More than 1,000 service-members are headed to Houston — and the city wants you there to welcome them.
Houston is pulling out all the stops for Fleet Week 2026, and it all kicks off tomorrow with an opening ceremony you won’t want to miss. Mayor John Whitmire and the Fleet Week Houston planning committee are inviting the entire city to show up, show out, and give our military a welcome worthy of Space City.
The ceremony starts at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 in front of Houston City Hall’s Reflecting Pool — and it’s going to be anything but quiet.
What’s Happening at the Ceremony
The Navy Rock Brass Band opens the festivities with a performance that sets the tone for the week ahead. Ceremonial music comes courtesy of two powerhouse ensembles: The Quantico Marine Band and The Navy Band Southeast. After the official ceremony wraps, the Navy Brass Band keeps the celebration going. Bring the family, bring your neighbors, and find a good spot by the Reflecting Pool.
Representatives from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard will be on hand alongside Mayor Whitmire to officially welcome more than 1,000 visiting servicemembers and military command to the city.
Tour Real Navy Ships on the Houston Ship Channel
The ceremony is just the beginning. Fleet Week Houston runs April 15 through 22, and during that time the public gets a rare chance to walk the decks of active U.S. military vessels docked along the Houston Ship Channel. Four ships will be open for tours: USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (LCS-21), USS St. Louis (LCS-19), and USCGC Edgar Culbertson (WPC-1137).
This is the kind of access most people never get — and it’s open to everyone.
A Week of Events Across the City
Beyond the ship tours, Fleet Week Houston spreads across the community with dozens of events at schools, museums, parks, ballgames and more. Servicemembers will be out and about all week, and every event is a chance for Houston to say thank you in person.
Opening Ceremony Details
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Time: 4 p.m. Location: Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston, TX 77002 — in front of the Reflecting Pool Performances: Navy Rock Brass Band, The Quantico Marine Band, The Navy Band Southeast Post-ceremony: Navy Brass Band celebration Fleet Week runs: April 15–22, 2026
