Mayor Bobby Sanchez and City of New Britain Announce 2026 Memorial Day Parade

Mayor Bobby Sanchez and the City of New Britain have announced the 2026 Annual Memorial Day Parade, honoring New Britain’s, longstanding tradition honoring the brave men and women who have served our country.”

“Memorial Day is a time for our community to come together in remembrance and gratitude for the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country,” said Mayor Bobby Sanchez. “This parade is one of New Britain’s most meaningful traditions, and I encourage residents to join us as we honor their sacrifice and stand together as a community.”

Traditionally, the evening parade is preceded by solemn ceremonies held at war memorials throughout the city, which typically run from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

The highly anticipated parade will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with step-off scheduled promptly for 6:00 PM.

Parade participants will assemble at the staging area near Pulaski Park, located at the intersection of Burritt Street and Broad Street. The traditional 2.2-mile route will take marchers east on Broad Street, then south down Main Street through downtown, before concluding at Franklin Square in front of the New Britain Courthouse. The procession is expected to last approximately one hour.

This year’s parade will feature five divisions, showcasing a wide variety of participants, including veterans’ groups, community organizations, marching bands and local dignitaries.

The City says, “Residents and visitors are encouraged to attend and line the parade route as the community comes together to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.” To accommodate attendees, convenient shuttle transportation will be available from the New Britain Senior Center on Pearl Street.

Call for Participants and Sponsors

The City of New Britain is inviting local organizations, businesses, and community groups to march in this year’s parade. Interested parties should visit NewBritainRec.com to create an account and register. Staff will follow up with additional event details and instructions upon registration. The deadline to register as a participant is Tuesday, May 19th.

Additionally, the City says that, “businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring the Memorial Day Parade can find sponsorship opportunities and details on NewBritainRec.com or call Recreation Program Manager, Matt Scofield at 860-826-3358.”