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
October 20 Tuesday, October 20, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 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
1568
European history 458 years ago
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent.
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats Dutch rebel forces led by William the Silent in a significant battle during the Eighty Years' War.
History
What happened on October 20
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1568European history
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent.
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats Dutch rebel forces led by William the Silent in a significant battle during the Eighty Years' War.
- 1572War
Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the relief of Goes.
Spanish troops wade across fifteen miles of water at night to relieve the besieged city of Goes.
- 1774US history
American Revolution: The Continental Association, a nonconsumption and nonimportation agreement against the British Isles and the British West Indies, is adopted by the First Continental Congress.
The Continental Association, a boycott of British goods, is adopted to protest British policies.
- 1781Religion
The Patent of Toleration, providing limited freedom of worship, is approved in Austria.
Emperor Joseph II approves the Patent of Toleration, allowing religious minorities to gather for worship.
- 1803US history
The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase.
The United States Senate ratifies the purchase of Louisiana from France.
- 1818US history
The Convention of 1818 is signed between the United States and the United Kingdom, which settles the Canada-United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length.
The United States and the United Kingdom sign the Convention of 1818, establishing the 49th parallel as the boundary between Canada and the U.S. for much of its length.
- 1977Popculture
A plane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in woodland in Mississippi, United States. Six people, including three band members, are killed.
A plane crash in Mississippi claims the lives of six people, including three Lynyrd Skynyrd band members.
- 1995Technology
Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-73.
Space Shuttle Columbia launches on mission STS-73, carrying the second United States Microgravity Laboratory to conduct experiments in materials science and fluid physics.
- 2002TV
Top Gear, the revived popular British TV motoring magazine, premieres on BBC.
The BBC relaunches Top Gear as a motoring magazine show, beginning its transformation into one of the world's most-watched television programs.
- 2011Politics
Libyan Crisis: Rebel forces capture Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim in his hometown of Sirte and kill them shortly thereafter, ending the first Libyan civil war.
Rebel forces capture and kill Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim in Sirte, concluding the first Libyan civil war.
- 2017War
Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declare victory in the Raqqa campaign.
The Syrian Democratic Forces announce victory in the battle for Raqqa.
- 2022UK history
Liz Truss steps down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party amid the country's political crisis, serving for the least time of any British Prime Minister (49 days).
Liz Truss resigns as British Prime Minister after 49 days, ending the shortest premiership in history.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 20
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 48
Virender Sehwag
Indian cricketer
Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the most destructive openers and greatest batsmen of his era, turns 48 today.
Born
1978
Turns 48
today
Patrick Matthew. Scottish farmer and biologist
1790 – 1874
Stéphane Hessel
German-French activist and diplomat
1917 – 2013
Juan Marichal
Dominican baseball player and sportscaster
b. 1937 · 89
Allan Donald
South African cricketer and coach
b. 1966 · 60
Jamie Collins
American football player
b. 1989 · 37
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
American rapper
b. 1999 · 27
Music
The number one songs on October 20
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 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 October 20, 1982
During the UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem, 66 people are crushed to death in the Luzhniki disaster.
A crowd crush at the Luzhniki Stadium kills 66 people during a UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 20, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Arbor Day (Czech Republic)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Heroes' Day (Kenya)
International
Heroes' Day or National Heroes' Day may refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries and territories
Revolution Day (Guatemala), one of the two Patriotic Days (Guatemala)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Guatemala
Vietnamese Women's Day (Vietnam)
International
Public holidays in Vietnam are days when workers get the day off work
World Osteoporosis Day
International
World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20 October, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of bone health, and of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ost
World Statistics Day
International
World Statistics Day is an international day to celebrate statistics
❝
I just bat the way I bat. I don't think too much about it.
— Virender Sehwag · born October 20, 1978