Dear friends, As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July and commemorate our country’s 250th anniversary, I am proud to share that Houston is a strong city and is getting stronger every day. We passed the City’s $7.5B budget to put Houston on a strong financial footing. U.S. News & World Report named Houston as one of the Best Convention Cities in the nation. S&P Global Ratings announced it has improved the City of Houston’s credit outlook. All of this shows that we are meeting our challenges and moving in the right direction.
The FIFA World Cup is dominating the sports, tourism, and social scene in our city. For the past several weeks, we have welcomed people from around the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and to enjoy the Fan Festival in the East End. It took years of preparation and all of us working together to provide Houstonians and visitors with a safe and memorable experience. I thank our public safety staff from the Office of Emergency Management, Houston Fire, Houston Police, Houston Public Works, the Houston Airport System, METRO, TranStar, and all the federal and regional agencies involved.
Mayor John Whitmire
I hope you will consider joining us for live music and fireworks at Freedom Over Texas. July 4th will be a busy day in Houston. The FIFA World Cup Fan Festival will also be open on July Fourth. Highlights include star-studded entertainment and a global match watch party. However you choose to celebrate, I wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!
