On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden will officially be inaugurated as the 46th president of the US.
The occasion will be marked with a televised special, and while celebrations will be pared back due to the coronavirus pandemic and the riots at the US Capitol earlier this month, there will still be a star-studded line-up and plenty of performances.
What is an inauguration, exactly?
While Biden won the election in November 2020, Wednesday will mark the official transfer of power from the Trump administration, as Biden is official sworn in as the next president of the US.
The gap between presidents is given to allow for the completion of administrative tasks and the transfer of security. The 20th amendment of the US constitution mandates that the terms of the sitting president and vice president end at noon on the 20th day of January.
The Presidential Inauguration Committee has revealed that this year the event will centre around the theme “America united”.
“This inauguration presents a unique opportunity to spotlight the resilience and spirit of an America united," said Tony Allen, chief executive of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, in a statement.
"We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the frontlines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light, and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time programme.”
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Who is performing?
The inauguration will be accompanied by a number of performances. The televised special will be hosted by actor Tom Hanks, and see performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Garth Brooks and Katy Perry.
A number of the stars have been vocal in their support for Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris in the run up to November's election, and have spoken of their honour at being asked to perform at Wednesday's Celebrating America event.
Writing on Instagram, Demi Lovato said: "I was left speechless when I was asked to perform!"
Timberlake revealed that he will perform a new song, Better Days, written several months ago, as a way of "doing what little we could to encourage everyone to stay hopeful and to keep working towards a better future".
How can you watch?
Celebrating America will be broadcast on Wednesday, January 20, at 8.30pm ET, and will be streamed via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and Amazon Prime Video. It will also be broadcast on US television.
How is it different from other inaugurations?
The celebrations will look different from past presidential inaugurations, with tightened security because of the riots at the US Capitol earlier this month.
The event was already going to be scaled back owing to Covid-19, with Biden asking supporters to stay at home and watch from afar. In keeping with crowd size restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, traditional activities such as the parade and the inaugural balls will be virtual.
Comparisons are also being drawn to the modest line-up that Donald Trump was able to attract for his inauguration. The concert, held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, featured performances by Lee Greenwood, Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down, DJ Ravidrums, The Piano Guys, and The Frontmen of Country. Four years earlier, for his second term inauguration, Barack Obama wheeled out Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
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