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
December 26 Saturday, December 26, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 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
8
Holidays
1776
War 250 years ago
American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army under General George Washington executes a successful surprise attack and defeats a garrison of Hessian forces serving Great Britain.
George Washington leads the Continental Army across the Delaware River in a daring nighttime crossing, surprising and defeating Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey.
History
What happened on December 26
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 795Religion
Election of Pope Leo III.
Pope Leo III is elected as the new leader of the Catholic Church.
- 887European history
Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia.
Berengar I is elected king of Italy by the Lombard lords and crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia.
- 1481European history
Battle of Westbroek: An army of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers raised by David of Burgundy, Bishop of Utrecht, attacks an armed mob of people from nearby Utrecht who were trying to avenge the massacre of the inhabitants of Westbroek.
David of Burgundy's army clashes with Utrechters seeking vengeance for the Westbroek massacre.
- 1723Pop culture
Bach led the first performance of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, his first Christmas Cantata composed for Leipzig.
Johann Sebastian Bach conducted the premiere of his Christmas cantata "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes," BWV 40, in Leipzig.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army under General George Washington executes a successful surprise attack and defeats a garrison of Hessian forces serving Great Britain.
George Washington leads the Continental Army across the Delaware River in a daring nighttime crossing, surprising and defeating Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey.
- 1825World history
Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed.
Russian liberal officers stage a rebellion against Czar Nicholas I on Senate Square, only to be crushed by government forces.
- 1862US history
Dakota War of 1862: The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history takes place in Mankato, Minnesota, where 38 Native American prisoners are hanged.
Thirty-eight Native Americans are hanged in Mankato, Minnesota, the largest mass-execution in U.S. history.
- 1972War
Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.
American B-52 bombers attack Hanoi, with 78 launched from Guam in the largest single combat launch by Strategic Air Command.
- 1978Sports
The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins.
The first Paris-Dakar Rally starts in France, marking the beginning of a challenging cross-country race to Dakar.
- 2003Disaster
The 6.6 Mw Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured.
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake devastates Bam, Iran, killing over 26,000 and injuring more than 30,000.
- 2004Politics
Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny.
Viktor Yanukovych and Yulia Tymoshenko compete in a closely watched runoff election that marks the climax of Ukraine's Orange Revolution.
- 2025Politics
Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so.
Israel becomes the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent state.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 26
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 66
Cem Uzan
Turkish businessman and politician
Cem Cengiz Uzan, Turkish businessman and politician who chairs the social liberal Young Party, turns 66 today, known for his family's once-expansive media empire.
Born
1960
Turns 66
today
Jean Toomer
American author and poet
1894 – 1967
Alejo Carpentier
Swiss-Cuban musicologist and author
1904 – 1980
Albert Gore
Sr., American lawyer and politician
1907 – 1998
Frank Broyles
American football player, coach, and sportscaster
1924 – 2017
Edward C. Prescott
American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
1940 – 2022
William Ayers
American academic and activist
b. 1944 · 82
Music
The number one songs on December 26
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 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 December 26, 1978
The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins.
The first Paris-Dakar Rally starts in France, marking the beginning of a challenging cross-country race to Dakar.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 26, 1898
Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium.
Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium, a discovery that advances medical and scientific research.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonwealth of Nations), and its related observances: Day of Good Will (South Africa and Namibia)
International
Boxing Day, also known as Offering Day, is a holiday celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day
Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonwealth of Nations), and its related observances: Family Day (Vanuatu)
International
Family Day is a public holiday in the countries of Angola, Israel, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam; in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario
Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonwealth of Nations), and its related observances: Thanksgiving (Solomon Islands)
International
The people of the Solomon Islands observe these holidays nationally
Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia)
International
Independence and Unity Day is a Slovenian national holiday that occurs on every 26 December to commemorate the official proclamation of the Slovenian independence referendum on 26 December 1990
Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Texas)
International
Maher "Mauro" Hamza is a fencing coach who was born in Cairo, Egypt
Mummer's Day (Padstow, Cornwall)
International
Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known, is a traditional Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall