The popular Open Streets program will return to Philadelphia this year, with participation from the Rittenhouse Square and Midtown Village communities. The 2026 schedule includes Easter Sunday, April 5, as the first Open Streets event on Rittenhouse Row. Plans call for about 20 Open Streets events this year.

If you’re planning to take part in Open Streets this year, here’s what you’ll want to know:

Open Streets: West Walnut will run Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 18th Street (Chestnut to Locust) and Walnut Street (Broad to 19th) closed to vehicle traffic.Open Streets: Midtown Village will focus on events moving to Tuesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., beginning in June, to align with weeknight dining. Streets closed in Midtown Village include 13th Street (Chestnut to Walnut), Sansom Street (Juniper to 12th), and Drury Street.

According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report, the Open Streets program has shifted from a pilot project to a planned ongoing series, prioritizing family-friendly shopping and dining across Center City. Business participation remains strong, with average sales up approximately 38% on Open Streets Sundays and in-store foot traffic rising approximately 62%.

Over the two-year pilot (2024–2025), approximately 170,000 people attended 20 events, marking a 27% increase in pedestrian activity over prior years, according to reports provided to The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

More than one-third of visitors attending Open Streets events come from Center City or nearby neighborhoods, and a similar share come from the Philadelphia suburbs or outside the region.