Independent analysis will assess the economic impact of Philadelphia’s historic year of major events and fulfill the City’s commitment to publicly evaluate their impact
PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia today announced the selection of Epsilon Economics to conduct a comprehensive study examining the economic and fiscal impact of major events hosted in Philadelphia through July 31, 2026.
The analysis will provide the City and the public with a detailed assessment of the economic impact of numerous 2026 activities, including FIFA World Cup 26™, MLB All-Star Week, the One Philly Unity Concert, the 2026 New Year’s Eve celebration, America250 celebrations and other major 2026 events and programming.
The economic impact study will provide the City with a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of that activity and its economic and fiscal impact on Philadelphia. The analysis will examine visitor and tourism activity, direct and indirect economic impacts, state and local tax revenues, and how economic activity was distributed across industries, sectors and geographic areas of the city.
“Transparency and accountability are fundamental to how the Parker Administration governs, and from the beginning, we committed to providing Philadelphians with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the impact these historic events would have on our city,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “We said we would conduct an independent economic impact study following the major 2026 events, and today we are delivering on that promise. This analysis will provide important information about what these events meant for Philadelphia’s economy, businesses, workers, and our neighborhoods, and help us better understand the return on the investments we made as a city. We look forward to seeing the results and sharing what we learn with the public.”
About the Study
The City commissioned the study to better understand the economic and fiscal impact of Philadelphia’s 2026 events and related activity on the local economy. Working with the City, Epsilon will develop a comprehensive analytical framework and methodology to measure the impact of the events.
Epsilon Economics was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals issued by the City’s Office of the Director of Finance seeking qualified economic consulting firms to evaluate the economic and fiscal impact of major events taking place in Philadelphia from the 2026 New Year’s concert through July 31, 2026. The contract is expected to begin on or about August 24, 2026, with total compensation not to exceed $75,000.
Working with the City, Epsilon Economics will develop an analytical framework to evaluate event-related visitation and tourism activity, direct and indirect economic impacts, state and local tax revenues, and the distribution of economic activity across industries, sectors and geographic areas of Philadelphia. The final report will detail the study’s methodology, data sources, assumptions and findings.
“We are committed to ensuring the City has an accurate, comprehensive and credible assessment of the economic impact of Philadelphia’s 2026 events,” said Rob Dubow, Finance Director, City of Philadelphia. “This study will look beyond the headline numbers to provide a fuller picture of the economic activity generated across the city and help us understand the broader impact of hosting these major events. Following a thorough selection process, we are confident that Epsilon Economics has the expertise and experience necessary to provide the rigorous, independent analysis that the City and the public deserve.”
Philadelphia’s Historic 2026
Throughout 2026, Philadelphia has hosted an unprecedented series of large-scale events, including activities associated with the United States Semiquincentennial, major international and national sporting events, and cultural programming. These events brought hundreds of thousands of regional, national and international visitors to Philadelphia, generating tourism spending and commercial activity while also requiring significant public-sector planning and operations.
The economic impact study will build on the City’s ongoing work to evaluate the outcomes of 2026 and provide a data-driven assessment of what hosting these events meant for Philadelphia.
About Epsilon Economics
Epsilon Economics is a firm of economists and financial analysts specializing in economic analysis, data analytics and strategy. The firm combines economic modeling, statistical analysis, forecasting and other data-driven methods to conduct complex economic analyses. Epsilon also conducts economic impact studies examining the benefits to cities and other jurisdictions of hosting major sporting, cultural and civic events.
The firm has completed major economic impact reports for high-profile events, including analyses for the FIFA World Cup 26™ for Los Angeles County, Super Bowl LVI for Los Angeles County and the City of Inglewood, 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship for Los Angeles County, NBA All-Star 2018 for Los Angeles County, and 2014 GRAMMY Awards for Los Angeles County. These engagements demonstrate Epsilon Economics’ experience working with public-sector clients and high-profile, large-scale events with significant economic and fiscal implications.
The Parker Administration is committed to ensuring all businesses have access to contracting opportunities with the City and seeks to promote the economic development of small and local businesses.