As Route 66 marks its centennial, the historic highway is being celebrated not as a relic of the past but as a living legend, with new exhibitions, books, and media projects highlighting its enduring cultural impact. The festivities, which began in April, will culminate on November 11, 2026, the official centenary date of the “Mother Road.”
A Road Born from Migration, Reborn as Myth
Officially established in 1926, Route 66 stretched nearly 4,000 kilometers across eight U.S. states, connecting Chicago to Los Angeles. It served as a critical artery for American migration and economic hopes before being officially decommissioned in 1985, with much of its route replaced by the modern Interstate 40 system. However, its physical removal sparked a cultural renaissance, transforming the road into a powerful symbol of freedom and the American dream.
France 4 recently explored this transformation in the documentary Route 66, an American legend
, directed by Sophie Peyrard. Rather than a travelogue or a historical account, the film examines how the route became a collective fiction
—a narrative woven from songs by Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, photographs by Dorothea Lange, and iconic films like “Easy Rider” and Bagdad Café,as well as Pixar'sCars. The documentary frames the Route 66 not merely as a place, but as a story that America continues to tell itself about freedom and its own contradictions. The film, which is approximately fifty minutes long, was broadcast on France 4 on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 22:50. A second broadcast is scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, at 00:15 on Rediffusion Informations Culture Infos, Découvertes 2026.
The Centenary Celebration: From Exhibitions to Guides
The centenary has inspired a wave of new creative works dedicated to the Route 66. Luxembourg-based photographer Myrna Gordon-Covelli has released a new book, 100+ Photos of Route 66, accompanied by an exhibition in Vianden from November 7 to 29. The collection captures the road’s iconic neon motels, ghost towns, and surreal roadside attractions like the ten Cadillacs planted in the earth of Texas and the Blue Whale of Catoosa, which recently underwent a major renovation. The vernissage for the exhibition took place on Saturday, November 7, from 19:00 to 21:00 at the former cinema (Ale Kino) located at 23, Grand-Rue. During the vernissage, a wine reception was held, along with a presentation of the book and a meet-and-greet with the photographer.
Meanwhile, journalists Delphine Givord and Jean-Philippe Cavaillez, authors of the blog Lost in the USA, have presented a new 172-page travel guide at the Époqu’auto salon. Titled simply Route 66: le guide de voyage incontournable, the book offers practical advice and personal recommendations for travelers navigating the remaining sections of the historic road. After recently traversing the Route 66 again in August 2026, they share their favorite spots, good addresses, and practical tips from Chicago to Santa Monica. Visitors could purchase the book throughout the weekend at the stand for the newspaper Le Progrès in Hall 2, stand D16-2.
These new projects highlight the practical challenges and rewards of experiencing the Route 66 today. As noted by travelers, the highway no longer exists as a single, continuous route following the 1985 decommissioning. Finding original, often disconnected segments requires careful travel, especially in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Travelers must also plan for long stretches with no services, a reality shown by the old road's coexistence with the parallel, truck-heavy Interstate 40.
A Living Legacy of Preservation and Nostalgia
Since its decommissioning, the road has become better indicated, with new signs marking its multiple portions and logos of “Route 66” painted on the ground in various sizes. The documentary Route 66, an American legend
invites viewers to look differently at a symbol one thinks they know, and to question what it says about America’s relationship to its own history.
The centenary celebration, culminating on November 11, affirms that the Route 66 is far from dead. It has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon, a “world’s road” that continues to draw visitors from across the globe, all seeking to experience the myth that has outlived the asphalt it was built on. The journey offers unique gastronomic experiences, such as the famous corn dogs (sausage beignets on a stick) at the Cozy Dog Drive In Springfield, Illinois, or a chicken Parmesan pizza style
(where the chicken serves as the pizza crust) at a Cheesecake Factory in Santa Monica.
