As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, a new study suggests the holiday remains one of the nation's biggest spending events despite persistent concerns about inflation, rising debt and higher living costs.
According to a report released by personal finance website WalletHub, Americans are expected to spend $9.4 billion on food for Fourth of July celebrations this year, while millions more will travel, attend fireworks displays and gather for barbecues and community events.
The report, which ranked the best and worst U.S. cities for Fourth of July celebrations, found that Las Vegas is the top destination for celebrating America's birthday in 2026, followed by New York City and Orlando.
Los Angeles and Minneapolis rounded out the top five, while St. Paul, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle and Sacramento completed the top 10.
"With 87% of Americans planning to celebrate the Fourth of July this year, many people are looking for the most affordable and entertaining places to enjoy the holiday," WalletHub said in the report.
To determine the rankings, researchers compared the nation's 100 largest cities across 18 metrics designed to measure both cost and entertainment value. Factors included average beer and wine prices, weather forecasts, accessibility of celebrations and the duration of local fireworks shows.
Florida was well represented in the rankings, with Orlando placing third and Miami ranking 19th overall.
The study arrives as many Americans continue to feel pressure from economic uncertainty.
WalletHub's accompanying survey found that 77% of Americans believe rising costs are threatening the country's independence, while 76% said growing federal debt poses a similar threat.
Nearly three in five respondents said high gasoline prices are affecting their Fourth of July plans, and 57% reported they intend to spend less money on the holiday than they did last year.
The survey also highlighted broader economic concerns. Nearly nine in 10 Americans said they believe the nation's Founding Fathers would be alarmed by the current level of government debt, while 47% said advances in artificial intelligence pose a threat to their personal finances.
Despite those concerns, Americans are still expected to celebrate in large numbers.
WalletHub estimates that approximately 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period.
Food and beverages remain at the center of many celebrations. Americans are expected to consume approximately 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July alone, while spending on beer and wine is projected to exceed $4 billion.
Fireworks also continue to be a major part of Independence Day traditions. Americans spent an estimated $2.95 billion on fireworks in 2025, according to WalletHub. The organization noted that roughly 66% of fireworks-related injuries occur within a month of July 4.
Other notable findings from the report include the fact that the United States imports approximately $3.9 million worth of American flags annually.
WalletHub's full rankings place San Diego, Cincinnati, Scottsdale, New Orleans, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Irvine, Pittsburgh, Miami and Portland among the top 20 cities for celebrating the holiday.
While economic concerns continue to shape spending habits, the report suggests Americans remain committed to celebrating Independence Day, even if many plan to do so on tighter budgets than in years past.
