The United States Semiquincentennial, celebrated through America250, takes place in 2026.
The term semiquincentennial means a 250th anniversary: “semi” means half, while “quincentennial” refers to 500 years. The anniversary marks 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
America250 is the national commemoration organized around this milestone. Its central date is July 4, the day associated with the Declaration’s adoption and the modern Independence Day holiday. The anniversary is therefore often written as 1776–2026.
A common mix-up is confusing the anniversary year with the year the planning commission was established. Congress created the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016, a decade before the anniversary itself. The earlier date marked the beginning of preparations, not the celebration. The milestone also follows the United States Bicentennial in 1976, which commemorated the 200th anniversary of independence.