✦ America’s First Polo Club Marks 150 Years in Grand Style Throughout 2026 ✦

(Newport, RI) — The countdown is on for a once-in-a-century celebration! In 2026, Newport Polo will commemorate the 150th Diamond Jubilee of the founding of the first polo club in America in Newport, RI in 1876—an extraordinary milestone that coincides with America’s 250th Anniversary. Throughout the year, the historic polo club will roll out a dazzling lineup of special events, tributes, and enhancements that honor 150 years of sport, style, and heritage in the City by the Sea.

From venue upgrades—including an expanded Pavilion, reorganized West Lawn, new gateway entries, enhanced signage, and festive decorations—to the unveiling of a Rhode Island License Plate, the Jubilee will blend timeless tradition with exciting new experiences. Fans can look forward to a Pro Shop makeover and exclusive commemorative merchandise, created in collaboration with leading American heritage brands.

Historic tributes will include the engraving of legacy trophies, the presentation of a special player medallion, and the release of historic books and a Newport exhibition chronicling the club’s storied past. A Pony Parade through Newport on Opening Weekend will kick off the season in true fanfare, followed by a Debut Nation celebration, global toasts with 37 international rivals, and epic rematches to relive great moments in Newport Polo’s 35 modern day seasons.

The festivities will continue online, with a living digital timeline, archival records, and memorabilia showcased on Newport Polo’s website. The season will also feature commemorative home team jerseys, the debut of a new club mascot, and fan engagements on the Jumbotron. Guests may even take part in planting a commemorative tree, as the club sets its sights on making history once again—with an attempt to set a Guinness World Record.

In a fitting tribute to 150 years of global competition, a Newport Polo World Tour is also in the works—an international travel concept that will take the club and its supporters to visit some of its most far-flung rivals around the world, rekindling friendships and rivalries from past seasons in unforgettable destinations.

“The 150th Diamond Jubilee is not just a celebration of our heritage—it’s a tribute to everyone who has kept the spirit of polo alive in Newport for a century and a half,” said Dan Keating, Club President and Polo Series Founder. “We’re thrilled to honor the past while taking bold strides into the next era of Newport Polo.” Join us throughout 2026 as Newport Polo takes flight into its next chapter—150 years of sport, legacy, and American spirit—and celebrate where polo in America began.