Which U.S. anniversary was celebrated in 1976, before the 2026 Semiquincentennial?

The United States Bicentennial was celebrated in 1976, before the 2026 Semiquincentennial.

A bicentennial marks 200 years, so the 1976 observance commemorated the two-hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was a nationwide celebration involving public ceremonies, historical programs, special designs, and cultural events.

The 2026 Semiquincentennial follows the same anniversary sequence: the 1876 Centennial marked 100 years, the 1926 Sesquicentennial marked 150, the 1976 Bicentennial marked 200, and the 2026 Semiquincentennial marks 250. Philadelphia hosted major expositions during the 1876 and 1926 milestones.

The terms describe elapsed time, not separate founding events. The United States did not become independent anew in 1976; Americans were commemorating the anniversary of the 1776 Declaration. That distinction also explains why the 2026 celebration is tied to 1776 rather than to the later adoption of the Constitution.