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On This Day in History — December 26
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Highlights of December 26
- 2025 — Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so. Read more
- 2015 — A violent tornado moves through several suburbs of Dallas, Texas, killing ten and injuring almost 500 others. It was the deadliest tornado to ever hit Texas during the month of December. Read more
- 2015 — A violent tornado moved through several suburbs of Dallas, United States, killing ten and injuring almost 500 others. Read more
- 2006 — Two earthquakes off the southwest coast of Taiwan damaged submarine communications cables, disrupting Internet services in Asia and affecting financial transactions. Read more
- 2004 — A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries. Read more
- 1996 — Six-year-old American beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. Read more
- 1996 — The Federation of Korean Trade Unions called on its 1.2 million members to refuse to work, beginning the largest organized strike in South Korean history. Read more
- 1946 — American gangster Bugsy Siegel opened The Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the oldest casino still in operation on the Las Vegas Strip. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: In the Battle of Cape Gloucester, American and Australian forces bombarded Japanese positions on New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea while U.S. Marines invaded from two sides of the island. Read more
- 1943 — Second World War: The German battleship Scharnhorst was sunk at the Battle of the North Cape during an attempt to attack Arctic convoys. Read more
- 1919 — American baseball player Babe Ruth (pictured) was sold by the Boston Red Sox to their rivals, the New York Yankees, beginning the 84-year-long "Curse of the Bambino". Read more
- 1898 — At the French Academy of Sciences, physicists Pierre and Marie Curie announced the discovery of a new element, naming it radium. Read more
- 1871 — Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou began with Confederate defenders engaging Union forces who were attempting to capture the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Read more
- 1825 — Imperial Russian Army officers led about 3,000 soldiers in protest against Nicholas I's assumption of the throne after his elder brother Konstantin removed himself from the line of succession. Read more
- 1811 — Seventy-two people died when a theater in Richmond, Virginia, was destroyed by fire, becoming the worst urban disaster in American history at the time. Read more
- 1800 — Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, ordered the formation of the Governor's Body Guard of Light Horse, described as the first full-time military unit raised in Australia. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: George Washington led a Continental Army column across the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack against Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton (painting shown). Read more
- 1723 — Johann Sebastian Bach (pictured) directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig. Read more
- 1709 — The opera Agrippina, described as George Frideric Handel's first masterpiece, premiered in Venice. Read more
- 1606 — The first known performance of King Lear, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare (pictured) and based on the legend of Leir of Britain, took place before King James I. Read more
Events
- 2025 — Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so. Read more
- 2021 — Three people are killed when a 14-year-old opens fire on civilians at a Texaco convenience store in Garland, Texas. Read more
- 2015 — A violent EF-4 tornado hits Garland, Texas, killing nine and injuring almost 500 others. Read more
- 2013 — An Irkut-Avia Antonov An-12 crashes on approach to Irkutsk Northwest Airport, killing all nine people on board. Read more
- 2012 — China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou. Read more
- 2006 — Two earthquakes in Hengchun, Taiwan measuring 7.0 and 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale kill two and disrupt telecommunications across Asia. Read more
- 2004 — The 9.1–9.3 Mw Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis, it affected coastal and partially mainland areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898. Read more
- 2004 — Orange Revolution: The final run-off election in Ukraine is held under heavy international scrutiny. Read more
- 2003 — 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. Read more
- 1999 — The storm Lothar sweeps across Central Europe, killing 137 and causing US$1.3 billion in damage. Read more
- 1998 — Iraq announces its intention to fire upon U.S. and British warplanes that patrol the northern and southern no-fly zones. Read more
- 1994 — Four Armed Islamic Group hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969. When the plane lands at Marseille, a French Gendarmerie assault team boards the aircraft and kills the hijackers. Read more
- 1993 — Kuban Airlines Flight 5719 crashes during a go-around at Gyumri Shirak International Airport, killing 35 of the 36 people on board. Read more
- 1991 — The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War. Read more
- 1989 — United Express Flight 2415 crashes on approach to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, killing all six people on board. Read more
- 1980 — Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell". Read more
- 1978 — The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins. Read more
- 1975 — Tu-144, the world's first commercial supersonic aircraft, surpassing Mach 2, goes into service. Read more
