August 26 in history — What Happened Today in History
Welcome to August 26 in history! Here you can discover what happened on August 26, including the major events, the famous people born on August 26 and the notable deaths on August 26, with the newest story starting in 2026.
On this page, August 26 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about August 26 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on August 26 in History 40
- 2026
A series of large flash floods and debris flows along the Nepal–Tibet border and the Trishuli River, believed to have been caused by glacier collapse, stuck and destroyed numerous settlements, including the Gyirong checkpoint, and killed over 1,400 people, with over 5,800 reported missing.
- 2023
Exactly five years after the 2018 Jacksonville Landing shooting, there is another shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, leaving three people dead.
- 2021
During the 2021 Kabul airlift, a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport kills 13 US military personnel and at least 169 Afghan civilians.
- 2018
Three people are killed and eleven wounded during a mass shooting at a Madden NFL '19 video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.
- 2015
Two U.S. journalists are shot and killed by a disgruntled former coworker while conducting a live report in Moneta, Virginia.
- 2014
The Jay Report into the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal is published.
- 2011
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's all-new composite airliner, receives certification from the EASA and the FAA.
- 2009
Kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard is discovered alive in California after being missing for over 18 years. Her captors, Phillip and Nancy Garrido, are apprehended.
- 2003
A Beechcraft 1900 operating as Colgan Air Flight 9446 crashes after taking off from Barnstable Municipal Airport in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, killing both pilots on board.
- 1999
Russia begins the Second Chechen War in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade.
- 1998
The first flight of the Boeing Delta III ends in disaster 75 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the loss of the Galaxy X communications satellite.
- 1997
Beni Ali massacre occurs in Algeria, leaving 60 to 100 people dead.
All entries for August 26（+28）
- 1993
Sakha Avia Flight 301 crashes on approach to Aldan Airport, killing all 24 aboard.
- 1981
Aeropesca Flight 221 crashes in Colombia's Huila Department, killing all 50 people on board.
- 1980
After John Birges plants a bomb at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, in the United States, the FBI inadvertently detonates the bomb during its disarming.
- 1978
Papal conclave: Albino Luciani is elected as Pope John Paul I.
- 1977
The Charter of the French Language is adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec.
- 1972
The Games of the XX Olympiad open in Munich, West Germany.
- 1970
The fiftieth anniversary of American women being able to vote is marked by a nationwide Women's Strike for Equality.
- 1969
Aeroflot Flight 1770 crashes while landing at Vnukovo International Airport, killing 16.
- 1966
The South African Border War starts with the battle at Omugulugwombashe.
- 1944
World War II: Charles de Gaulle enters Paris.
- 1942
The Holocaust in Ukraine: At Chortkiv, the Ukrainian police and German Schutzpolizei deport two thousand Jews to Bełżec extermination camp. Five hundred of the sick and children are murdered on the spot. This continued until the next day.
- 1940
World War II: Chad becomes the first French colony to join the Allies under the administration of Félix Éboué, France's first black colonial governor.
- 1936
Spanish Civil War: Santander falls to the Nationalists and the Republican Interprovincial Council is dissolved.
- 1922
Greco-Turkish War (1919–22): Turkish army launched what has come to be known to the Turks as the Great Offensive (Büyük Taarruz). The major Greek defense positions were overrun.
- 1920
The 19th amendment to United States Constitution, giving women the right to vote, is certified.
- 1914
World War I: The German colony of Togoland surrenders to French and British forces after a 20-day campaign. Togoland is the first German colony to fall to Allied hands in World War I.
- 1914
World War I: During the retreat from Mons, the British II Corps commanded by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien fights a vigorous and successful defensive action at Le Cateau.
- 1883
The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.
- 1863
The Swedish-language liberal newspaper Helsingfors Dagblad proposes the current blue-and-white cross flag as the flag of Finland.
- 1849
President Faustin Soulouque of the First Republic of Haiti has the Senate and Chamber of Deputies proclaim him the Emperor of Haiti, abolishing the Republic and inaugurating the Second Empire of Haiti.
- 1833
The great 1833 Kathmandu–Bihar earthquake causes major damage in Nepal, northern India and Tibet, killing a total of 500 people.
- 1814
Chilean War of Independence: Infighting between the rebel forces of José Miguel Carrera and Bernardo O'Higgins erupts in the Battle of Las Tres Acequias.
