What date does the United States Semiquincentennial celebrate in 2026?

The United States Semiquincentennial is celebrated on July 4, 2026, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

July 4 is the date traditionally associated with American independence because the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776. The document announced that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as independent states rather than British colonies.

The 2026 observance is commonly called America250. It follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and precedes the planned Tricentennial in 2076. The anniversary is linked to the Declaration, not to the Constitution, which was drafted more than a decade later.

The term semiquincentennial means a 250th anniversary. Other names include sestercentennial and quarter millennium, but America250 programs generally use the simpler public-facing name America250.