The United States will celebrate America250, its semiquincentennial anniversary, on July 4, 2026. The date marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The word semiquincentennial means a 250th anniversary. America250 therefore refers specifically to the anniversary of the United States' founding-era declaration, rather than to the adoption of the Constitution or the start of the Revolutionary War.
The national anniversary follows the bicentennial celebrations held in 1976. Official America250 planning began years in advance through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, created by Congress in 2016. Events have included commemorations connected with American history, civic participation, culture, and service.
July 4 is widely called Independence Day because Congress adopted the Declaration on that date. The declaration's signing ceremony was primarily conducted later, on August 2, 1776, a distinction that is often blurred in popular retellings.