TORONTO — Philadelphia is throwing the biggest birthday party in its history this year – and Canadian travellers are more than welcome to join in, says Annie Jirapatnakul, Global Tourism Sales Manager, North America & Group Tours for the PHLCVB.

Even in these tough times for transborder travel? Especially now, said Jirapatnakul.

“We deeply value the relationships we’ve built in Canada with tour operators, travel advisors and travellers,” said Jirapatnakul, addressing travel trade media and partners at an PHLCVB event at last night’s Toronto Blue Jays game.

“When Canadian are ready to travel, we’re ready to welcome them.”

AMERICA 250 … AND ROCKYFEST 2026

Actually Philly is hosting two major celebrations in 2026.

The first one gets a lot of press, and no doubt you’ve heard of it: America 250, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

Major events and activations will take place right across the country for America 250, officially culminating on July 4, and as America’s birthplace, says Jirapatnakul, Philly will be at the heart of the action.

As for the second event – Rocky, that iconic 1976 film that put Philly on the must-see map for more than a few moviegoers, turns 50 in 2026. Philly’s annual ‘RockyFest’ is already a fixture on the city’s calendar, and RockyFest 2026 will be extra-special, with special events, themed experiences, fan meetups, exclusive tours and more.

Other highlights in the city include the new Philly Pride Visitor Center, new galleries at the National Constitution Center and the ‘Ministry of Awe,’ housed in a 19th century bank and billed as an immersive, interactive art experience. “There’s a growing demand for interactive experiences. Today’s visitors want to do more than see a city. They want to experience it,” said Jirapatnakul.

STRONG LIFT & SPORTS GALORE

Travelweek asked Jirapatnakul about Philly’s Canadian visitation. She’s realistic, but cautiously optimistic. “It’s kind of what we expected,” she said. “2025 was down. For 2026, we’re hopeful. Canada is our number one international market, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

Lift is strong, which always helps, plus Philadelphia is a doable drive destination for many Canadians. Air Canada has PHL flights from Toronto and Montreal, while American Airlines connects PHL with Toronto and Montreal year-round, and seasonally with Quebec City and Halifax. Jirapatnakul knows all about Porter’s expansion, and she’s hopeful the airline will see its way to the City of Brotherly Love.

Philly is also famously a sports city, with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, MLS’s Philadelphia Union and the MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies (who unfortunately for Toronto fans, beat the Jays at last night’s game). Elite Sports Tours’ Tim Macdonell and Dave Bachusky were on hand at last night’s event.

“Sports is universal. It transcends whatever is happening in the world,” said Jirapatnakul.

“Whether you’re a sports fan, art fan, food fan there’s something for you in Philadelphia,” added Jerry Grymek, EVP and Managing Director of LMA Digital, representing PHLCVB in the Canadian market.

Even for Canadians who aren’t quite ready to cross the border yet, Philly will be there, an historic treasure trove and at the same time a thoroughly modern city. “Philadelphia is experiencing an extraordinary moment in 2026. And the momentum doesn’t stop there. Investments for everything that’s happening this year will continue to shape Philadelphia in the years ahead,” said Jirapatnakul.

For all the latest travel info for Philadelphia see DiscoverPHL.com.

Lead image caption: Tim Macdonell, Elite Sports Tours; Jerry Grymek, LMA Digital; Annie Jirapatnakul, PHLCVB; Dave Bachusky, Elite Sports Tours