On what date is the United States Semiquincentennial officially observed?

The United States Semiquincentennial is officially observed on July 4, 2026.

That date is the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress adopting and proclaiming the Declaration of Independence in 1776. July 4 became the date used for the national Independence Day holiday, even though the congressional vote for independence occurred earlier.

The date can cause confusion because the Lee Resolution was approved on July 2, 1776. The Declaration’s text was adopted on July 4, and the anniversary has traditionally been celebrated on that date.

The 2026 observance therefore combines the familiar Independence Day holiday with the nation’s 250th-anniversary commemoration. It follows the United States Bicentennial celebration held in 1976.