A unique version of the United States Declaration of Independence is set to be exhibited in London next year, as part of an event commemorating the nation’s founding.

The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the official declaration in which 13 colonies proclaimed their independence from Britain.

State representatives affixed their signatures to the document, which asserted that King George III had imposed “an absolute tyranny” over the British North American colonies.

The exhibition, titled Revolution 250: The Making Of The USA, will take place at the National Archives in Kew and will showcase documents including a rare printing of the declaration.

From May through November 2026, a special Dunlap edition of the declaration, printed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, will be on display at the National Archives.

The Dunlap prints were the first authorized reproductions of the Declaration of Independence, named after John Dunlap, the printer whose name appears at the bottom of each copy.

It is estimated that only about 200 Dunlap prints were ever produced.

Primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, the document outlines the colonies’ grievances and emphasizes their right to govern themselves.

In the United States, this historic occasion is celebrated every year on July 4 as Independence Day.

The declaration features one of history’s most renowned phrases: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The separation from Britain occurred amid the early stages of a war for independence that spanned from April 1775 to September 1783.

The victory of the United States led to the British monarchy’s recognition of the 13 colonies’ independence, marking the establishment of the United States as a sovereign nation.

The exhibition in Kew will also feature copies of the Tea Act, which instigated the Boston Tea Party, as well as the Treaty of Paris from 1783, which confirmed Britain’s recognition of the USA.

Dr. Sean Cunningham, a curator at the National Archives, remarked, “Revolution 250 will investigate two crucial decades that transformed the world, charting the significant rise and eventual decline of British authority in America.”

“At its core lies the Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776—an event that altered the course of history.”

“Our records narrate the tale of the American Revolution and emphasize the personal accounts of many individuals who had a vested interest in the future of British America.”

The National Archives currently possesses three Dunlap prints.

Saul Nasse, the chief executive of the National Archives, expressed enthusiasm: “During this significant year, we are thrilled to showcase the extraordinary documents within our collection to delve into the origins of what we now recognize as the United States of America.”

Revolution 250: The Making Of The USA will open on May 23, 2026, and continue until November 29, 2026, at the National Archives in Kew, located in southwest London.