What anniversary will America250 commemorate on July 4, 2026?

America250 will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

The anniversary marks Congress’s adoption of the Declaration in 1776, when it announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states. The date became the basis for the United States’ annual Independence Day celebration.

The Declaration was approved on July 4, although the Continental Congress had voted for independence through the Lee Resolution on July 2. The famous parchment copy was signed over time, with many delegates signing on August 2, 1776, rather than all signing on July 4.

America250 is the common public name for the national commemoration. The event is also called the United States Semiquincentennial, a term referring to a 250th anniversary. It should not be confused with the 1976 Bicentennial, which marked 200 years.