By Gabriel F. Cordero
The original *Rocky* (1976) will return to theaters in a 4K-remastered version from November 7 to 11, 2026, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Screenings will take place at select theaters and include an exclusive look at the new biopic *I Play Rocky*, which chronicles Sylvester Stallone’s struggle to get the project off the ground; the film is scheduled for release in late November 2026.
Additionally, the Philadelphia Visitor Center and the Rocky Season Committee will launch “Rocky Season” on September 29 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the film, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1976.
December 3 was officially designated “Rocky Day in Philadelphia” by a City Council resolution passed in 2023, honoring the date of *Rocky*’s national release in 1976.
The “Rocky Season” event schedule is as follows:
September 29, 2026: Publication by William Morrow (HarperCollins) of *The Steps: A Memoir by Sylvester Stallone*.
September 30 – October 3: Installation of a custom visual projection at the Rocky Steps.
Saturday, October 3: The 1st Annual Joe Frazier Run/Walk.
Saturdays and Sundays, October 10 – November 29: The Rocky Philadelphia Bus will be in operation.
Saturday, October 24: Meat Market Food Challenge.
Saturday, October 31: Halloween celebration on the Rocky Bus Tours. “I Play Rocky” premieres on Friday, November 6.
The Rocky Challenge takes place on Saturday, November 7.
The highly anticipated theatrical re-release of *Rocky* (1976) runs from Saturday, November 7, through Wednesday, November 11.
Thursday, November 12: “Walking the Path” – a Q&A session and book signing with Mike Sielski.
Friday, November 13: A welcome-back event and rededication ceremony for the statue.
Saturday, November 14: A new edition of the “Rocky Run.”
Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15, 2026: Celebration of the *Rocky* 50th anniversary at the National Dog Show.
Monday, November 30, and Friday, December 4, 2026: Rocky will debut a new outfit.
Thursday, December 3: Special ticket promotion for “Rocky 50” at the Philadelphia Flyers game.
For more information on all these events, please visit: PHLVisitorCenter.com/RockyFest
