What type of anniversary does America250 celebrate in 2026?

America250 celebrates a 250th anniversary in 2026.

The term refers to 250 years since the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776. A 250th anniversary is sometimes called a semiquincentennial, a word built from Latin- and Greek-derived elements meaning half of 500 years. Other historical labels include sestercentennial and quarter millennium, although America250 is the public-facing name most widely used for the observance.

The anniversary is not a celebration of every institution founded in 1776. It specifically centers on the creation of the United States as an independent nation and the events surrounding the Declaration.

The previous major national milestone was the bicentennial, which marked 200 years in 1976. The next commonly anticipated milestone would be the tricentennial in 2076, marking 300 years.