Crowds gather in downtown Long Beach to watch a global soccer match between the United States and Paraguay on June 12, 2026. | Photo courtesy of the city of Long Beach<\/p>\n
Beach Streets is set to return to downtown Long Beach later this month, embracing the active commuting lifestyle by opening streets and transforming them into safe, open areas for people to bike, walk and explore the city\u2019s neighborhoods. <\/p>\n
The event on Sunday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is hosted by the city of Long Beach and presented by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This year\u2019s event, which is sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, will also serve as the culmination of the city\u2019s\u00a0\u201cSoccer in the LBC<\/a>\u201d\u00a0efforts, offering the opportunity to publicly celebrate the global soccer tournament with family-friendly soccer activities and big-screen watch parties of the mega-tournament\u2019s final match.<\/p>\n \u201cThis summer, Long Beach has turned the global tournament into a citywide celebration, bringing neighbors together through Soccer in the LBC in every corner of our community,\u201d Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. \u201cBeach Streets is the grand finale, bringing together two things Long Beach loves: soccer and active transportation. As we watch the tournament\u2019s final match, we\u2019re celebrating our community in a way only Long Beach can, creating an unforgettable celebration that showcases the very best of our city.\u201d<\/p>\n Beach Streets promotes sustainable travel options, supports local businesses and allows the event\u2019s thousands of participants each year \u201cto get to know their neighbors in a comfortable, family-oriented environment,\u201d according to organizers.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s event will feature the longest Beach Streets\u00a0event route<\/a> to date. Spanning downtown and area neighborhoods, the route will include Pine Avenue from First Street to Ninth Street, Broadway from Pine Avenue to Redondo Avenue, Cherry Avenue from Broadway to Fourth Street, and Fourth Street from Cherry Avenue to Junipero Avenue. <\/p>\n Entertainment hubs along the event route will feature a varied sampling of entertainment, family-friendly activities, food and more.<\/p>\n A welcome ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m. on the main stage of the Kickin\u2019 It Hub at Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave. The ceremony will include remarks by Richardson, 1st District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, 2nd District Councilwoman Cindy Allen and representatives from Metro, the Port of Long Beach along with other city officials and community leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to bring Beach Streets back to Downtown Long Beach this year,\u201d Zendejas said in a statement. \u201cThe tournament final will bring extra thrill to what is already one of our most beloved annual events, and we invite everyone to come out and experience this global moment with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Allen said city officials \u201cset out this summer to make sure every resident had a chance to experience the excitement of the global tournament. And now we\u2019ll close it out the Long Beach way: with our streets open, community together and the tournament final playing on a big screen at our beloved Bixby Park.\u201d<\/p>\n Among many other activities, organizers provided this year\u2019s highlights:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kickin\u2019 It Hub at Bixby Park will feature a big-screen watch party of the tournament final, as well as other soccer activities; a Kids\u2019 Zone, sponsored in part by Long Beach Airport, with soccer-themed inflatables, free face painting and more; food trucks and a beer garden; DJ performances before and after the match; and more,\u201d according to the city\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n In partnership with Downtown Long Beach Alliance, a variety of entertainers will perform on the North Pine Hub at Seventh Street and Pine Avenue and at the East Village Hub on Broadway between Long Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, organizers said.<\/p>\n In partnership with Fourth Street Business Improvement Association, the Fourth Street Hub will have a free big-screen at the Art Theatre displaying the tournament\u2019s championship game, as well as live music performances, activities for kids, a free bike valet and more.<\/p>\n DJs will perform at various locations along the route.<\/p>\n And the Downtown Entertainment Zone Sip location, hosted by Downtown Long Beach Alliance on\u00a0The Promenade<\/a>\u00a0between Third Street and Broadway, enables event attendees to purchase beverages at local businesses and enjoy them within the zone.<\/p>\n Local businesses, business districts and community groups along the route will also host a variety of entertainment, activities, information booths and more to attract foot traffic and promote their businesses. Businesses along the route interested in participating should fill out the\u00a0participation form<\/a>\u00a0by Friday, July 10, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cMetro<\/a> is proud to be a presenting partner of Beach Streets: Kickin\u2019 It, a free, family-friendly celebration inspired by this year\u2019s global soccer events,\u201d Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. <\/p>\n Metro officials encouraged attendees to take public transit that will have \u201cexclusive surprises and special activities planned for riders\u201d at the First Street A Line Station, Wiggins said.<\/p>\n \u201cPorts connect the world through trade and commerce,\u201d Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba said in a statement. \u201cThe Port of Long Beach is proud to support this event that brings nations together and activates our city\u2019s public spaces in celebration of one of the biggest sporting events in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials described Soccer in the LBC as \u201ca free series of locally driven activations and community-focused soccer programming in neighborhoods across Long Beach throughout the global tournament.\u201d These efforts\u00a0launched<\/a>\u00a0in partnership with Major League Soccer\u2019s LA Galaxy and Downtown Long Beach Alliance on June 11 with the\u00a0LA Galaxy Soccer Celebration<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The celebration was a series of events in downtown Long Beach that feature live FIFA World Cup 26 match viewings, Galaxy player and alumni appearances, youth soccer clinics, fan areas and more. The city also recently announced Matches in the Park<\/a>, \u201ca series of local soccer activations and match viewings at various parks throughout Long Beach during the knockout stage of the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n