On what date did the United States Semiquincentennial occur?

The United States Semiquincentennial occurred on July 4, 2026.

The date marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Independence Day is observed annually on July 4, so the 250th anniversary naturally fell on that date in 2026.

The celebration is also called America250, the United States Semiquincentennial, and the 250th anniversary of American independence. The term semiquincentennial describes a 250-year anniversary, while the 1976 observance was the nation's bicentennial, marking 200 years.

The anniversary was a national milestone rather than the anniversary of the Constitution, which was drafted in 1787, or the inauguration of the first president, which took place in 1789. Those events are important parts of United States history but occurred after the 1776 independence milestone.