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
June 26 Friday, June 26, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 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
1579
War 447 years ago
Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory begins.
Polish King Stephen Báthory launches his military campaign in Livonia against Ivan the Terrible's Russia, seeking to reclaim territories lost during the Livonian War.
History
What happened on June 26
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 4World history
Augustus adopts Tiberius.
Augustus adopts Tiberius as his son and successor.
- 221World history
Roman emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and grants him the title of Caesar.
Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as heir and grants him the title of Caesar.
- 363War
Roman emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sasanian Empire.
Roman emperor Julian dies during his retreat from the Sasanian Empire.
- 684Religion
Pope Benedict II is the last pope to require confirmation by the Byzantine emperor before taking office.
Pope Benedict II becomes the final pope to need imperial confirmation from the Byzantine emperor before assuming office.
- 699Religion
En no Ozuno, a Japanese mystic and apothecary who will later be regarded as the founder of a folk religion Shugendō, is banished to Izu Ōshima.
En no Ozuno, a Japanese mystic and apothecary, is exiled to Izu Ōshima, where he will later be seen as the founder of Shugendō.
- 1243War
Mongols defeat the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Köse Dağ.
Genghis Khan's forces defeat the Seljuk Turkish army, securing Mongol control over eastern Anatolia.
- 1295European history
Przemysł II crowned king of Poland, following Ducal period. The white eagle is added to the Polish coat of arms.
Przemysł II is crowned king of Poland, marking the end of the Ducal period and introducing the white eagle to the Polish coat of arms.
- 1409Religion
Western Schism: The Roman Catholic Church is led into a double schism as Petros Philargos is crowned Pope Alexander V after the Council of Pisa, joining Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon.
Petros Philargos is crowned Pope Alexander V at the Council of Pisa, splitting leadership with Popes Gregory XII in Rome and Benedict XIII in Avignon.
- 1460UK history
War of the Roses: Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, and Edward, Earl of March, land in England with a rebel army and march on London.
Richard Neville and Edward, Earl of March, lead a rebel army to England, marching on London to challenge the ruling House of Lancaster.
- 1522War
Ottomans begin the second Siege of Rhodes.
Ottoman forces under Suleiman the Magnificent lay siege to Rhodes, seeking to expel the Knights Hospitaller from their island stronghold.
- 1579War
Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory begins.
Polish King Stephen Báthory launches his military campaign in Livonia against Ivan the Terrible's Russia, seeking to reclaim territories lost during the Livonian War.
- 1794War
French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Fleurus marks the first successful military use of aircraft and turns the tide of the War of the First Coalition.
The Battle of Fleurus marks the first successful military use of aircraft, as French forces employ a reconnaissance balloon to help secure victory against the First Coalition.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 26
7 this date All birthdays
Sunthorn Phu
Thai poet
Sunthorn Phu, the Thai poet often called the "Shakespeare of Thailand," was born in 1786 and became one of his nation's most celebrated literary figures.
Born
1786
Died
1855
Don Valentine
American venture capitalist
1932 – 2019
Adrian Gurvitz
English singer-songwriter and producer
b. 1949 · 77
Olive Morris
Jamaican-English civil rights activist
1952 – 1979
Patty Smyth
American singer-songwriter and musician
b. 1957 · 69
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Russian-Swiss businessman and philanthropist
b. 1963 · 63
Toyonoshima Daiki
Japanese sumo wrestler
b. 1983 · 43
Music
The number one songs on June 26
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 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 June 26, 1959
Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson becomes world champion of heavy weight boxing, by defeating American Floyd Patterson on technical knockout after two minutes and three seconds in the third round at Yankee Stadium.
Ingemar Johansson defeats Floyd Patterson by technical knockout to become the heavyweight boxing world champion.
Read the story
🔬 Science June 26, 1948
William Shockley files the original patent for the grown-junction transistor, the first bipolar junction transistor.
William Shockley patents the first bipolar junction transistor, a breakthrough in semiconductor technology.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan
International
Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan is a holiday annually celebrated on June 26 in Azerbaijan, by the decree issued by President Heydar Aliyev, to commemorate the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Somaliland from United Kingdom in 1960. (Somaliland)
International
Restoration Day in Somaliland is an annual national celebration observed on 18 May in Somaliland
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (International)
International
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (International)
International
The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is an international observance held annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims
World Refrigeration Day (International)
International
World Refrigeration Day is an international day established by the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat in Derbyshire, England