The United States Semiquincentennial, known as America250, was observed on July 4, 2026.
The anniversary marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. July 4 is therefore both the traditional national holiday and the anniversary date commemorated by America250.
The term “semiquincentennial” refers to a 250th anniversary. The celebration follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976, which marked 200 years of independence. The next major anniversary will be the Tricentennial in 2076.
America250 is organized around the founding-era history of the United States, including the Declaration, the Revolutionary War, and the creation of the new republic. The anniversary date is sometimes confused with August 2, 1776, when most delegates signed the engrossed Declaration, but the national anniversary is based on its adoption on July 4.