With Philadelphia set to welcome thousands of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, city officials rolled out transportation and traffic plans for the free, monthlong FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said the effort is focused on making the event accessible to residents and visitors while minimizing disruptions for nearby neighborhoods.
“This is about affordability and access for all, not just downtown visitors,” said Parker. “We want people from across Philadelphia and around the globe to enjoy this historic moment in our city."
The FIFA World Cup tournament will run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. Philadelphia’s Fan Festival — the region’s only official free fan festival — will operate daily throughout the tournament with live match broadcasts, music, food vendors, cultural programming and family-friendly activities.
The city announced a series of transportation investments and operational changes ahead of the event, including a $450,000 subsidy to support PHLASH bus service connecting Center City to Lemon Hill.
Additional plans include enhanced SEPTA service, expanded bike-share access, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, traffic safety measures and coordinated public safety operations.
Jazelle Jones, the city’s representative and director of special events, said officials want the Fan Festival experience to be “accessible, welcoming and unforgettable.”
“From transportation to neighborhood support and programming, this effort is about making sure residents and visitors alike can fully experience the excitement and energy of the FIFA Fan Festival," Jones said.
Officials are also encouraging residents to download the city’s “2026 Access Philly” app for transportation updates and event information. Emergency alerts and weather updates will also be available by texting “CUPPHL” to 888-777.
The Fan Festival is expected to serve as a central gathering place for World Cup celebrations in Philadelphia, featuring watch parties, entertainment and interactive activities. Some non-match days will also include ticketed concerts.
Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., whose district includes Lemon Hill, called the festival a “world-class attraction.”
"We look forward to welcoming the world to Lemon Hill in the 4th District," he said. "We are taking great strides to make this event safe and accessible for all."
To accommodate the event, several road closures will begin in late May 2026 and remain in place through July.
The local lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will close from Memorial Day through Labor Day, except during July 4 festivities, to create additional pedestrian and bicycle space between Center City and Lemon Hill.
Beginning at 6 a.m. May 26, the following roads around Lemon Hill will close for the duration of the festival: Sedgley Drive from Kelly Drive to Poplar Drive; Poplar Street from Poplar Drive to 30th Street (local access maintained); Poplar Street from 29th Street to 30th Street (westbound only; local access maintained); Poplar Drive from Sedgley Drive to Girard Avenue; Sedgley Drive from Girard Avenue to Lemon Hill Drive; and Lemon Hill Drive and N. Lemon Hill Drive (loop road).
City officials said those roads will be reopened on July 26.
Additionally, Waterworks Drive will close daily at 10 a.m. during the Fan Festival, though controlled access will remain available for the Water Works and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Officials said vehicles parked in restricted areas during posted hours will be relocated.
Public transit will play a central role in transportation planning for the event.
The Philly PHLASH will add service to a dedicated Fan Festival stop near Pennsylvania and Fairmount avenues, about a half-mile from the Lemon Hill entrance. PHLASH service normally operates daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, though hours will be extended on days when Fan Festival events continue into the evening.
SEPTA will also expand bus service in the area.
Beginning June 14, Route 32 will operate as a frequent-service route on weekdays, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or less between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Route 48 will add evening service and direct drop-offs near the festival entrance.
Routes 7 and 49 will continue serving the area, and SEPTA said additional articulated buses and standby vehicles will be deployed during peak demand.
The city is also promoting walking and cycling as primary transportation options.
Temporary Indego bike-share capacity for 100 bikes will be added near Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive, supplementing existing stations throughout the city and along Kelly Drive and the Parkway.
There will be no designated parking for festival attendees near Lemon Hill.
To help preserve neighborhood parking access, the Philadelphia Parking Authority will require free temporary residential parking permits for street parking within the Lemon Hill area from June 11 through July 19.
The interactive map highlights the permit zone boundaries and streets where the temporary permits are required.
Residents can apply online, in person at the PPA permit office (35 N. 8th Street) or by attending local events with a PPA table. Business owners in the permit zone will receive guest passes for employees and patrons.
“Our priority is making sure the residents who call these neighborhoods home can still access parking and move around their community during the World Cup,” Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. said.
MORE: Free SEPTA rides offered after Philly World Cup matches
