Independence Day 2026
Happy Independence Day!! This 4th of July, we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America.
250 years ago, in the city of Philadelphia, our Founding Fathers met to sign the Declaration of Independence, officially declaring the United States of America as an independent nation.
Many USC alumni have gone on to make great contributions to American history, including Neil Armstrong (Class of 1970), the first man and American to walk on the moon, and Allyson Felix (Class of 2008), the most decorated woman and American in World Olympic Track and Field history.
The USC and surrounding Los Angeles community host and participate in many celebrations to honor the USA. Our USC Trojan Marching Band regularly plays around Southern California at different Independence Day celebrations.
This Independence Day, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, home of the USC Trojan Football Team, will be hosting America250, a large, once in a generation celebration for Americans. This is a block-party type of event with food, music, a fireworks show, and special guest performers. This event will be televised and hosted by Queen Latifah. It’s also a part of a series of other America250 events happening across our nation, including in South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and New York, which, when combined, is destined to be the largest Independence Day celebration in USA history.
Please be on the lookout for other Independence Day celebrations in your local communities. We wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day as we celebrate the freedoms, history, culture, and founding principles of the United States of America.
Written by: John Russell, Assistant Director – USC Office of Undergraduate Admission