The United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of independence, in 2026.
The anniversary is based on the Declaration of Independence, which the Second Continental Congress adopted on July 4, 1776. The term semiquincentennial means a 250th anniversary, combining “semi-,” meaning half, with “quincentennial,” meaning a 500th anniversary.
The commemoration is commonly called America250. It includes national, state, local, and educational activities marking the history and continuing development of the United States. The anniversary is distinct from the U.S. Bicentennial, which celebrated 200 years in 1976.
July 4, 2026, is the central anniversary date, although America250 programming spans a broader period. The date marks 250 years since the colonies declared independence, not 250 years since the Constitution, which was written in 1787, or since the federal government began under the Constitution in 1789.