- 1813
War of the Sixth Coalition: An impromptu battle takes place when French and Prussian-Russian forces accidentally run into each other near Liegnitz, Prussia (now Legnica, Poland).
- 1810
The former viceroy Santiago de Liniers of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata is executed after the defeat of his counter-revolution.
- 1791
John Fitch is granted a United States patent for the steamboat.
- 1789
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France.
- 1778
The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia.
- 1768
Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMS Endeavour, starting his first voyage of discovery.
Famous Birthdays on August 26 in History 25
- 2006
Victoria Mboko, Canadian tennis player
- 2002
Lil Tecca, American rapper
- 2001
Patrick Williams, American basketball player
- 2000
Kyren Williams, American football player
- 1999
Rosa, former sea otter at Monterey Bay Aquarium
- 1999
Naz Reid, American basketball player
- 1999
Kotoshoho Yoshinari, Japanese sumo wrestler
- 1998
Charlie Gillespie, Canadian actor and singer
- 1998
Jeon Soyeon, Korean rapper and record producer
- 1997
Cordae, American rapper
- 1995
Anthony Duclair, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1995
Ranger Suárez, Venezuelan baseball player
All entries for August 26（+13）
- 1994
Alex Collins, American football player (died 2023)
- 1994
Austin Gunn, American professional wrestler
- 1993
Keke Palmer, American actress and singer
- 1991
Jessie Diggins, American cross-country skier
- 1991
Dylan O'Brien, American actor
- 1990
Lorenzo Brown, American basketball player
- 1990
Irina-Camelia Begu, Romanian tennis player
- 1988
Elvis Andrus, Venezuelan baseball player
- 1988
Evan Ross, American actor
- 1988
Danielle Savre, American actress
- 1988
Wayne Simmonds, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1988
Lars Stindl, German footballer
- 1986
Vladislav Gussev, Estonian footballer
Notable Deaths on August 26 in History 25
- 2026
Peter Cullen, Canadian voice actor (born 1941)
- 2026
Péter Nádas, Hungarian author and playwright (born 1942)
- 2024
Sven-Göran Eriksson, Swedish footballer and manager (born 1948)
- 2024
Sid Eudy, American actor and professional wrestler (born 1960)
- 2023
Bob Barker, American television game show host (born 1923)
- 2020
Joe Ruby, American animator (born 1933)
- 2018
Neil Simon, American playwright and author (born 1927)
- 2017
Tobe Hooper, American film director (born 1943)
- 2015
Amelia Boynton Robinson, American activist (born 1905)
- 2015
Donald Eric Capps, American theologian, author, and academic (born 1939)
- 2015
P. J. Kavanagh, English poet and author (born 1931)
- 2015
Stefanos Manikas, Greek politician (born 1952)
All entries for August 26（+13）
- 2015
Francisco San Diego, Filipino bishop (born 1935)
- 2014
Christian Bourquin, French lawyer and politician (born 1954)
- 2014
Peter Bacon Hales, American historian, photographer, and author (born 1950)
- 2014
Caroline Kellett, English journalist (born 1960)
- 2014
Chūsei Sone, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1937)
- 2013
Hélie de Saint Marc, French soldier (born 1922)
- 2013
John J. Gilligan, American soldier and politician, 62nd Governor of Ohio (born 1921)
- 2013
Bill Schmitz, American football player and coach (born 1954)
- 2013
Jack Sinagra, American lawyer and politician (born 1950)
- 2013
Clyde A. Wheeler, American soldier and politician (born 1921)
- 2012
Russ Alben, American composer and businessman (born 1929)
- 2012
Reginald Bartholomew, American academic and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Italy (born 1936)
- 2012
Jacques Bensimon, Canadian director and producer (born 1943)
That is the story of August 26 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on August 26 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on August 26 in history?
The biggest event on August 26 in history is: 2026 — A series of large flash floods and debris flows along the Nepal–Tibet border and the Trishuli River, believed to have been caused by glacier collapse, stuck and destroyed numerous settlements, including the Gyirong checkpoint, and killed over 1,400 people, with over 5,800 reported missing.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on August 26?
25 famous people were born on August 26 in history, the best known being 2006 — Victoria Mboko, Canadian tennis player.
Who died on August 26?
25 notable people died on August 26 in history, including 2026 — Peter Cullen, Canadian voice actor (born 1941).
Why should I read about August 26 in history?
Exploring August 26 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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