Philadelphia businesses can now apply to stay open until 4 a.m. this summer

Attention, Philadelphia bar, restaurant, brewery, and winery owners! If you want to stay open later this summer, you can now take steps to secure a permit.

Last month, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1218 into law. The legislation establishes a temporary “Philadelphia 250 Permit” allowing businesses to stay open an extra two hours during the World Cup and other 250 celebrations, extending closing time from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. between June 11 and July 20, 2026.

Businesses looking to keep the party going a little longer must first apply for the Liberty Bell Safe (LBS) Certification Program to obtain a Philadelphia 250 permit from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Eligible businesses looking to join the program must attend a one-day training session. City officials said at least 60% of management and owner staff must present.

City officials said the program offers “specialized training to help businesses create safer nighttime experiences for patrons and employees.”

For those businesses that already have an LBS Certification and are looking to obtain a Philadelphia 250 permit, must reapply and complete the additional training modules.

Applications for the program are open now through Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Visit phila.gov/programs/liberty-bell-safe-certification-program for additional details.

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that from events alone, Philadelphia will welcome over 1.5 million visitors in 2026.

Those visitors are expected to spend more than $950 million, generating an economic impact of $1 billion on the city.