The United States semiquincentennial falls on July 4, 2026.
The anniversary marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The term “semiquincentennial” combines Latin- and Greek-derived elements meaning half of 500, or 250 years. “America250” is the common branding for the nationwide commemoration.
The celebration follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976, which marked 200 years since independence. The next major numbered anniversary will be the tricentennial in 2076, marking 300 years.
The anniversary date refers to the Declaration’s adoption, not the date when every delegate signed the parchment. Most historians place the primary signing of the engrossed document on August 2, 1776, although the Declaration itself is dated July 4. This distinction is a common source of confusion when comparing the national anniversary with the document’s signing history.