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 26 Monday, October 26, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 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
1341
European history 685 years ago
The Byzantine civil war of 1341-1347 formally begins with the proclamation of John VI Kantakouzenos as Byzantine Emperor.
John VI Kantakouzenos proclaims himself Byzantine Emperor, igniting a six-year civil war that will devastate the empire.
History
What happened on October 26
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1185European history
The Uprising of Asen and Peter begins on the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki and ends with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Asen and Peter lead a rebellion that establishes the Second Bulgarian Empire.
- 1341European history
The Byzantine civil war of 1341-1347 formally begins with the proclamation of John VI Kantakouzenos as Byzantine Emperor.
John VI Kantakouzenos proclaims himself Byzantine Emperor, igniting a six-year civil war that will devastate the empire.
- 1377Royalty
Tvrtko I is crowned the first king of Bosnia.
Tvrtko I is crowned the first king of Bosnia, establishing a royal dynasty in the Balkans.
- 1520European history
Charles V is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.
Charles V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Aachen, consolidating his rule over vast European territories including Spain, the Netherlands, and parts of Italy and Germany.
- 1597War
Imjin War: Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin routs the Japanese Navy of 300 ships with only 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeats a Japanese fleet of 300 ships with just 13 vessels in the Battle of Myeongnyang.
- 1640UK history
The Treaty of Ripon is signed, restoring peace between Covenanter Scotland and King Charles I of England.
The Treaty of Ripon is signed, reconciling Covenanter Scotland with King Charles I of England.
- 1689War
General Enea Silvio Piccolomini of Austria burns down Skopje to prevent the spread of cholera; he dies of the disease soon afterwards.
Austrian General Enea Silvio Piccolomini orders Skopje burned to halt a cholera outbreak, then succumbs to the disease himself.
- 1774US history
American Revolution: The First Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia.
The First Continental Congress adjourns after five weeks of meetings in Philadelphia.
- 1860European history
Unification of Italy: The Expedition of the Thousand ends when Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia.
Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel II, marking the end of the Expedition of the Thousand and a key step in Italian unification.
- 1881US history
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday face off against the Clanton brothers in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
- 1999UK history
The United Kingdom's House of Lords votes to end the right of most hereditary peers to vote in Britain's upper chamber of Parliament.
The House of Lords votes to strip most hereditary peers of their voting rights in the upper chamber.
- 2002War
Approximately 50 Chechen terrorists and 150 hostages die when Russian special forces troops storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the terrorists during a musical performance three days before.
Russian special forces storm a Moscow theater, ending a hostage crisis and resulting in the deaths of approximately 50 terrorists and 150 hostages.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 26
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 45
Guy Sebastian
Malaysian-Australian singer-songwriter
Guy Sebastian, the Malaysian-born Australian singer-songwriter who won the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, turns 44 today; he has since released eleven top ten albums.
Born
1981
Turns 45
today
John Basset
Devonshire gentleman
1518 – 1541
Helmuth von Moltke the Elder
Prussian field marshal
1800 – 1891
Edward Brooke
American captain and politician, 47th Massachusetts Attorney General
1919 – 2015
Hillary Clinton
American lawyer and politician, 67th United States Secretary of State and 44th First Lady of the United States
b. 1947 · 79
Ricardo Asch
Argentinian gynecologist and endocrinologist
b. 1947 · 79
Bootsy Collins
American singer-songwriter and bass player
b. 1951 · 75
Music
The number one songs on October 26
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 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 October 26, 1863
The Football Association is founded.
The Football Association is established in London, marking the beginning of organized football in England.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 26, 1968
Space Race: The Soyuz 3 mission achieves the first Soviet space rendezvous.
Cosmonaut Georgy Beregovoy maneuvers Soyuz 3 to perform the first successful Soviet spacecraft rendezvous in orbit.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir, India)
International
Accession Day is a celebration in Jammu and Kashmir that commemorates 26 October 1947, the day when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, by which Jammu and Kashmir acceded to the Do
Angam Day (Nauru)
International
Angam Day is a holiday recognised in the Republic of Nauru
Armed Forces Day (Benin)
International
This is a list of holidays in Benin
National Day, celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. (Austria)
International
Austrian culture is characterised by historical and modern influences, including a history of interaction primarily between Celtic, Roman, Slavic and Germanic peoples
Intersex Awareness Day
International
Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed awareness day each October 26, designed to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people