WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia will host multiple major events in 2026, including the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the FIFA World Cup, the 108th PGA Championship, and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and All-Star Week; and
WHEREAS, The events and programs surrounding them are expected to attract tens of millions of visitors from across the nation and the world. The City’s services and infrastructure will be tested, particularly its accessibility to people with disabilities and special needs; and
WHEREAS, More than 280,000 people in Philadelphia identify as having a disability - the highest rate of any large city in the nation. These residents, along with the disabled visitors, have a right to full and fair enjoyment of all City functions, particularly in such a banner year; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia received the title as the country’s first ‘sensory-inclusive City.’ However, there is ample room for improvement, particularly in ensuring public event accessibility. Now is the time for the City to convene stakeholders, assess best practices, engage with lessons learned and implement strategies that maximize event accessibility in 2026 and beyond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on People with Disabilities and Special Needs to hold a hearing on the City’s progress preparing to accommodate individuals with disabilities for the historic programming taking place in 2026 in the City of Philadelphia.
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