America250 commemorates the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026.
The anniversary is calculated from 1776, the year the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Subtracting 1776 from 2026 gives 250 years. The formal name for a 250th anniversary is semiquincentennial, although “America250” is the public campaign name used for the commemoration.
The central date is July 4, because Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration on July 4, 1776. America250 is intended as a nationwide commemoration involving historical programs, civic activities, exhibitions, and community events rather than a single ceremony. The anniversary also encourages people to examine the country’s founding ideals and its subsequent history.
A common mix-up is treating 1776 as the date the U.S. Constitution took effect. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and became effective in 1789; the 250th-anniversary milestone instead centers on independence and the Declaration.