Centennial Efforts
The national Route 66 event calendar and projects certified by the US Route 66 Centennial Commission are available at www.route66centennial.org.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is encouraging citizens to express their support to designate Historic Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. They also have several projects underway through their Preserve Route 66 Program.
Google Arts & Culture Route 66 Hub
National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Share Your Story Project
Research Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series
USPS Stamp Series for 2026
