“The UK and Ireland have long been a foundational international market for Washington, DC, with travellers drawn to the city’s rich history, iconic landmarks and cultural offerings,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC.
“The market’s consistency and high visitor spending continue to make the UK and Ireland critically important to the long-term success of DC tourism.”
From across the globe, more than 27.2 million people visited the nation’s capital in 2025, modestly surpassing the previous year’s record by 20,000 visitors.
“We live in the best and most beautiful city in the world, with fantastic restaurants and hotels, great parks and a public transit system that takes you all over the city and region. And we love to show off our city to visitors from across the country and around the world,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Major openings add to the momentum of a blockbuster summer, including the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, an innovative museum underneath the Lincoln Memorial, expansion of the National Air and Space Museum on its 50th anniversary, an improved Tidal Basin with new exhibits at the Jefferson Memorial and the African American Civil War Memorial Museum.
Throughout 2026, the nation’s 250th anniversary is being celebrated in states across the country, but perhaps no place tells America’s story as vividly as Washington, DC, the only place to see the Declaration of Independence and the best place to discover its impact.
The July 4th Independence Day Celebration, marking 250 years of American history, will feature grand-scale festivities across the National Mall from 10.00 until midnight, culminating in a lineup of live performances and a monumental fireworks show.
“As we look ahead to major moments like America’s 250th anniversary in July, destinations like DC will play an important role in inspiring global travellers to visit,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO, Brand USA.
In DC, DC250 extends beyond July, with August’s Indy Car race, Summer Restaurant Week, DC JazzFest, Theatre Week, the 10th anniversary of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the largest renovation in the 50-year history of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, a new concourse at Dulles International Airport and the dedication of the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial.
Moreover, experiences that set DC apart include the value of the city’s free attractions, thought-provoking historic exhibitions, free festivals and modern experiences such as highly anticipated theatre and acclaimed global cuisine.
Across the city, more than two dozen DC250 hotel packages are encouraging visitors to stay overnight.
The Watergate Hotel, a luxury property located along the banks of the Potomac River, is debuting its Americana Suite, described as “cinematic luxury escape inspired by the freedom, glamour and cultural spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s in America”.
The suite is a permanent transformation within The Watergate and will be available for bookings beginning July 4, 2026.
Launching alongside the suite is “The Great American Road Trip,” a contemporary art exhibition curated by Daniela Mercuri, transforming the iconic hotel into an immersive cultural experience exploring American identity, nostalgia and reinvention.
The Watergate 25 Package includes overnight accommodations in one of the hotel’s luxuriously appointed Superior guest rooms and a $150 food and beverage credit that can be used onsite in any of its dining concepts, or for room service.
In the lobby, The Next Whisky Bar is winning plaudits as having one of the best whisky bar menus in D.C. Outside, in the garden, guests can experience a terrace serving drinks and tapas.
The Watergate’s Top of the Gate rooftop bar and lounge offers 60-degree panoramic views from spring to fall, with Georgetown’s waterfront in one direction and the Washington Monument in the other. Rates start from $250 + tax for Superior Rooms.
