First Lady Melania Trump has announced that the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll will take place on Monday, April 6, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House. The announcement came on February 6, marking the start of preparations for one of the White House’s most cherished public traditions.
“First Lady Melania Trump is pleased to announce initial details for the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll,” read the official statement from the East Wing. The event, which will invite families with children 13 years and younger, comes during a significant year in American history — the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
This year’s event will feature patriotic themes to honor America’s semiquincentennial. “The President and First Lady look forward to continuing this entertaining tradition and making it a truly memorable experience for all,” the White House stated in a follow-up release.
Want to attend? The process is straightforward but competitive. Tickets will be distributed through a free online lottery, which opens February 26, 2026, and closes on March 4, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Winners will be notified by March 10, 2026. The White House emphasized that tickets are not for sale or resale.
Each lottery application requires at least one child aged 13 or under and one adult, with households limited to a maximum of two adults and six tickets total. Applications must be submitted through Recreation.gov.
A Historic Tradition
The White House Easter Egg Roll boasts a long and storied history, dating back to 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes. While the tradition has seen interruptions during wartime and periods of White House construction, it has remained a cornerstone of presidential hospitality for nearly 150 years.
The tradition of commemorative wooden eggs, which have become collectors’ items, began more recently — in 1981 under First Lady Nancy Reagan. These official eggs will be available to the general public again this year, with details forthcoming on the lottery website.
Last year’s 147th Easter Egg Roll drew approximately 42,000 children and families to the White House grounds. During the 2025 event, the First Lady read “Bunny with a Big Heart,” a children’s book promoting kindness that tied into her “Be Best” initiative — a book sources indicated “she really liked.”
The First Lady’s office has also opened applications for volunteers to help with the massive undertaking. Those interested in volunteering have until Friday, February 27, 2026, to submit their applications through the White House website.
Mrs. Trump’s visibility at public events comes as she has maintained a relatively active schedule of White House traditions in recent months. During a separate event earlier this year, freed hostage Keith Siegel expressed his gratitude to the First Lady and President, saying, “I am eternally grateful to you and President Trump for bringing me home and for bringing all of the hostages back to their families,” according to footage of the meeting.
For families hoping to participate in this year’s Easter celebration, the White House advises keeping an eye on the official website for lottery updates and additional event details as the spring tradition approaches.