- 1972 — 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. Read more
- 1968 — The Communist Party of the Philippines is established by Jose Maria Sison, breaking away from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930. Read more
- 1968 — Pan Am Flight 799 crashes during takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base, killing three. Read more
- 1966 — The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Read more
- 1963 — The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level. Read more
- 1948 — Cardinal József Mindszenty is arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy. Read more
- 1948 — The last Soviet troops withdraw from North Korea. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: George S. Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: German warship Scharnhorst is sunk off Norway's North Cape after a battle against major Royal Navy forces. Read more
- 1941 — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Read more
- 1941 — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress. Read more
- 1926 — World premiere of Sibelius's tone poem Tapiola. Read more
- 1919 — Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox is sold to the New York Yankees by owner Harry Frazee, allegedly establishing the Curse of the Bambino superstition. Read more
- 1898 — Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium. Read more
- 1871 — Thespis, the first Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration, debuts. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou begins as Union General William T. Sherman starts landing his troops in an attempt to advance on Vicksburg, Mississippi. Read more
- 1862 — Dakota War of 1862: The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history takes place in Mankato, Minnesota, where 38 Native American prisoners are hanged. Read more
- 1861 — American Civil War: The Trent Affair: Confederate diplomatic envoys James Murray Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus easing tensions between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1860 — First Rules derby is held between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., the oldest football fixture in the world. Read more
- 1843 — The discovery of octonions by John T. Graves, who denoted them with a boldface O, was announced to his mathematician friend William Hamilton, discoverer of quaternions, in a letter on this date. Read more
- 1825 — Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed. Read more
- 1811 — A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills 72 people, including the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable. Read more
- 1806 — Battles of Pultusk and Golymin: Russian forces hold French forces under Napoleon. Read more
- 1805 — Austria and France sign the Treaty of Pressburg. Read more
- 1799 — Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". Read more
- 1793 — Second Battle of Wissembourg: France defeats Austria. Read more
- 1790 — Louis XVI of France gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution. Read more
- 1776 — 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. Read more
- 1723 — Bach led the first performance of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, his first Christmas Cantata composed for Leipzig. Read more
- 1709 — The opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel premiered in Venice. Read more
- 1704 — Second Battle of Anandpur: In the Second Battle of Anandpur, Aurangzeb's two generals, Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan executed two children of Guru Gobind Singh, Zorawar Singh aged eight and Fateh Singh aged five, by burying them alive into a wall. Read more
- 1481 — 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. Read more
- 887 — Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia. Read more
- 795 — Election of Pope Leo III. Read more
Born on December 26
- 2004 — Leo Carlsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 2002 — Josh Wilson-Esbrand, English footballer Read more
- 2001 — Aleksej Pokuševski, Serbian basketball player Read more
- 1997 — Tamara Zidanšek, Slovenian tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Colby Cave, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2020) Read more
- 1994 — Souleymane Coulibaly, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Cecilia Costa Melgar, Chilean tennis player Read more
- 1992 — Jade Thirlwall, English singer Read more
- 1991 — Brandon Scherff, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Eden Sher, American actress Read more
- 1991 — Trevor Siemian, American football player Read more
- 1990 — Denis Cheryshev, Russian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Cory Jefferson, American basketball player Read more
- 1990 — Aaron Ramsey, Welsh footballer Read more
- 1989 — Yohan Blake, Jamaican sprinter Read more
- 1989 — Sofiane Feghouli, Algerian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Tomáš Kundrátek, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Oskar Osala, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1986 — Joe Alexander, American-Israeli basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Kit Harington, English actor Read more
- 1986 — Hugo Lloris, French footballer Read more
- 1986 — Selen Soyder, Turkish actress and beauty queen Read more
- 1985 — Damir Markota, Croatian basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Ahmed Barusso, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Leonardo Ghiraldini, Italian rugby player Read more
- 1984 — Alex Schwazer, Italian race walker Read more
- 1983 — Jeroen Soete, Belgian politician Read more
