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U.S. residents will be able to enter national parks like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite for free on President Donald Trump's birthday, but they will have to pay for two civil rights commemorations that were previously free.
In addition to these changes, which will go into effect on January 1, the National Park Service (NPS) will also increase entrance fees for non-residents.
A statement from the Department of the Interior indicated that there will be 8 days considered "patriotic" in 2026, almost all of which are different from those of the previous two years.
In addition to June 14, 2026, which coincides with Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day, the calendar includes Presidents' Day on February 16, Memorial Day on May 5, in honor of U.S. soldiers killed in combat, the Independence Day weekend from July 3 to 5, Constitution Day on September 17, and Veterans Day on November 11, in honor of military veterans.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19 in 2026) and Juneteenth (June 19), which commemorates the end of slavery, are usually included in the list of free admission days, but have now been removed.
Critics claim that the changes serve to promote the president, while minimizing the history of slavery in the United States and the fight for civil rights.
"The president not only added his own birthday to the list; he removed the two holidays that commemorate the African American struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better," lamented Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on X.
Additionally, starting in 2026, free admission on the eight selected days will be for U.S. citizens and residents only. "Non-residents will pay the regular entrance price and applicable non-resident fees," the NPS reported.
The cost of an annual entrance pass will be $80 for residents and $250 for non-residents. Those without such a pass will have to pay $100 per person to enter 11 of the most visited parks in addition to the standard entrance fee.
This year, Trump already took advantage of his 79th birthday, which coincided with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, to organize an unusual military parade in downtown Washington.
The United States has 63 national parks, protected areas designated by Congress and under government control. Last year, more than 330 million people visited them.
[Publicidad]