The United States Semiquincentennial, or America250, takes place in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The anniversary count begins with 1776, when the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration and announced the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. Adding 250 years to 1776 produces 2026, making the occasion a semiquincentennial, a term meaning a 250th anniversary.
America250 is the common branding for the nationwide commemoration, while “United States Semiquincentennial” is the formal historical description. The celebration is often confused with the 1976 Bicentennial, which marked 200 years, or with the 1775 start of the Revolutionary War. The anniversary specifically centers on the 1776 declaration of independence, not the later adoption of the Constitution in 1787.
The 2026 commemoration includes national, state, territorial, museum, educational, and community programs. Its central anniversary date is July 4, 2026, exactly 250 years after Congress approved the Declaration’s text.