Join the 59th Inaugural Ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

The 59th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10 AM MST / Noon EST on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

While attendance in Washington, D.C. is limited, you can participate virtually:

👉 Register to watch the inauguration live via Facebook

The theme for this historic event is:

“Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union.”

The 59th Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies

The ceremony is organized by a bipartisan group of congressional leaders:

• Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chairman

• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

• Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

• Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

• Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD)

• Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

Inauguration Trivia

• The first inauguration was held April 30, 1789, in New York City for President George Washington.

• Since 1901, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has managed the event, as required by the 20th Amendment.

• The presidential oath of office is the only constitutionally mandated part of the ceremony.

• Since 1937, prayers have been included in the ceremony.

Platform Facts and Figures

The inauguration platform was built from scratch, featuring:

• 10,000 sq. ft. platform supporting over 1,600 attendees (though this year’s ceremony was primarily virtual).

• 430 sheets of foam insulation and 1,363 sheets of plywood.

• 110,000 linear feet of lumber, 357 cinderblocks, 117 tons of sand.

• 20,160 pounds of grout and mortar.

Learn More

For more details on the 59th Inaugural Ceremony and past inaugurations, visit the official Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website.