Entertainment | The Countdown 250 Ball — July 3, 2026, Washington Hilton
A live band performing on stage with cascading purple and gold light streamers, the lead vocalist at center mic, and the audience silhouetted in the foreground

Entertainment

A celebration for the ages!

For decades, the All-American Balls have been the go-to celebrations for landmark moments in American history — and the Countdown 250 Ball is set to be our most spectacular event ever.

On July 3, 2026, the renowned Washington Hilton will be transformed into a patriotic wonderland of music, energy, celebration, and surprise.

Your evening features open bars, delicious cuisine, an extraordinary lineup of live entertainment, and a once-in-a-generation midnight countdown to the exact instant America enters its 250th year.

From the National Anthem at 7 PM to the final notes after midnight, every performance, toast, and unforgettable moment is designed to deliver the celebration of a lifetime.

Non-Stop Entertainment

  • 7 entertainment areas
  • 4 stages
  • Premium open bars & gourmet cuisine
  • Stunning patriotic décor
  • First class service
  • Unforgettable midnight countdown
  • Renowned bands, DJs, and performers
  • Roving entertainers & interactive activities
  • Show-stopping Midnight Countdown
  • Inspiring All-American Heroes Award Ceremony

7 Party Zones 4 Stages

Open to All Guests

All-American Hero Ballroom

All-American Hero Ballroom

Non-stop programming from 7 PM to 1 AM — top-notch bands & DJs, patriotic performers, the Hero Awards, the midnight countdown, and a closing set from MARCEY. Read more →
From 7 PM until 1 AM, the main stage delivers non-stop, can’t-miss programming — top-notch bands and DJs, a powerful program of patriotic performers, the inaugural All-American Heroes Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the signature midnight countdown to America’s 250th. The night closes with a final celebration set from MARCEY.
Decades Dance Club

Decades Dance Club

70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s hits all night long. Read more →
Disco lights, retro vibes, and four decades of crowd-favorite hits, mixed by a high-energy DJ who keeps the floor moving from Donna Summer to Beyoncé.
Club 250

Club 250

Modern dance club with today’s top hits and club bangers. Read more →
Modern dance club for current chart hits, EDM, and high-energy club music. Cinematic lighting, immersive sound, and a packed dance floor all night long.
Interactive Zone

Interactive Zone

A Space Blue showcase — the Lunaprise Lunar Museum, lifelike hologram-style exhibits of iconic American historical figures (speeches and selfies included), lunar art collectibles, and a silent charity auction — plus the paparazzi photo experience, Studio 250 interview area, and roving entertainers. Read more →
A one-of-a-kind interactive experience anchored by Space Blue — the team behind the Lunaprise lunar time capsule that landed on the Moon. The Zone features the Lunaprise Lunar Museum, lifelike hologram-style exhibits bringing pivotal American moments and iconic speeches to life, the chance to grab a selfie alongside historical figures, certified lunar art collectibles, and an exclusive silent charity auction of iconic American art benefitting American heroes. Plus the paparazzi photo experience, the Studio 250 interview area, and roving entertainers throughout the night.

Statesman’s Pass Exclusive

The Statesman’s Reserve

The Statesman’s Reserve

Exclusive reserved-seating area for Statesman’s Pass holders with premium food, beverage, and a bird’s-eye view of the main stage. Read more →
An exclusive area for Statesman’s Pass holders featuring reserved seating, premium food and beverage service, top-shelf bar, and a bird’s-eye view of the main stage.

* Statesman’s Pass entry only

Presidents Walk

Presidents Walk

Hidden corridor lined with portraits of every U.S. President and First Lady — the private passage used by 100+ sitting Presidents. Read more →
Tucked behind the International Ballroom runs one of Washington’s most quietly historic corridors — the private passageway built into the Washington Hilton’s 1965 blueprints to give visiting Presidents a protected route in and out of the building. The walls are lined with portraits of every U.S. President and First Lady, sourced from the Library of Congress. Complimentary guided tours of the Walk and other dignitaries-only spaces will be offered throughout the evening.

* Statesman’s Pass entry only

Speakeasy Lounge

Speakeasy Lounge

Speakeasy-styled hidden lounge with classic cocktails and vintage ambience. Read more →
A speakeasy-styled hidden lounge with classic cocktails, vintage music, and intimate ambience. Reserved for Statesman’s Pass holders only.

