The United States will mark its 250th anniversary in America250 celebrations on July 4, 2026.
The date commemorates the Second Continental Congress's adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Although the independence resolution itself passed on July 2, the Declaration became the defining document associated with the national anniversary, so Independence Day is observed on July 4.
The 250th anniversary is called the United States Semiquincentennial. The term combines “semi,” meaning half, with “quincentennial,” meaning a 500th anniversary. “America250” is the branding used for the nationwide commemoration and related programs.
Earlier major anniversaries included the 100th anniversary in 1876, the 150th anniversary in 1926, and the 200th anniversary, or Bicentennial, in 1976. The 2026 observance therefore marks a quarter of a millennium since the Declaration was adopted.