What is the official name for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, commonly branded America250?

The official name for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, commonly branded America250, is the United States Semiquincentennial.

“Semiquincentennial” combines Latin-derived terms meaning half of 500, or 250. The anniversary marks 250 years since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The celebration is scheduled for 2026, with July 4 as the central anniversary date.

America250 is the public-facing brand associated with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. Congress created that bipartisan commission in 2016 to coordinate anniversary activities with federal agencies, states, local governments, schools, museums, and other organizations.

The term is sometimes confused with “sesquicentennial,” which means a 150th anniversary, or “bicentennial,” which means a 200th anniversary. “Quarter millennium” is another understandable description, but it is not the official name of the national observance.