What is the standard name for America's 250th anniversary in 2026?

The standard name for America's 250th anniversary in 2026 is the United States Semiquincentennial.

“Semiquincentennial” combines roots referring to half of 500 years, or 250 years. The term is used for the national anniversary connected with the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the Independence Day celebration in 2026.

The anniversary also has several less common names, including sestercentennial, quarter millennium, and bisesquicentennial. These alternatives are historically understandable but are not the main name used by the federal America250 initiative.

The naming sequence can cause confusion. A 100th anniversary is a centennial, a 150th is a sesquicentennial, a 200th is a bicentennial, and a 300th is a tricentennial. The 250th anniversary falls between the bicentennial and tricentennial, which explains why its terminology is less familiar.