How PBS Is Celebrating the Semiquincentennial (Exclusive)

Happy (early) 250th birthday, America!

By Tony Maglio May 19, 2025 1:00pm

As the American federal government is turning its back on PBS, PBS is celebrating the republic.

PBS is going all-in on America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. You, of course, know what that word means: the country’s 250th birthday. From June 27-July 4, 2026, PBS will run an entire week of programming celebrating the milestone, which it is calling “the largest national and local engagement effort in its history.” A host of programming in the months leading up to that week is also in the works.

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Handwork: A Craft in America 250 Special, a four-part series, will celebrate 250 years of handmade artistry with the first two episodes, “East” and “West,” premiering Dec. 19. Each episode is told through the hands of makers and explores ancestral traditions and modern innovation. Celebrating the significance of handcrafted objects in shaping and reflecting America’s diverse cultural heritage, these episodes are one part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a multi-faceted, national initiative organized by Craft in America. Exhibitions and community events will be held nationwide in collaboration with PBS member stations, and educational programs for K-12 will be available on PBS LearningMedia.