For America250, the term “semiquincentennial” represents 250 years.
A quincentennial is a 500th anniversary, and “semi” means half. Half of 500 is 250, making semiquincentennial a precise word for the nation’s 2026 milestone. America250 uses the shorter numerical branding because it is easier to recognize and remember.
The United States previously celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, marking 200 years since the 1776 independence milestone. The 2026 event is therefore 50 years after the bicentennial and 100 years before the nation’s projected 350th anniversary.
Other anniversary terms can cause confusion. A centennial is 100 years, a sesquicentennial is 150 years, and a tricentennial is 300 years. “Semi-quincentennial” is sometimes written with a hyphen, but the unhyphenated “semiquincentennial” is widely used for the official observance.