Trip Planner
People from across the world will attend Sail250® Virginia – to see the fleet of more than 60 vessels, experience an incredible display of fireworks, and participate in celebrations extending across Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay region between June 12-23, 2026.
This trip planner page is designed to help you plan your Sail250® Virginia experience and answer the most common questions we receive about the event. The page will be updated regularly as more details are announced. No matter where you are joining us from, we look forward to having you in Virginia as part of Sail250® Virginia. We hope you have a fun and memorable experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q - What national ports are participating in the Sail250® events?
A - New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York, and Boston will all be hosting Sail250® events during the summer of 2026. Click on the city’s name to visit their webpage or learn more about the national events by visiting Sail250.org.
Q - Where can I see the tall ships in Virginia in June 2026?
A - The international fleet of tall ships will visit the Sail250® Virginia host city of Norfolk between June 19-23, 2026. This fleet will consist of 60+ vessels from 20+ countries, and more than 10,000 sailors.
Nine Sail Virginia℠ 2026 harbors will also host smaller numbers of tall ships, mostly from the United States. The schedule for these events is below and you can learn more about the Sail Virginia℠ 2026 events here – Sail Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbors.
June 12-14, 2026
Alexandria, VA
Hampton, VA
Onancock, VA
Richmond, VA
Smithfield/Isle of Wight, VA
Yorktown, VA
June 19-23, 2026
Cape Charles, VA (June 19-21)
Chesapeake, VA (June 19-21)
Portsmouth, VA (June 19-22)
Norfolk VA – Sail250® Virginia Host City (June 19-23, 2026)
Q - Where will the ships anchor prior to the Parade of Sail?
A - The international fleet of ships will anchor at the Lynnhaven Roads anchorage off the Lesner Bridge on the Chesapeake Bay side of Virginia Beach. Ships may begin anchoring as early as Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with the entire fleet gathering by the afternoon of Thursday, June 18, 2026. The ships will remain at anchor in the Lynnhaven Roads anchorage until 7AM on the morning of Friday, June 19, 2026, when the Sail250® Virginia Parade of Sail begins.
Q - What is the route of the Sail250® Virginia Parade of Sail?
A - The Sail250® Virginia Parade of Sail is a 26 nautical mile parade, starting in the Lynnhaven Roads anchorage off the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach. The first ship will depart from the anchorage at 7AM on Friday, June 19, 2026. From the anchorage, the ships will proceed west through Thimble Shoals Channel, through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, past Old Point Comfort, through Hampton Roads, and up the Elizabeth River. The first ship in the parade will arrive off Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk at noon. The image below shows the parade route and gives an estimated time on when the first ship will pass various points along the Sail250® Virginia Parade of Sail route.
Approximate Parade Schedule
June 16-19, 2026 - Ships anchor at Lynnhaven Anchorage
0700 - Friday, June 19, 2026 - Parade begins departing Lynnhaven Anchorage
~ 0830 - Friday, June 19, 2026 - Head of parade passes Ocean View
~ 1045 - Friday, June 19, 2026 - Head of parade passes Lambert's Point
Noon - Friday, June 19, 2026 - Head of parade reaches Town Point Park, downtown Norfolk.
Q - When will the tall ships arrive and depart Norfolk, VA?
A - The international fleet of ships will arrive in downtown Norfolk beginning at noon on Friday, June 19, 2026. The ships will take a few hours to securely dock and prepare for tours. The fleet will remain in Norfolk until the morning of Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The schedule of some ships may require them to depart prior to Tuesday. We will update departure information as it becomes available.
Q - When will the ships be open for public tours?
A - The international fleet of ships will be open for free public deck tours during their time in Norfolk. A general schedule may be found below. Please know that this schedule will vary by ship and day based on the operational requirements of each vessel. Specific schedules will be posted on our webpage as they become available and throughout the festival grounds during the event.
Norfolk Sail250® Virginia Free Public Deck Tour Schedule (Subject to change)
Friday, June 19, 2026 / 3pm – 6pm
Saturday, June 20, 2026 / 12pm – 6pm
Sunday, June 21, 2026 / 12 pm – 6pm
Monday, June 22, 2026 / 12pm – 6pm
Q - Where can I find information about accommodations and other tourist information about the Virginia region?
A - General information about Virginia tourism can be found at this website 
For information about specific Virginia localities, please click on their name below.
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Q - How can I receive updates on the Sail250® Virginia events?
A - There are many ways to keep up with Sail250® Virginia news! You can visit our webpage at www.sail250virginia.com or become part of our mailing list by emailing us at sail250vainfo@festevents.org. You can also like and follow us by clicking on the following social media sites:
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