What anniversary does the United States Semiquincentennial mark on July 4, 2026?

The United States Semiquincentennial marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

The name combines “semi,” meaning half, with “quincentennial,” meaning a 500th anniversary. It therefore describes half of 500 years, or 250 years. America250 is the commonly used branding for the national commemoration.

The anniversary counts from July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The date is often called Independence Day because the Declaration announced that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states.

The 2026 celebration follows earlier major milestones: the centennial in 1876, the sesquicentennial in 1926, and the bicentennial in 1976. A semiquincentennial is sometimes also called a sestercentennial or quarter-millennium.