The National Park Service will remove Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its list of free-admission days beginning in 2026. Both days were previously included—MLK Jr. Day for many years, including during Trump’s earlier term, and Juneteenth added as recently as 2024.
Starting in 2026, free entry will instead be offered on President Donald Trump’s birthday, June 14, which also falls on Flag Day, along with several newly introduced “patriotic fee-free days.” These include Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Independence Day weekend, the 110th Birthday of the NPS, Constitution Day, and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
According to the executive order behind the change, the updated schedule aims to “allow more Americans to visit national parks” while scaling back DEI-related programs. This shift in focus is part of a broader move to frame free-entry dates around patriotic themes rather than diversity-based observances.
Another major update affects international visitors. Beginning January 1, 2026, only U.S. citizens and residents will qualify for free-admission days. Foreign visitors without an annual pass will be required to pay the regular park fee plus an additional $100 per person at the 11 most-visited national parks. Most national parks charge no more than $35 per vehicle, and several remain free year-round.
2026 Free-Admission Days at U.S. National Parks
- Presidents’ Day – February 16
- Memorial Day – May 31
- Flag Day / President Donald Trump’s Birthday – June 14
- Independence Day Weekend – July 3–5
- 110th Birthday of the NPS – August 25
- Constitution Day – September 17
- Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday – October 27
- Veterans Day – November 11
