On what date does the United States celebrate its 250th anniversary?

The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.

That date is Independence Day, the federal holiday associated with the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776, making July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary date used for the national commemoration.

The timing can cause confusion because Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, and the document was signed by delegates over a period of time. Nevertheless, July 4 became the public anniversary because it is the date printed on the Declaration and the date used by the holiday.

America250’s programming spans more than a single day, but July 4 is the defining date of the United States Semiquincentennial. The 2026 observance follows the earlier Bicentennial celebration held in 1976.