What is the standard term for America's 250th anniversary in 2026?
Answer
Semiquincentennial
America's 250th anniversary in 2026 is called the semiquincentennial.
The word combines “semi,” meaning half, with “quincentennial,” relating to 500 years. Since 250 is half of 500, semiquincentennial describes a 250th anniversary. America250 is the shorter branding used for the nationwide commemoration.
Other names have also appeared, including bisesquicentennial, sestercentennial, and quarter millennium. Semiquincentennial is the most widely recognized formal term in English for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The celebration marks the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and precedes the nation’s tricentennial in 2076.