Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
August 20 Thursday, August 20, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 20 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
1775
US history 251 years ago
The Spanish establish the Presidio San Augustin del Tucson in the town that became Tucson, Arizona.
The Spanish establish the Presidio San Augustín del Tucson, a military fort that becomes the foundation of modern Tucson, Arizona.
History
What happened on August 20
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 14World history
Agrippa Postumus, maternal grandson of the late Roman emperor Augustus, is executed by his guards while in exile.
Agrippa Postumus, Augustus's maternal grandson, is executed by his guards during exile.
- 636World history
Marking the first great wave of Muslim conquests and the rapid advance of Islam outside Arabia, Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid defeat the Byzantine Empire and take control of the Levant.
Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid defeat the Byzantine Empire, taking control of the Levant.
- 917War
Battle of Acheloos: Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria decisively defeats a Byzantine army.
Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria decisively defeats a Byzantine army at the Battle of Acheloos, one of the bloodiest battles in medieval history.
- 1083Religion
The first King of Hungary, Stephen I, and his son, Prince Emeric, are canonized, a date now celebrated as a National Day in Hungary.
Stephen I and his son Prince Emeric are canonized, becoming saints and establishing a national holiday in Hungary.
- 1191War
Believing Saladin had reneged on ransom promises, Richard I of England initiates the massacre at Ayyadieh, beheading 2,700 captive Muslim soldiers and another 300 women and children seized at the Fall of Acre.
Richard I orders the execution of 2,700 captive Muslim soldiers and 300 women and children in Ayyadieh after the Fall of Acre.
- 1308Religion
At the conclusion of the interrogation of the leaders of the Knights Templar, the three papal investigators, Cardinals Bérenger Frédol, Etienne de Suisy and Landolfo Brancacci, write the "Chinon Parchment", in which they affirm that the accused Templars had confessed, done penance, and were absolved of heresy.
Cardinals Bérenger Frédol, Etienne de Suisy, and Landolfo Brancacci affirm the absolution of Templar leaders who confessed and repented of heresy.
- 1467European history
The Second Battle of Olmedo takes places as part of a succession conflict between Henry IV of Castile and his half-brother Alfonso, Prince of Asturias.
The Second Battle of Olmedo erupts during a succession conflict between Henry IV of Castile and his half-brother Alfonso, Prince of Asturias.
- 1519World history
On the third day of battle, philosopher and general Wang Yangming defeats Zhu Chenhao, ending the Prince of Ning rebellion against the reign of the Ming dynasty's Zhengde Emperor.
Wang Yangming defeats Zhu Chenhao, ending the Prince of Ning rebellion and restoring order to the Ming dynasty.
- 1648European history
The Battle of Lens is the last major military confrontation of the Thirty Years' War, contributing to the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in October that year.
The Battle of Lens concludes the Thirty Years' War, leading to the Peace of Westphalia.
- 1672European history
Former Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis are lynched by a mob in The Hague.
Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis are murdered by a mob in The Hague.
- 1775US history
The Spanish establish the Presidio San Augustin del Tucson in the town that became Tucson, Arizona.
The Spanish establish the Presidio San Augustín del Tucson, a military fort that becomes the foundation of modern Tucson, Arizona.
- 1858Science
Charles Darwin first publishes his theory of evolution through natural selection in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, alongside Alfred Russel Wallace's same theory.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace simultaneously publish their theories of evolution by natural selection.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 20
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 61
KRS-One
American rapper and producer
KRS-One, founding member of Boogie Down Productions and renowned for hits like "Sound of da Police," turns 61 today.
Born
1965
Turns 61
today
Andrei Konchalovsky
Russian director, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1937 · 89
Gerry Bertier
American football player
1953 – 1981
Alvin Greenidge
Barbadian cricketer
b. 1956 · 70
Sandy Brondello
Australian basketball player and coach
b. 1968 · 58
Laura Georges
French footballer
b. 1984 · 42
Culoe De Song
South African music producer and DJ
b. 1990 · 36
Music
The number one songs on August 20
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 20, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport August 20, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 20, 1977
Voyager program: NASA launches the Voyager 2 spacecraft.
Voyager 2 is launched on a mission to explore the outer planets of the solar system.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Indian Akshay Urja Day (India)
International
Akshay Urja diwas is an awareness campaign about the developments of renewable energy in India, celebrated on August 20 every year since 2004
Independence Restoration Day (Estonia), re-declaration of the independence of Estonia from the Soviet Union in 1991.
International
All official holidays in Estonia are established by acts of Parliament
Meitei Language Day, also known as Manipuri Language Day, the day on which Meitei (Manipuri) was included in the scheduled languages' list and made one of the official languages of India.
International
Manipuri Language Day, is an annual celebration of the Manipuri (Meitei) language in India and Bangladesh on 20 August
Revolution of the King and the People (Morocco)
International
The Revolution of the King and the People was a Moroccan anti-colonial national liberation movement with the goal of ending the French and Spanish protectorates in Morocco in order to break free from
Saint Stephen's Day (Hungary)
International
A number of public holidays and special events take place each year in Hungary
World Mosquito Day
International
World Mosquito Day, observed annually on 20 August, is a commemoration of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross's discovery in 1897 that female anopheline mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans, thus con