* Statesman’s Pass entry only

Countdown 250 Lineup… so far

Lineup will be updated daily as more performers and attractions are announced…

Bob Anderson

Bob Anderson

American Icon and the World’s Greatest Singing ImpressionistBob Anderson’s career began with the kind of only-in-Las-Vegas moment that becomes legend. A Vietnam veteran from a musical family of six brothers known as “The Detroit Osmonds,” Anderson arrived in Las Vegas in his early twenties and, within hours, found himself on stage at the famed Sahara Hotel & Casino. What began as an unexpected opportunity to sing with Nancy Sinatra quickly led to an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show, where his remarkable ability to recreate the voices of the world’s greatest singers brought him national attention.
Listen to Bob Anderson’s “The House I Live In”
Read more →
Over the next five decades, Anderson became one of the most sought-after entertainers on the Las Vegas Strip, performing in every major casino showroom and earning acclaim for his extraordinary recreations of legendary vocalists, including his celebrated tribute to Frank Sinatra. His career has included performances for two U.S. Presidents, the Royal Family, and audiences at Carnegie Hall, where his Sinatra performance earned multiple standing ovations.

Inducted into both the Casino Legends Hall of Fame and the Las Vegas Entertainers Hall of Fame, Bob Anderson has been hailed by People Magazine as “America’s Greatest Singing Impressionist,” praised by Simon Cowell as the best on the planet, and summed up best by Frank Sinatra himself: “Bob Anderson has a hell of an act.”
Tony Orlando

Tony Orlando

Tony Orlando is one of America’s most beloved entertainers — a Grammy-nominated, Hollywood Walk of Fame icon celebrating more than six decades in show business, with five #1 hits and millions of records sold. Read more →

He has sold millions of records, including five #1 hits — “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ’Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “Knock Three Times,” “Candida,” “My Sweet Gypsy Rose,” and “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)” — plus two platinum and three gold albums and 15 Top 40 hits. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was Billboard’s #1 Song of the Year in 1973 and grew into an American anthem of hope, homecoming, and renewal.

The enormously popular Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show ran for four seasons on CBS (1973–1977) — the first television show to feature a multi-racial singing group, with Tony the first and only Latin American to host a network variety series. Tony Orlando and Dawn rank among Billboard’s Top 100 artists of all time.

Few entertainers have excelled in so many realms: recording artist, songwriter, concert headliner, network television star, motion-picture actor, Broadway performer, and author. As VP of CBS’s April-Blackwood Music (1966–1970) he signed and produced Barry Manilow’s first recordings and represented songwriters including James Taylor, Laura Nyro, and Blood, Sweat & Tears alongside the legendary Clive Davis. He first reached the charts in 1961 as the first pop vocalist signed to Epic Records, with “Halfway to Paradise.”

His honors include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the American Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Lee Greenwood Patriot Award, induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2023) and the East Coast Music Hall of Fame (2022), two American Music Awards, and the People’s Choice Award for Best Male Entertainer.

A devoted champion of America’s veterans, Tony has performed for troops around the world and for several U.S. Presidents, from Carnegie Hall to the White House, and received the Bob Hope Award for excellence in entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. In 2023 he marked the 50th anniversary of “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” and the return of America’s Vietnam POWs — whom he first honored at Bob Hope’s invitation at the 1973 Cotton Bowl — and for two decades welcomed some 175,000 veterans each year to his Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

For 33 years he co-hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon alongside Jerry Lewis, and today hosts “Saturday Nights with Tony Orlando” on 77WABC Music Radio, streaming worldwide. Tony and his wife, Francine, are the parents of Jenny and Jon.

Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood is one of America’s most beloved country music artists and the voice behind “God Bless the USA” — the unofficial patriotic anthem of generations of Americans. A Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, he has performed for every U.S. President since Ronald Reagan, at countless military and veterans events, and at nearly every major American patriotic occasion. Read more →
Greenwood’s career spans more than four decades, over 20 studio albums, and 38 Top 40 hits on the country charts. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, and a longtime champion of America’s veterans and active military through countless USO performances. “God Bless the USA” — released in 1984 — became a defining anthem of national pride, resurged powerfully after 9/11, and has remained one of the most-played patriotic songs in American history.
U.S. Army Captain Luis Avila

U.S. Army Captain Luis Avila

U.S. Army Captain Luis Avila is a decorated combat-wounded warrior and one of America’s most powerful patriotic vocalists, whose performance of “God Bless America” will be one of the most stirring moments of the evening. Captain Avila is known nationally for his rendition of “God Bless America” alongside Renée Fleming and the National Symphony Orchestra at the 2017 Memorial Day Capital Concert, and has now performed more than 100 times in support of America’s military and veterans. Read more →
Captain Avila joined the United States Army in 2000 and was commissioned in 2004. As a Military Police Officer he completed five combat tours — Operation Noble Eagle, three tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. On December 27, 2011, an IED explosion ended his combat career and began an extraordinary journey of recovery and service. The blast cost him his left leg, caused two heart attacks and two strokes, and left him with an anoxic and traumatic brain injury and near-total paralysis. Pronounced dead three times, he could not speak for more than three years — and today, through music, speech, physical, and occupational therapy, he continues to recover, perform, and inspire.

