The United States will mark the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
This anniversary is known as the United States Semiquincentennial, meaning the 250th anniversary of a significant national event. The date commemorates the Second Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
July 4 is celebrated annually as Independence Day, but 2026 is especially significant because 250 years have passed since the founding-era declaration. America250 is the national initiative coordinating commemorative programs, educational projects, and community events around the milestone.
The anniversary is sometimes described as the United States’ 250th birthday. Strictly speaking, the date commemorates the Declaration’s adoption rather than the signing of the Constitution or the start of the federal government. The United States Bicentennial took place in 1976, exactly 50 years before this semiquincentennial.