NEW YORK, NY –
As preparations intensify for New York’s landmark 2026 Greek Independence Day Parade, Parade Chairman Lou Katsos shares an official New Year’s message outlining key updates, upcoming milestones, and the collective vision guiding this historic commemorative year.
His message confirms Cipriani 42nd Street as the venue for the Parade Gala, notes significant progress by the Journal and Raffles Committees, and outlines the timeline for selecting the Grand Marshals. Katsos also emphasized that the first committee working meeting of the year will take place on January 8.
The full message reads as follows:
Dear Federation Members, Parade Participants, Volunteers, Supporters, Friends, and Colleagues,
As we begin the New Year, I extend to you, on behalf of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Parade Committee 2026, our warmest wishes for health, peace, and prosperity. While the holiday season has passed, the spirit of collective purpose and dedication that defines our community continues with renewed strength. I thank each of you sincerely for the commitment and effort you have already invested in shaping what promises to be a truly historic Greek Independence Day Parade in 2026.
From the outset, our shared vision has been to elevate this milestone year in a manner worthy of its significance, honoring not only the legacy of the Hellenic Revolution but also the enduring ideals that link Greece and the United States across centuries. In that spirit, we are pleased to announce that Cipriani 42nd Street has been secured as the venue for the 2026 Parade Gala. This iconic and elegant setting reflects both the historical gravity of the occasion and the forward-looking aspirations of this commemorative year. Further details regarding the Gala will be shared in the near future.
At the same time, meaningful progress continues across many areas of preparation. Our Journal and Raffles Committees have made excellent headway, and information regarding journal participation and raffle distribution will be released shortly. In the weeks ahead, we will also announce the schedule of additional events and activities leading up to the parade, each designed to build momentum, engagement, and unity throughout our community.
Our work resumes in earnest with our first committee working meeting of the year, scheduled for committee members on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Your presence and participation are essential as we move toward finalizing plans and coordinating timelines. We are also in the process of confirming dates for our public meetings and are awaiting confirmation from the Archdiocese to schedule our annual Federation Vasilopita cutting, a meaningful moment of blessing, fellowship, and renewal.
Looking ahead, one of the most significant announcements of this commemorative year will be the naming of the Grand Marshals of the 2026 Greek Independence Day Parade. We are grateful to all who have already submitted recommendations. We intend to name two organizations and two individuals by late January or early February. If you have not yet submitted recommendations and wish to do so, we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. We hope that the Grand Marshals selected will serve as living bridges between past and present, between the Hellenic Republic and America, and between the ideals that shaped both nations and the generations that now inherit them.
Thank you once again for all that you do. Together, through cooperation, vision, and shared purpose, we are building not only a parade, but a commemorative year that our entire Hellenic community can take pride in.
With warmest regards,
Lou Katsos
Chairman
Federation Greek Independence Day Parade 2026 Committee