His voice has become one of America’s most powerful patriotic instruments. He has performed at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol, and at memorials, galas, and ceremonies across the country, alongside the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps bands. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and The Order of the Marechaussee in Silver. He was a member of Team Army at the 2024 DOD Warrior Games (five gold medals and one bronze) and joined Team USA at the 2025 Invictus Games. Captain Avila lives in Maryland with his family and continues his rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.
MARCEY

MARCEY

MARCEY is a Washington, D.C. based DJ and producer known for delivering high-energy sets that blend underground grit with mainstream appeal. He has established a strong presence in the D.C. dance music scene, performing at top venues including Echostage, The Anthem, Soundcheck, and Zebbie’s Garden. Read more →
MARCEY has also supported major artists such as Martin Garrix, D.O.D, Ian Asher, and Matt Sassari — further solidifying his position as a rising act. With additional performances across the East Coast — including New York City, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale — MARCEY continues to build momentum, driven by a passion to recreate the same energy and emotion that first drew him to dance music.

Follow MARCEY on Instagram →
Julian Awari

Julian Awari

Air Force veteran and powerhouse vocalist. Performs the National Anthem to open the evening’s program — a signature moment that sets the tone for the entire night.

Deebo

Deebo

Deebo is a wildly popular, high-energy, open-format DJ known for blending hip-hop, house, Afrobeat, EDM, Latin, Jersey club, and throwback hits into nonstop crowd-driven sets. From college parties and packed club nights to private events and major weekend celebrations, he has built a reputation for reading the crowd and keeping the energy at its peak all night long. Read more →
Known for smooth transitions, creative mixes, and strong stage presence, Deebo brings a unique vibe to every performance. He started his DJ career in early college, quickly gaining notoriety for his energy and creativity. Focused on building a name through consistency, passion, and high-level energy, he continues to grow as one of the East Coast’s fastest-rising DJs — delivering sets that keep people moving from start to finish.
DJ Tharp

DJ Tharp

DJ Tharp will be spinning the hottest dance tunes of today — packing the floor and keeping the energy at its peak all night long. A veteran of the All-American Inaugural Ball, DJ Tharp is known for reading the crowd, dropping crowd-driven mixes, and turning dance floors into the centerpiece of the celebration.

Studio 250

Studio 250

Inside the Interactive Zone, Studio 250 is where the night’s most memorable conversations happen. Press, hosts, and content creators interview guests, dignitaries, and honorees throughout the evening — capturing the candid stories of America’s 250th celebration. Select moments will be filmed and may be broadcast or streamed to viewers around the country.

Midnight Countdown to America’s 250th

Midnight Countdown to America’s 250th

The signature moment of the evening. At the stroke of midnight, America’s Freedom Bell — the iconic “Bell of the Ball,” fresh off its historic cross-country journey to Washington — will ring out from the heart of the ballroom and lead the “1,000 Bells of Freedom,” joined by a chorus of small commemorative bells rung by guests throughout the room. Patriotic music, cascading lights, and a dazzling spectacle of red, white, and blue mark the exact instant America enters its 250th year — the midnight celebration of our lifetime.

All-American Heroes Lifetime Achievement Awards

All-American Heroes Lifetime Achievement Awards

Inaugural presentation of the All-American Heroes Lifetime Achievement Awards, recognizing extraordinary Americans whose courage, leadership, and selfless service have strengthened our nation. A live ceremony in the All-American Hero Ballroom.

All-American Icon Awards

All-American Icon Awards

Inaugural presentation of the All-American Icon Awards, honoring iconic Americans whose achievements, talent, and influence have helped shape the American story. 2026 honorees include legendary entertainer Tony Orlando, vocal impressionist Bob Anderson, patriotic music icon Lee Greenwood, Olympic and World wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs, and National Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Director Mike Moyer.

Tribute to America — 250 Years

Tribute to America — 250 Years

An original Tribute to America featuring The Sicilian Tenors, a color guard processional, and a multi-decade musical journey through 250 years of American history. Performed once in the evening.

Roving Entertainers & Immersive Experiences

Roving Entertainers & Immersive Experiences

Throughout the night, an array of entertaining and mesmerizing performers — costumed characters, magicians, mentalists, dancers, living statues, and more — will be dazzling guests across the massive ballroom complex. Every corner of the venue comes alive with surprise, spectacle, and wonder.

More Announcements Coming Soon

Headliner reveals, additional performers, and the full Tribute to America program will be announced in the coming weeks.

* The entertainment lineup is subject to change.