- 1983 — Yu Takahashi, Japanese singer-songwriter Read more
- 1983 — Alexander Wang, American fashion designer Read more
- 1982 — Kenneth Darby, American football player Read more
- 1982 — Noel Hunt, Irish footballer Read more
- 1982 — Aksel Lund Svindal, Norwegian skier Read more
- 1981 — Pablo Canavosio, Argentine-Italian rugby player Read more
- 1981 — Omar Infante, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
- 1980 — Todd Dunivant, American soccer player Read more
- 1980 — Ceylan Ertem, Turkish singer Read more
- 1979 — Fabián Carini, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1979 — Chris Daughtry, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1979 — Dimitry Vassiliev, Russian ski jumper Read more
- 1979 — Craig Wing, Australian rugby player Read more
Died on December 26
- 2025 — Pate Mustajärvi, Finnish rock singer (born 1956) Read more
- 2024 — Richard Parsons, American business executive (born 1948) Read more
- 2024 — Manmohan Singh, Indian economist and politician, 13th Prime Minister of India (born 1932) Read more
- 2023 — Lukas Enembe, Indonesian politician, Governor of Papua from 2013 to 2023 (born1967) Read more
- 2023 — Tom Smothers, American comedian, actor, and activist (born 1937) Read more
- 2021 — Giacomo Capuzzi, Italian Roman Catholic prelate, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lodi (born 1929) Read more
- 2021 — Paul B. Kidd, Australian author, journalist, and radio show host (born 1945) Read more
- 2021 — Karolos Papoulias, Greek politician, President of Greece from 2005 to 2015 (born 1929) Read more
- 2021 — Desmond Tutu, South African Anglican bishop, theologian and anti-apartheid and human rights activist (born 1931) Read more
- 2021 — Nell Hall Williams, American quilter (born 1933) Read more
- 2021 — Edward O. Wilson, American biologist (born 1929) Read more
- 2020 — Brodie Lee, American Professional Wrestler (born 1979) Read more
- 2017 — Irv Weinstein, American broadcaster and television news anchor (born 1930) Read more
- 2016 — Ricky Harris, American comedian, actor (born 1962) Read more
- 2016 — George S. Irving, American actor, singer and dancer (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Sidney Mintz, American anthropologist and academic (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Jim O'Toole, American baseball player (born 1937) Read more
- 2014 — Stanisław Barańczak, Polish-American poet, critic, and scholar (born 1946) Read more
- 2014 — James B. Edwards, American dentist, soldier, and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Energy (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Leo Tindemans, Belgian politician, 43rd Prime Minister of Belgium (born 1922) Read more
- 2013 — Paul Blair, American baseball player and coach (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — Marta Eggerth, Hungarian-American actress and singer (born 1912) Read more
- 2012 — Gerry Anderson, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Gerald McDermott, American author and illustrator (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — Ibrahim Tannous, Lebanese general (born 1929) Read more
- 2011 — Houston Antwine, American football player (born 1939) Read more
- 2011 — Pedro Armendáriz, Jr., Mexican-American actor and producer (born 1940) Read more
- 2011 — Sarekoppa Bangarappa, Indian politician, 15th Chief Minister of Karnataka (born 1932) Read more
- 2011 — Joe Bodolai, American screenwriter and producer (born 1948) Read more
- 2011 — James Rizzi, American painter and illustrator (born 1950) Read more
- 2010 — Salvador Jorge Blanco, 48th President of the Dominican Republic (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Edward Bhengu, South African activist (born 1934) Read more
- 2010 — Teena Marie, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1956) Read more
- 2009 — Felix Wurman, American cellist and composer (born 1958) Read more
- 2006 — Gerald Ford, American commander, lawyer, and politician, 38th President of the United States (born 1913) Read more
- 2006 — Ivar Formo, Norwegian skier and engineer (born 1951) Read more
- 2006 — Munir Niazi, Pakistani poet (born 1923) Read more
- 2005 — Muriel Costa-Greenspon, American soprano (born 1937) Read more
- 2005 — Ted Ditchburn, English footballer and manager (born 1921) Read more
- 2005 — Kerry Packer, Australian publisher and businessman (born 1937) Read more
Holidays & observances
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); 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); 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); Christian feast day:
Abadiu of Antinoe (Coptic Church); Christian feast day:
Pope Dionysius; Christian feast day:
James the Just (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Saint Stephen (Western Church); Christian feast day:
Synaxis of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Vicenta María López i Vicuña; Christian feast day:
December 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia); Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Texas); Mummer's Day (Padstow, Cornwall); Saint Stephen's Day (public holiday in Alsace, Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland), and its related observances:
Father's Day (Bulgaria); The first day of Kwanzaa, celebrated until January 1 (United States); The first day of Junkanoo street parade, the second day is on the New Year's Day (The Bahamas); The second day of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
Second day of Christmas (Public holiday in the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia); Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 26”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.