The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026.
The anniversary is measured from 1776, the year the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Adding 250 years to 1776 gives 2026, making July 4, 2026, the central anniversary date associated with America250.
The commemoration is broader than a single day. Organizers planned programs and events leading up to Independence Day and continuing through the anniversary year. The official effort is connected with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, a nonpartisan congressional commission created in 2016.
This milestone follows earlier national anniversaries. The United States marked its centennial in 1876, its sesquicentennial in 1926, and its bicentennial in 1976. The 2026 observance therefore continues a recurring pattern of nationwide commemorations tied to the Declaration of Independence.