National Memorial Day Concert 2024 Broadcast Live From Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — PBS will broadcast the National Memorial Day Concert live from the west front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, May 26. This will be the 35th year the all-star event honors the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces, as well as their families and those who sacrificed their lives for their country.

Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, longtime supporters of the troops and veterans' causes, will again host. The concert will also feature special appearances and performances by Trace Adkins, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Slattery, Dule Hill, Yolanda Adams, Mary McCormack, Jo Dee Messina, The War and Treaty, Chosen Jacobs, Phillip Phillips, Megan Hilty, Jack Everly, the National Symphony Orchestra and more.

A World War II tribute will feature Academy Award nominee and Emmy and Tony Award winner Bryan Cranston in a salute to the millions of Americans who served in uniform and on the home front. On the 80th anniversary of 1944, a pivotal year in the war, the tribute will commemorate battles in the Pacific and European theaters that secured the allied path to victory.

As part of this segment, the concert will share the story of U.S. Army Veteran John T. “Jack” Moran, a soldier in the Battle of the Bulge, and his memories of friends who fought to save the world from tyranny but, tragically, did not make it home. Members of this Greatest Generation will be honored on stage at the United States Capitol.

The National Memorial Day concert will feature these segments:

• Honoring Gold Star Families with Emmy nominated and Tony Award-winning actor and director BD Wong. The concert will remember fallen heroes and Gold Star families with the story of Vietnam veteran and Gold Star father Allen Hoe, who followed generations of his family to serv3 as a combat medic in 1967-68. Facing the tragic loss of battle buddies, Hoe returned to comfort their families. His two sons continued the family legacy, serving honorably in the U.S. Army and First Lt. Nainoa Hoe was killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Honoring a Generation’s Service with Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated actress Jena Malone and Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen Mary McCormack. Following 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the concert will share the story of U.S. Marine Corps veteran and amputee Kirstie Ennis, an adaptive athlete.

The night of remembrance will also feature performances by two-time Oscar nominee, Cynthia Erivo; singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson, who served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve; country music icon Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts; Tony Award-winning Broadway and TV star Ruthie Ann Miles; Grammy and Tony Award-winning star Patina Miller; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.

The annual Salute to Services features the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Service Color Teams. Also participating are members from The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

PBS will broadcast the 2024 National Memorial Day Concert live at 8 p.m. ET, on Sunday, and repeat the program at 9:30 p.m. ET. PBS stations from around the country will carry the 90-minute concert; check here to find showtimes for your local station.

The concert will also be streamed and shown around the world on the American Forces Network. Or watch it on YouTube, the PBS app and PBS.org. The concert will remain available for two weeks following the live broadcast.

Prohibited Items, Security Measures, and Inclement Weather

The U.S. Capitol Police and concert event staff closely monitor weather conditions. Any changes to the schedule of events based on adverse weather conditions will be announced to the public. If an evacuation is necessary because of inclement weather, follow U.S. Capitol Police direction.

Additional security measures will be in place; anyone attending the event must go through security screening before entering the concert. This will include an administrative search of all bags, coolers, backpacks, and closed containers.

Food items and beach/camp chairs that sit low to the ground are allowed. Guests are encouraged to bring their own water.

These items are prohibited. (Other items also may be prohibited at the discretion of security screeners.)

• Alcoholic beverages
• Glass bottles
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Bicycles and mtorized scooters of any kind (Devices required for accessibility (ADA) will be accommodated.)
• Firearms and ammunitions (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind, including fireworks
• Knives, blades or sharp objects of any length
• Laser pointers, signs, posters
• Mace, pepper spray
• Sticks, poles
• Electric stun guns
• Martial arts weapons or devices
• Umbrellas larger than 36 inches in diameter (umbrellas smaller than 36 inches will be allowed.)
• Pocket or hand tools such as a “Leatherman”
• Sealed packages, large boxes, duffle bags, suitcases
• Drones, model rockets, remote or manually-controlled model gliders, model airplanes or unmanned aircrafts, model boats and/or cars, and other unmanned ground or aircraft systems