On what date is the United States Semiquincentennial, America250, centered?

The United States Semiquincentennial, known as America250, is centered on July 4, 2026.

The anniversary commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The date is therefore tied to the Declaration’s adoption, rather than to the later signing ceremony associated with the engrossed parchment copy.

The word “semiquincentennial” means a 250th anniversary: “semi” indicates half, while “quincentennial” refers to 500 years. America250 is the shorter public name used for the national anniversary effort. The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress in 2016 to coordinate commemorative programs.

A common mix-up is calling July 4, 2026 the 250th anniversary of the signing alone. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, while most historians place the main signing of the engrossed copy on August 2, 1776. July 4 remains the national anniversary date because it marks Congress’s formal approval of independence.