What is Fourth of July?
On 4 July 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing that the thirteen American colonies were breaking away from Great Britain. The vote for independence itself had taken place two days earlier, on 2 July.
Celebrations with bells, bonfires and fireworks began the very next year, in 1777, and Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1870. 2026 marked 250 years since the Declaration.
When is Fourth of July? Dates for 2026 and 2027
2026
- Friday 3 July 2026Federal holiday (4 July fell on a Saturday)
- Saturday 4 July 2026Independence Day, the 250th anniversary
2027
- Sunday 4 July 2027Independence Day
- Monday 5 July 2027Federal holiday (4 July falls on a Sunday)
The date never changes. When 4 July falls on a weekend, the federal day off moves to the Friday before or the Monday after, but fireworks and parades usually stay on the 4th.
How people celebrate
- Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, watermelon and apple pie.
- Parades with marching bands and flags in towns across the country.
- Big fireworks shows, such as Macy's display in New York and the fireworks over the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Good to know
- Leave the big fireworks to the professionals: thousands of people are hurt by fireworks in the United States each year, many of them around 4 July.
- Sparklers burn at around 2,000 °F (about 1,100 °C): keep them away from small children.
- Pets are often frightened by the bangs: keep them indoors during the fireworks.