As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, a major national Scripture initiative will bring together prominent voices from entertainment, ministry and public service for a historic week of public Bible reading.
America Reads the Bible will host a seven-day public reading of Scripture at the Museum of the Bible from April 18-25, 2026. Approximately 500 celebrities, ministry leaders, elected officials and cultural influencers are expected to participate in reading the Bible aloud from Genesis to Revelation in a continuous public format.
Opening participants include actress Patricia Heaton and actress and producer Candace Cameron Bure, who will help launch the week-long event in the nation's capital. Additional confirmed readers include Texas Governor Greg Abbott, evangelist Franklin Graham, and numerous pastors, civic leaders and public figures from across the country.
The event is founded by Bunni Pounds of Christians Engaged and is designed to unite Americans around the public reading of God's Word during a significant moment in the nation's history. Organizers describe the initiative as a call to spiritual reflection and civic renewal ahead of the 250th anniversary milestone.
Over the course of the week, participants will read Scripture publicly in scheduled sessions, with the goal of completing the entire Bible during the gathering. The event will also be livestreamed nationwide by Great American Pure Flix, allowing audiences across the country to watch and participate remotely.
Organizers say the vision behind America Reads the Bible is to elevate Scripture in the public square while fostering unity across denominations, generations and communities. In addition to the live readings, supplemental resources and engagement opportunities will be made available to encourage ongoing Bible engagement beyond the event itself.
Registration information, streaming details and a growing list of participants are available through the official event platform.
