On what date will America’s 250th anniversary be celebrated in 2026?

America’s 250th anniversary will be celebrated on July 4, 2026.

The date marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The anniversary is commonly called the United States Semiquincentennial, although “America250” is the public-facing name used for the national commemoration.

July 4 is celebrated annually as Independence Day because the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776. The document announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states rather than British colonies. The formal separation followed years of conflict and did not immediately end the Revolutionary War.

The 2026 milestone is distinct from the 1776 event itself: the anniversary celebrates the 250th year since independence was declared, not the signing of the U.S. Constitution or the end of the war. The previous major national anniversary was the bicentennial in 1976, marking 200 years.