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.”
Joe Biden says he's glad Donald Trump won't attend his inauguration:
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.
Take a look back at Joe Biden's style evolution from young politician to the next US president:
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A young Joseph Biden, wearing a casual short-sleeved shirt, pictured in 1967. Twitter -
Joseph Biden, in stripes and polka dots, checks in at the office of the Secretary of the Senate on December 13, 1972. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in a three-piece suit, addresses Drexel University alumni in Pennsylvania, US, on October 30, 1974. Getty Images -
William French Smith and Joseph Biden, in classic tailoring, share a joke on October 23, 1981. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in patriotic navy, white and red, announces his intention to run for the Democratic Party's nominations for president of the United States, in Washington DC, on June 9, 1987. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a slick tux, pictured at an event on July 14, 1987. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a green tie, talks with reporters outside the NBC TV studios in Washington, DC on March 18, 1990. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in lighter hued tailoring, poses for a portrait in June 1991 in Washington, DC. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a classic '90s tie, in Washington DC, in 1997. Getty Images -
Carol Moseley-Braun, then-ambassador designate to New Zealand, is greeted at her confirmation hearing by Joseph Biden, in checked suiting, on Capitol Hill on November 5, 1999. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in shades of blue, gives a speech at a Harlem Boys & Girls Club in New York City, US, on December 4, 2000. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in a bold tie, appears on NBC's 'Meet the Press' on January 7, 2001 in Washington, DC. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, left, in a casual shirt and aviators, receives a briefing at the border village of Panmunjom, South Korea, on August 11, 2001. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in tweed, meets a female student at Ariana High School in Kabul, Afghanistan, on January 12, 2002. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in a relaxed polo shirt, is greeted by Iraq's then-interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi while visiting the capital on June 19, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in a protective vest, speaks with American and Iraqi officials during a visit to Ramadi, Iraq, on September 6, 2007. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in navy suiting, walks with former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 18, 2008 during a visit to Lahore, Pakistan. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in vibrant stripes, smiles during a meeting with Iraq's then-president Jalal Talabani on January 12, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq. Getty Images -
Joseph Biden, in suave navy, leaves the Bayerischer Hof hotel during the second day of the Munich conference on security policy on February 7, 2009 in Munich, Germany. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a stone suit, poses with soldiers for a photo at Camp Victory on July 4, 2009 near Baghdad, Iraq. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a winter jacket, shares a joke with a volunteer at Whistler Olympic Park Ski Jumping Stadium on February 13, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in charcoal suiting, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands prior to their meeting at the Presidential compound on March 10, 2010 in Ramallah, West Bank. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in an open-necked shirt, speaks during a campaign rally at Cleveland State University in Ohio, US, on October 31, 2010. EPA -
Joseph Biden, in a striped tie, and Naomi Biden at a local restaurant on August 18, 2011 in Beijing, China. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in his signature all-blue tailoring, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak to the media prior to talks at the Chancellery on February 1, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in aviators, waves as he walks out of Air Force Two on December 4, 2013 in Beijing, China. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a cap and leather bomber jacket, visits the Demilitarised Zone on December 7, 2013 in Panmunjom, South Korea. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, wearing a splash of lilac, delivers a speech at the 51st Munich Security Conference on February 7, 2015 in Munich, Germany. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in midnight blue, visits the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 17, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in a red patterned tie, delivers an address in Sydney, Australia, on July 20, 2016. EPA -
Joe Biden experiences a traditional Maori welcome at Government House on July 21, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images -
Joe Biden, in pinstripes, speaks about the Cancer Moonshot initiative in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16, 2017. EPA -
Joe Biden goes blazer-less as he serves food at Dulan's on Crenshaw restaurant prior to a fundraiser in Los Angeles, California, on July 18, 2019. EPA -
Joe Biden, ditching the tie, greets supporters at a campaign event in New Hampshire, US, on February 4, 2020. EPA -
Joe Biden, in bold stripes, speaks at the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Event in New Hampshire, US, on February 8, 2020. EPA -
Joe Biden, in his seemingly favourite colour of suit, and his wife, Jill Biden, attend at his election night event at the Chase Centre in Delaware, US, on November 3, 2020. EPA
