What is the name for the United States' 250th anniversary, celebrated on July 4, 2026?

The United States' 250th anniversary, celebrated on July 4, 2026, is called the Semiquincentennial.

The term combines Latin roots meaning half of five hundred, or 250. It describes the anniversary of the Second Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. America250 is the public-facing name associated with the national commemoration.

The 2026 anniversary follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976, which marked 200 years. Other names have appeared in reference works, including sestercentennial and quarter millennium, but semiquincentennial is the principal formal term used for the 250th anniversary.

The anniversary date is tied to the Declaration's adoption, not to the later signing of the parchment by most delegates. That signing occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, making the distinction a common point of historical discussion.