Tampa Veterans Day 2026: tribute, parade and closings

Hillsborough County holds its 62nd Annual Veterans Day Tribute from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Park on U.S. 301. It is free, and so is parking.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Hillsborough County’s Veterans Day Tribute event page and its 2025 tribute announcement, the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital account of its 2025 parade, the City of Tampa calendar, the city’s 2025 Veterans Day trash notice, the Hillsborough County Public Schools 2026-27 calendar (PDF) and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts calendar.

Veterans Day falls on a Wednesday this year. The county’s tribute is on the day itself, and City of Tampa offices and Hillsborough County public schools are closed.

Know before you go

• When: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
• Where: Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Highway 301, Tampa
• Cost: free admission and free parking
• After the ceremony: refreshments, and the park and monuments stay open until 5 p.m.
• Questions: Hillsborough County Veteran Community Services, 813-635-8316

The county tribute

Hillsborough County Veteran Community Services and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County host the tribute, which salutes veterans of all eras and branches. The county’s event page lists:

• an outdoor ceremony, followed by refreshments and fellowship
• free admission, free parking and resources for veterans
• the park and its monuments open until 5 p.m.

The county had not posted the 2026 speakers or program when we checked. In 2025, its announcement listed a JROTC color guard and patriotic music, the Veterans Council awards, resources for veterans and military families, free refreshments and a kids’ craft area.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ national Veterans Day Committee lists the park as an official Regional Veterans Day Site, the county says. The park is free and open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; its monuments include the Gold Star Family Memorial.

The VA hospital parade

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital holds a Veterans Day parade on its campus at 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. The hospital’s account of the 17th parade says it was held Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, and opened with a ceremony at 9 a.m.

The 2026 date is not out yet. Last year’s parade was on the Saturday before Veterans Day. We will add the date, time and parking here when the hospital announces them.

Other ways to mark it

• Marti-Colon Cemetery clean-up, 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 3110 W. Columbus Drive. Volunteers clean headstones and lay flags ahead of Veterans Day; the city provides supplies. Bring water, sunscreen and insect repellent. City calendar listing.
• A Soldier’s Lens, an exhibition of photographs of military life by service members and their families, opens at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 1630 E. Seventh Ave. in Ybor City, with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 ($12). FMoPA.
• Free museum entry for veterans: FMoPA admits veterans and active-duty military free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 11. FMoPA.

Parking and roads

The county’s tribute has free parking on site, at 3602 N. U.S. Highway 301. Road work on the way is on our road construction and closures page, and our getting around page covers the main routes and city parking.

What is open and closed

• City offices: closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, the city calendar says.
• Schools: no school. Nov. 11 is a non-student day on the Hillsborough County Public Schools 2026-27 calendar. The district also lists it as a tentative hurricane make-up day if needed. The rest of the year is on our schools guide.
• Trash and recycling: the city has not posted its 2026 notice. In 2025 it suspended residential and commercial pickup on Veterans Day and collected on each customer’s next regular day, and closed the McKay Bay Transfer Station and Scale House at 114 S. 34th St. New Tampa residents get their holiday schedule from Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management, 813-272-5680. Updates go on our trash and recycling page.

What this means for you

Plan on 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Memorial Park, and arrive early for parking. With schools and city offices closed, it is a day off for many Tampa families; more ideas are on our things to do this month page.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Veterans Day ceremony in Tampa in 2026?

Hillsborough County’s 62nd Annual Veterans Day Tribute is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Highway 301. Admission and parking are free, the county says.

Is there a Veterans Day parade in Tampa?

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital holds an annual Veterans Day parade on its Tampa campus. The 17th was Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. The hospital had not announced the 2026 date when we checked on Oct. 14; we will add it when it does.

Is there school on Veterans Day in Hillsborough County?

No. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, is a non-student day on the Hillsborough County Public Schools calendar. The district also lists Nov. 11 as a tentative hurricane make-up day, so check with the district if storms close schools before then.

Is Tampa City Hall open on Veterans Day?

No. The city’s calendar lists all City of Tampa offices as closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026.

Does trash pickup change for Veterans Day in Tampa?

In 2025 the city suspended residential and commercial pickup on Veterans Day and collected on each customer’s next regular day, and the McKay Bay Transfer Station closed. The city had not posted its 2026 notice when we checked; we will add it when it does.