It may seem a little early to start thinking about the Fourth of July in 2026, but the U.S. government has been planning for it for almost 10 years now. Why? Next year’s Independence Day will be America’s 250th birthday, which is a huge milestone.
An act of Congress actually got the ball rolling on planning for Fourth of July 2026 back in 2016, but the preparation will ramp up in the year leading up to the big day. And for some, the party starts on July 3, 2025, when President Trump is set to start the countdown with a speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
Here’s what we know about America250, the catchy name for next year’s Independence Day milestone, and who’s behind the planning for it.
When will America celebrate 250 years? What is a 250th anniversary called?
The United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The United States Semiquincentennial, also called the Bisesquicentennial, the Sestercentennial, America250 or the Quarter Millennium, will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The nation will be awash in pride and patriotism this time next year, as America celebrates its 250th birthday.
Anyone old enough to recall the bicentennial celebrations in 1976 will remember a year’s worth of commemorations, special offers and celebrations leading up to a massive nationwide party that summer.
President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much of the same through 2026, with Trump predicting that the celebration under his watch will reach “extraordinary” levels.
Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa this month to kick off the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, marking his first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House.
When is America250?
America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day, July 4, 2026.
How old is the United States?
The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776.
What America250 events are scheduled?
In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250.
Trump created the task force to be responsible for planning and executing “an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence” in 2026. The task force is also responsible for creating the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden that the president first proposed in 2020 and is scheduled to open in July 2026.
Fourth of July 2025 weekend celebrations at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, which starts with remarks from the president tonight, July 3, will kick off a year of events around the country.
To see ongoing event opportunities around the U.S., look at the interactive calendar and map on the America250 website.
Who is behind America250?
The United States Semiquincentennial, also known as America250, is a nonprofit dedicated to the celebration of the 250th anniversary across the country. Planning for America’s 250th birthday party began nearly nine years ago, when the 2016 U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission Act was passed by an act of Congress.
The America250 site lists more than a dozen corporate partners, including Amazon, Coke and Walmart, and has information on events scheduled so far in states throughout the country.
America250: Trump kicks off birthday celebration with Iowa speech
To kick off the year-long celebration President Donald Trump is expected to give a speech in Des Moines tonight, July 3, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and Trump is expected to speak around 7:30 p.m.
“Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer are scheduled to attend, and many of Iowa’s other top GOP brass are likely to be on site,” The Des Moines Register reported.
“It marks Trump’s first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House. Trump last attended the Iowa State Fair in August 2023 in the leadup to Iowa’s 2024 Republican presidential caucuses.”
Contributing: Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register; Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: What is America250? Fourth of July 2026 will have big plans. Here’s what we know
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
