The United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary, known as America250, in 2026.
The anniversary marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Because 1776 plus 250 equals 2026, the commemoration is also called the United States Semiquincentennial.
America250 is the public-facing name associated with the nationwide observance. Events connect the anniversary to American history, civic participation, culture, and the future of the country. The federal commission’s plans include programs involving communities, schools, museums, and historic sites.
The year 2026 is distinct from the 200th-anniversary celebration held in 1976. That earlier observance was the United States Bicentennial. A common mix-up is to confuse the anniversary year with the year the planning commission was created: the United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established by federal law in 2016, a decade before the anniversary itself.