The United States Semiquincentennial will be celebrated on July 4, 2026, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
The anniversary is tied to the Second Continental Congress's approval of the Declaration on July 4, 1776. Although the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, the document explaining that decision was finalized and adopted two days later. Independence Day therefore became the date associated with the national anniversary.
The event is also called America250, the United States Semiquincentennial, the sestercentennial, or the quarter millennium. “Semiquincentennial” combines Latin-derived elements meaning half of 500, or 250.
The 2026 anniversary follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and precedes the Tricentennial in 2076. Celebrations are planned across the country, with national programs organized through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.