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
January 4 Sunday, January 4, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 4 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
7
Holidays
1998
Disaster 28 years ago
A massive ice storm hits eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.
A massive ice storm causes widespread destruction across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, leaving millions without power for weeks.
History
What happened on January 4
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -46War
Julius Caesar fights Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina.
Julius Caesar defeats Titus Labienus in a decisive battle at Ruspina.
- 871UK history
Battle of Reading: Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred are defeated by a Danish invasion army.
Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred suffer defeat at the hands of a Danish invasion army in the Battle of Reading.
- 1642UK history
English Civil War: King Charles I, accompanied by 400 soldiers, attempts to arrest five members of Parliament for treason, only to discover the men had been tipped off and fled.
King Charles I marches into Parliament with 400 soldiers to arrest five members for treason, but they have fled after receiving warning.
- 1649UK history
English Civil War: The Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial.
The Rump Parliament votes to put King Charles I on trial for high treason.
- 1717European history
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and France sign the Triple Alliance.
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and France form an alliance to counterbalance German power.
- 1762UK history
Great Britain declares war on Spain, which meant the entry of Spain into the Seven Years' War.
Great Britain declares war on Spain, bringing Spain into the Seven Years' War.
- 1853US history
After having been kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South, Solomon Northup regains his freedom; his memoir Twelve Years a Slave later becomes a national bestseller.
Solomon Northup regains his freedom after being kidnapped and enslaved for twelve years, later publishing his memoir "Twelve Years a Slave."
- 1896US history
Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.
Utah becomes the 45th U.S. state.
- 1903US history
Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted by the owners of Luna Park, Coney Island. The Edison film company records the film Electrocuting an Elephant of Topsy's death.
Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted at Luna Park in Coney Island; the Edison film company documents her death on film.
- 1998Disaster
A massive ice storm hits eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.
A massive ice storm causes widespread destruction across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, leaving millions without power for weeks.
- 2000Disaster
A Norwegian passenger train departing from Trondheim, collides with a local train coming from Hamar in Åsta in Åmot Municipality; 19 people are killed and 68 injured in the accident.
A collision between two trains in Åsta kills 19 and injures 68.
- 2004Technology
Spirit, a NASA Mars rover, lands successfully on Mars at 04:35 UTC.
Spirit, a NASA Mars rover, touches down on the Martian surface at 04:35 UTC.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 4
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 27
Nico Hischier
Swiss ice hockey player
Nico Hischier, Swiss professional ice hockey centre and captain of the New Jersey Devils, turns 26 today.
Born
1999
Turns 27
today
Paul Desmarais
Canadian businessman and philanthropist
1927 – 2013
Günter Schabowski
German journalist and politician
1929 – 2015
John McLaughlin
English guitarist and songwriter
b. 1942 · 84
Patty Loveless
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1957 · 69
Jasmine Paolini
Italian tennis player
b. 1996 · 30
Rob Dillingham
American basketball player
b. 2005 · 21
Music
The number one songs on January 4
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on January 4, 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 January 4, 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 January 4, 1959
Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon.
Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
The eleventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas. (Western Christianity)
International
The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus
Independence Day (Myanmar), celebrates the independence of Myanmar from the United Kingdom in 1948.
International
Independence Day is a national holiday observed annually in Myanmar every 4 January
Colonial Martyrs Repression Day (Angola)
International
The strike in Baixa do Cassange, also called Mariano's revolt and Maria's war, was a labor strike that is considered the first political movement that would trigger the Angolan War of Independence exa
Day of the Martyrs (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
International
This is a list of holidays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ogoni Day (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People)
International
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), is a social movement organization representing the indigenous Ogoni people of Rivers State, Nigeria
Tokyo Dome Show: The annual Wrestle Kingdom event run by New Japan Pro-Wrestling
International
The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show is a professional wrestling event produced annually on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a Japan-based professional wrestling promotion