LA Fleet Week at Battleship USS IOWA

May 22 marked the start of LA Fleet Week 2026 at the Port of Los Angeles, with ship tours, military demonstrations and public events centered on the Battleship USS IOWA in San Pedro. Organizers say the free Memorial Day weekend program runs through Monday, May 25, and includes active-duty ship tours, aircraft flyovers, competitions and neighborhood events across Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles said this is the event’s 10th year at the waterfront. The LA Fleet Week and Battleship IOWA websites describe it as Southern California’s largest free Memorial Day weekend event. ### When and where are the main public events happening? The Battleship USS IOWA at 250 South Harbor Boulevard is the main public hub for the festival and expo, according to the Battleship IOWA event listing. The listing says the main expo and ship tours run from Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with broader neighborhood activations beginning May 19. (portoflosangeles.org) San Pedro and the surrounding LA Waterfront are the core event area, while related activations are scheduled in other parts of the region. The official LA Fleet Week site says events also extend into Los Angeles neighborhoods, including welcome parties and community gatherings away from the main waterfront footprint. ### What can visitors actually do once they arrive? Active-duty ship tours are one of the main draws, and the Port of Los Angeles said visitors can tour U.S. (pacificbattleship.com) Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels during the four-day event. The port said tour tickets are handled through a virtual queue available on the day of a visit. More than 90 military and first-responder exhibits are part of the expo, according to the port’s event release. (lafleetweek.com) Organizers also list live demonstrations, military equipment displays, food vendors, family activities, live music and competitions including Galley Wars, “Military Has Talent,” dodgeball, soccer and pickleball. Aircraft flyovers and demonstrations are also on the program. (portoflosangeles.org) The Battleship IOWA event page says flights are planned over Cabrillo Beach, Long Beach and the USS IOWA area, with additional security and rescue flyovers over Green Hills Memorial on Monday, while warning that aircraft schedules may change because of weather or operations. ### Which service branches are being featured? (portoflosangeles.org) LA Fleet Week’s organizers say the event honors the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other sea services. The Port of Los Angeles release broadens that description, saying the event celebrates America’s Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and all branches of the military. The Pacific Battleship Center, which operates the Battleship IOWA, says the event was created to connect Southern Californians with members of the United States sea services. (pacificbattleship.com) That framing is reflected in the ship tours, public demonstrations and meet-and-greet style activities built into the weekend schedule. ### What should visitors know before trying to board a ship? (pacificbattleship.com) Valid government-issued photo identification is required to board active ships, according to the Battleship IOWA event page. The same page says non-U.S. citizens must bring a passport for ship boarding. Free trolley and shuttle service will operate during the event, the Port of Los Angeles said, and parking in San Pedro is a mix of limited free spaces and paid options. (portoflosangeles.org) The LA Fleet Week site also directs visitors to use event maps, tour queue links and FAQ pages for day-of logistics. ### Why is this year’s event being framed differently? (pacificbattleship.com) The Port of Los Angeles said LA Fleet Week 2026 will include special patriotic programming tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The LA Fleet Week homepage says this year’s event is the first in Los Angeles’ AMERICA 250 celebration. That means the weekend is being presented not only as a Memorial Day event but also as a kickoff for a broader national commemoration. (portoflosangeles.org) Organizers have linked that theme to public exhibits, neighborhood activations and military participation across the region. Monday, May 25, is the final day of the 2026 event, with expo hours and ship tours scheduled through 6 p.m., according to the official listings. (portoflosangeles.org) Organizers say updated schedules, maps, queue information and event logistics are available through the LA Fleet Week and Battleship USS IOWA event pages. (pacificbattleship.com)