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 26 Wednesday, August 26, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 26 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
5
Holidays
1833
Disaster 193 years ago
The great 1833 Kathmandu-Bihar earthquake causes major damage in Nepal, northern India and Tibet, a total of 500 people perish.
A powerful earthquake devastates regions in Nepal, northern India, and Tibet, causing widespread destruction and claiming approximately 500 lives.
History
What happened on August 26
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 683War
The Battle of al-Harrah concludes, with Yazid I's army killing 11,000 people of the city of Medina.
Yazid I's army ends the Battle of al-Harrah by killing 11,000 people in Medina.
- 1071War
The Seljuq Turks defeat the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, and soon gain control of most of Anatolia.
The Seljuq Turks defeat the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert, leading to their eventual control over much of Anatolia.
- 1278European history
Ladislaus IV of Hungary and Rudolf I of Germany defeat Ottokar II of Bohemia in the Battle on the Marchfeld near Dürnkrut in (then) Moravia.
Ladislaus IV of Hungary and Rudolf I of Germany defeat Ottokar II of Bohemia in a battle near Dürnkrut, securing their territories against Bohemian expansion.
- 1346War
Hundred Years' War: At the Battle of Crécy, an English army easily defeats a French one twice its size.
Edward III's English forces defeat a larger French army at the Battle of Crécy.
- 1366European history
The Byzantine Empire retakes Gallipoli with the help of the Savoyard Crusade.
The Byzantine Empire recaptures Gallipoli with assistance from the Savoyard Crusaders.
- 1444European history
Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs: A vastly outnumbered force of Swiss Confederates is defeated by the Dauphin Louis (future Louis XI of France) and his army of 'Armagnacs' near Basel.
Swiss Confederates suffer defeat at St. Jakob an der Birs near Basel against a much larger French army led by the Dauphin Louis, the future Louis XI.
- 1542World history
A year and a half after leaving Guayaquil on the Pacific coast, Francisco de Orellana finishes his overland journey across South America and reaches the mouth of the Amazon River on the Atlantic coast.
Francisco de Orellana completes his expedition by reaching the Amazon River's mouth on the Atlantic coast after a year and a half.
- 1642War
Dutch-Portuguese War: Second Battle of San Salvador: The Dutch force the Spanish garrison at San Salvador (modern day Keelung, Taiwan) to surrender, ending the short-lived Spanish colony on Formosa and replacing it with a new Dutch administration.
The Dutch force the Spanish garrison at San Salvador to surrender, ending Spain's brief colonial presence on Formosa and establishing Dutch control over the island.
- 1648European history
The Fronde: First Fronde: In the wake of the successful Battle of Lens, Cardinal Mazarin, Chief Minister of France, suddenly orders the arrest of the leaders of the Parlement of Paris, provoking the rest of Paris to break into insurrection and barricade the streets the next day.
Cardinal Mazarin's order to arrest Parlement leaders sparks Parisian rebellion and street barricades.
- 1767World history
Jesuits all over Chile are arrested as the Spanish Empire suppresses the Society of Jesus.
Jesuits across Chile are arrested as the Spanish Empire moves to suppress the Society of Jesus.
- 1778World history
The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia.
Jakob Altorfer and Johann von Suchen climb Triglav, becoming the first to reach its summit.
- 1833Disaster
The great 1833 Kathmandu-Bihar earthquake causes major damage in Nepal, northern India and Tibet, a total of 500 people perish.
A powerful earthquake devastates regions in Nepal, northern India, and Tibet, causing widespread destruction and claiming approximately 500 lives.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 26
7 this date All birthdays
Caroline Pafford Miller
American author
Caroline Pafford Miller, the American novelist who gathered Georgia folktales and dialects to create her Pulitzer Prize-winning debut "Lamb in His Bosom," was born in 1903.
Born
1903
Died
1992
Peggy Guggenheim
American-Italian art collector and philanthropist
1898 – 1979
Tom Heinsohn
American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster
1934 – 2020
Karen Spärck Jones
English computer scientist and academic
1935 – 2007
Edward Witten
American physicist and academic
b. 1951 · 75
Mark Mangino
American football player and coach
b. 1956 · 70
Stan Van Gundy
American basketball player and coach
b. 1959 · 67
Music
The number one songs on August 26
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 26, 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 26, 1972
The Games of the XX Olympiad open in Munich, West Germany.
The Olympic Games begin in Munich, featuring athletes from around the world competing in various sports.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 26, 1883
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.
Krakatoa's final and most violent phase of eruption begins, leading to devastating tsunamis and a volcanic winter.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Herero Day (Namibia)
International
Herero Day is a gathering of the Herero people of Namibia to commemorate their deceased chieftains
Heroes' Day (Namibia)
International
Heroes' Day is a national public holiday in Namibia
International Dog Day, an observance promoting dog adoption and animal welfare (2004).
International
International Dog Day or National Dog Day is an annual observance held on August 26 to celebrate dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, promote dog adoption, and raise awareness about the welfare of dogs
Repentance Day (Papua New Guinea)
International
Repentance Day, on 26 August, is a public holiday in Papua New Guinea
Women's Equality Day (United States)
International
Women's Equality Day is celebrated in the United States on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the