The United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence with parades, fireworks and patriotic celebrations across the country, as a sweltering heat wave and political divisions shape this year’s historic Fourth of July.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
An attendee asks questions to U.S. Park Police officers as they evacuate attendees due to severe weather during a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
An attendee asks questions to U.S. Park Police officers as they evacuate attendees due to severe weather during a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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People evacuate the National Mall due to weather while attending Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
People evacuate the National Mall due to weather while attending Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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People arrive for a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
People arrive for a Salute to America Independence Day event honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Tall ships parade under flyovers during the International Parade of Sail, part of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Tall ships parade under flyovers during the International Parade of Sail, part of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Vice President JD Vance speaks on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Vice President JD Vance speaks on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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People look on during an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
People look on during an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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People raise their hats while dancing during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, July 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People raise their hats while dancing during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, July 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Military personnel salute from the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review, ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Military personnel salute from the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in the New York harbor during The International Naval Review, ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America’s 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New U.S. citizen and twice-deployed U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare, from Guinea, poses for a portrait following the naturalization ceremony on Independence Day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
New U.S. citizen and twice-deployed U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare, from Guinea, poses for a portrait following the naturalization ceremony on Independence Day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
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Brian White, dressed in a bald eagle costume and patriotic U.S. flag-based clothing, stands along the route of an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Brian White, dressed in a bald eagle costume and patriotic U.S. flag-based clothing, stands along the route of an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Leandro Braga watches a drone exhibition at celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Leandro Braga watches a drone exhibition at celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Members of the Young Marines stand at attention before an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Members of the Young Marines stand at attention before an Independence Day parade Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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People participate in a Limbo contest as they wait for the National Mall to reopen after being evacuated due to weather during Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
People participate in a Limbo contest as they wait for the National Mall to reopen after being evacuated due to weather during Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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A participant wearing a period dress draped in a U.S. flag attends the annual Festa Americana, where descendants of American immigrants in Brazil celebrate their U.S. heritage and mark Independence Day, in Santa Barbara d’Oeste, Brazil, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini)
A participant wearing a period dress draped in a U.S. flag attends the annual Festa Americana, where descendants of American immigrants in Brazil celebrate their U.S. heritage and mark Independence Day, in Santa Barbara d’Oeste, Brazil, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini)
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People watch as a truck blows red, white and blue confetti during an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
People watch as a truck blows red, white and blue confetti during an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
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Children line up to watch an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
Children line up to watch an Independence Day parade, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Deforest, Wis. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
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Children cool off from the hundred-degree heat at a spray park on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Children cool off from the hundred-degree heat at a spray park on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Visitors experiencing excessive heat sit on the ground at the national mall during Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Visitors experiencing excessive heat sit on the ground at the national mall during Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
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Joey Chestnut wins the 2026 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anna Connors)
Joey Chestnut wins the 2026 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anna Connors)
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Madyson White wearing an inflatable Uncle Sam costume waves while watching an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Madyson White wearing an inflatable Uncle Sam costume waves while watching an Independence Day parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks past a projection of the American flag on the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday, July 5, 2026, displayed in honor of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks past a projection of the American flag on the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday, July 5, 2026, displayed in honor of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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Runners draped in American flags participate in a run on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Runners draped in American flags participate in a run on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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The Mother Ukraine Monument is illuminated in the colors of the U.S. flag in honor of the American 250th Independence Day, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Mother Ukraine Monument is illuminated in the colors of the U.S. flag in honor of the American 250th Independence Day, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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A person rides a scooter past a large “USA” installation on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A person rides a scooter past a large “USA” installation on Independence Day in Huntington Beach, Calif., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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