What term names the 250th anniversary celebrated by America250 in 2026?
Answer
Semiquincentennial
America250’s 250th-anniversary celebration is called the United States Semiquincentennial.
The word combines “semi,” meaning half, with “quincentennial,” meaning a 500th anniversary. Together, semiquincentennial describes half of five centuries, or 250 years. The celebration commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The event is also known by several less common names, including the Sestercentennial, Bisesquicentennial, and Quarter Millennium. “Semiquincentennial” is the formal term most closely associated with the national observance and the America250 initiative.
The anniversary follows the 1976 Bicentennial, which marked 200 years of American independence. The next major centennial milestone after 2026 will be the Tricentennial in 2076, marking 300 years.