The previous U.S. national independence anniversary called the Bicentennial took place in 1976.
The United States Bicentennial marked 200 years since the Declaration of Independence of 1776. Celebrations took place across the country and included exhibitions, parades, festivals, historical programs, commemorative objects, and major public works.
The 1976 observance is the immediate predecessor to America250. The 2026 semiquincentennial is separated from it by 50 years, because the anniversary count rises from 200 to 250 years.
The Bicentennial is sometimes confused with the 1975–1976 celebrations that covered a broader period. The central anniversary date was July 4, 1976, exactly two centuries after July 4, 1776. The term bicentennial means a 200th anniversary, not a general name for every large national celebration.