The New Mexico Tourism Department announced this week that it will distribute a total of $1.3 million in grants to Route 66 communities in fiscal year 2026 for marketing and promotion, special events and infrastructure, including a Route 66 musical road in Santa Rosa and restoration of a vintage gas station in Milan.
The agency awarded $752,538 in funding for marketing and promotion, $423,559 for infrastructure and $130,000 for special events leading up to the highway’s centennial next year.
“Promoting the Route 66 centennial and preparing the state for this milestone was a strategic focus for the Tourism Department this past fiscal year and will continue to be so this year as well,” said acting Tourism Secretary Lancing Adams. “Awareness and interest in the Route 66 centennial continue to grow among domestic and international travelers, and we fully intend to capitalize on this momentum.”
The three-pronged approach for this grant program was first established in FY25 during the inaugural year of the program.
Last year, NMTD issued $400,000 in grants for marketing and promotion, $1,043,000 for infrastructure and $70,000 for special events.
NMTD emphasized grant funding for marketing and special events for FY26 to better align with the awareness-building and inspiration phase of the leisure travel planning process.
By comparison, NMTD committed a larger share of grant funding for tourism infrastructure improvements in FY25 so that Route 66 communities are better equipped to manage increased travel during the centennial in 2026.
Eligible entities include nonprofit tourism-related organizations, municipalities, county and tribal governments and special districts.
Successful applicants were able to demonstrate an association between the significance of Route 66 and the applicant’s destination.
Community organizations were also encouraged to work with their local government entity or destination management organization on an application.
All projects funded by this grant program must be planned or completed by June 15.
Travelers and residents can already see some of these investments in their community. The City of Gallup dedicated its FY25 grant funding to improved wayfinding and the creation of public art, which included the completion of a Route 66-themed mural by artist Eric Sarracino in Historic Downtown Gallup.
In Albuquerque, the Historic Old Town Association used its FY25 grant funding to install a neon entrance archway at the south end of Old Town, which is nearing completion.
Below is a full list of the Route 66 Centennial Grant Program recipients for FY26:
| Special Events Grants | ||
| Route 66 Summerfest | Albuquerque | $10,000 |
| Gathering of Nations | Albuquerque | $20,000 |
| Get Your PICKS on Route 66 | Albuquerque | $5,000 |
| New Mexico State Fair | Albuquerque | $30,000 |
| Día de los Muertos on the Santa Fe Plaza | Santa Fe | $15,000 |
| Railyard Route 66 Centennial Festival | Santa Fe | $10,000 |
| First Sunday Route 66 Market at Tumbleroot | Santa Fe | $5,000 |
| Driving Change: Route 66 in New Mexico | Santa Fe | $10,000 |
| Spokes on Route 66 Car Show | Grants | $7,000 |
| Pecos Sunflower Festival | Pecos | $4,000 |
| Route 66 Centennial Celebration | Edgewood | $4,000 |
| TOTAL | $130,000 | |
| Infrastructure Grants | ||
| Updates to Route 66 RV Village at EXPO New Mexico | New Mexico State Fair | $75,000 |
| Installation of festoon lighting within Highland Neighborhood | City of Albuquerque | $48,070 |
| Route 66-themed sculpture installation; restoration of Route 66 arch | City of Grants | $38,635 |
| Route 66 Musical Road | City of Santa Rosa | $60,000 |
| Beautification of convention center property | City of Tucumcari | $51,767 |
| Route 66 murals at Chamber of Commerce | Quay County | $37,500 |
| Vintage-style gas station restoration | Village of Milan | $57,586 |
| Route 66 wayfinding improvements | Village of Tijeras | $55,000 |
| TOTAL | $423,559 | |
The $752,538 in marketing and promotions grants was distributed among the following entities: Visit Albuquerque, Barelas Community Coalition Inc., Historic Old Town Association (Albuquerque), TOURISM Santa Fe, City of Grants, City of Moriarity, City of Santa Rosa, Village of Pecos, City of Gallup, Tucumcari Quay County Chamber of Commerce, Laguna Pueblo and Navajo Nation Tourism Department.
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