WATCH: Parade of tall ships in NYC's Hudson River for July 4th, America250

NEW YORK - New York City took center stage for America's 250th birthday by hosting an international parade of tall sailing ships. The procession drew millions and transformed the harbor into a floating tribute to America’s past and future.

How to watch the parade of ships

FOX LOCAL New York streamed live coverage of the parade. To stream from anywhere, download the FOX LOCAL app or search "FOX LOCAL New York" on your smart TV, mobile browser or YouTube.

What we know:

The event, known as Sail4th 250, builds on similar celebrations held during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976 and its 200th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration in 1989 and 2000. 

Organizers expect more than 6 million visitors to travel to the region, rivaling or surpassing attendance from past milestone events.

The ships coming to New York Harbor

New York City will take center stage for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, hosting a sweeping international parade of tall sailing ships expected to draw millions and transform the harbor into a floating tribute to America’s past and future.

The July 4th celebration will feature what organizers say will be the largest flotilla of tall ships ever assembled. Vessels from around the world are expected to sail into New York Harbor in a display of maritime history, diplomacy and international goodwill.

Confirmed tall ships will represent countries, including:

• Argentina
• Chile
• Colombia
• The Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Monaco
• The Netherlands
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Spain
• Sweden
• Uruguay
• The United Kingdom.

U.S. vessels expected to take part include the USCG Eagle, Harvey Gamage, Elissa, Ernestina Morrissey, Angelique and When and If.

The U.S. Navy also announced the naval vessels expected to anchor in the Hudson River for the International Naval Review, including USS Arlington, USS Kearsarge, USS Iwo Jima, USS Farragut, USS Nitze and USS Jason Dunham.

Allied ships from countries including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Brazil, Germany, Morocco, Turkey, Peru, Senegal and Cameroon are also expected to participate.

When is Sail250?

The multi-day celebration will run from July 3 through July 8, with the ship parade serving as its centerpiece. 

After sailing past the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, many of the vessels will dock for several days, allowing the public to board ships and meet crews from around the globe.

Organizers say the celebration will include:

• 48 tall ships in the International Parade of Sail
• 20 foreign nations represented among the tall ships
• 44 nations represented in New York Harbor
• More than 120 aircraft led by the Blue Angels
• About 15,000 U.S. and foreign sailors in port
• An estimated 6 million spectators along 15 miles of waterfront
• A projected $2.85 billion total economic impact

How to get tickets for Sail4th 250 events

What you can do:

Not only can the public tour some of these vessels for free, but those interested in seeing the Parade of Sails can watch from either their own vessel anchorage or Governors Island.

Tall ship tours

Tours of the tall ships will be available for free, but it is highly recommended that those interested reserve their spots in advance. The ships will be from over 20 different countries.

Spectator vessel anchorages

Registering for a spectator vessel anchorage is also free. Rather than a tour of a vessel, people can enjoy the celebration while out on the water.

Grand review from Governors Island

New Yorkers and visitors alike can also enjoy the Parade of Sails from Governors Island. A ticket for general admission costs $200; tickets for the VIP access are sold out.