October 26 in history — What Happened Today in History
October 26 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on October 26 in history, who was born on October 26 and who passed away on October 26, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, October 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 October 26 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on October 26 in History 40
- 2015
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes in the Hindu Kush mountain range in South Asia, killing 399 people and leaving 2,536 people injured.
- 2012
Microsoft made a public release of Windows 8 and made it available on new PCs.
- 2004
Rockstar Games releases Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2 in North America, which sold 12 million units for the PS2, becoming the console's best-selling video game.
- 2003
The Cedar Fire, the third-largest wildfire in California history, kills 15 people, consumes 250,000 acres (1,000 km2), and destroys 2,200 homes around San Diego.
- 2002
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.
- 2001
The United States passes the USA PATRIOT Act into law.
- 2000
A wave of protests forces Robert Guéï to step down as president after the Ivorian presidential election.
- 1999
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.
- 1995
Mossad agents assassinate Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Fathi Shaqaqi in his hotel in Malta.
- 1995
An avalanche hits the Icelandic village of Flateyri, destroying 29 homes and burying 45 people, and killing 20.
- 1994
Jordan and Israel sign a peace treaty.
- 1991
Three months after the end of the Ten-Day War, the last soldier of the Yugoslav People's Army leaves the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.
All entries for October 26（+28）
- 1989
China Airlines Flight 204 crashes after takeoff from Hualien Airport in Taiwan, killing all 54 people on board.
- 1985
The Australian government returns ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginals.
- 1979
Park Chung Hee, President of South Korea, is assassinated by Korean CIA head Kim Jae-gyu.
- 1977
Ali Maow Maalin, the last natural case of smallpox, develops a rash in Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date to be the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination.
- 1968
Space Race: The Soyuz 3 mission achieves the first Soviet space rendezvous.
- 1967
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi crowns himself Emperor of Iran.
- 1958
Pan American Airways makes the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 from New York City to Paris.
- 1956
Hungarian Revolution: In the towns of Mosonmagyaróvár and Esztergom, Hungarian secret police forces massacre civilians. As rebel strongholds in Budapest hold, fighting spreads throughout the country.
- 1955
After the last Allied troops have left the country, and following the provisions of the Austrian Independence Treaty, Austria declares that it will never join a military alliance.
- 1955
Ngô Đình Diệm proclaims himself as President of the newly created Republic of Vietnam.
- 1947
Partition of India: The Maharaja of Kashmir and Jammu signs the Instrument of Accession with India, beginning the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and the Kashmir conflict.
- 1944
World War II: The Battle of Leyte Gulf ends with an overwhelming American victory.
- 1942
World War II: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign, one U.S. aircraft carrier is sunk and another carrier is heavily damaged, while two Japanese carriers and one cruiser are heavily damaged.
- 1937
Nazi Germany begins expulsions of 18,000 Polish Jews.
- 1936
The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation.
- 1918
World War I: Erich Ludendorff, quartermaster-general of the Imperial German Army, is dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II for refusing to cooperate in peace negotiations.
- 1917
World War I: Brazil declares war on the Central Powers.
- 1912
First Balkan War: The Ottomans lose the cities of Thessaloniki and Skopje.
- 1909
Japanese occupation of Korea: An Jung-geun assassinates Japan's Resident-General of Korea.
- 1905
King Oscar II recognizes the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden.
- 1892
Ida B. Wells publishes Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases.
- 1890
Malleco Viaduct in Chile, at the time "the highest railroad bridge in the world", is inaugurated by President José Manuel Balmaceda.
- 1881
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.
- 1871
Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état.
- 1863
The Football Association is founded.
- 1860
Unification of Italy: The Expedition of the Thousand ends when Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia.
- 1859
The Royal Charter Storm kills at least eight hundred people in the British Isles.
- 1825
The Erie Canal opens, allowing direct passage from the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
Famous Birthdays on October 26 in History 25
- 2004
Patrick Dorgu, Danish footballer
- 2002
Lee Eunsang, South Korean singer
- 1997
Rhenzy Feliz, American actor and singer
- 1996
Rebecca Tunney, English gymnast
- 1995
Yuta, Japanese singer
- 1994
Waqa Blake, Fijian rugby league player
- 1994
Allie DeBerry, American model and actress
- 1993
Sergey Karasev, Russian basketball player
- 1992
Joseph Cramarossa, Canadian hockey player
- 1991
Riho Iida, Japanese model and actress
- 1990
Mark Swanepoel, South African rugby player
- 1989
Dre Kirkpatrick, American football player
All entries for October 26（+13）
- 1989
Emil Sayfutdinov, Russian motorcycle racer
- 1988
Nosliw Rodríguez, Venezuelan politician
- 1988
Greg Zuerlein, American figure skater
- 1987
Abudramae Bamba, Ivorian footballer
- 1987
Shawn Lauvao, American football player
- 1986
Ibor Bakar, French footballer
- 1986
Jakub Rzeźniczak, Polish footballer
- 1986
Marco Ruben, Argentinian footballer
- 1986
Schoolboy Q, German-American rapper
- 1985
Andrea Bargnani, Italian basketball player
- 1985
Kafoumba Coulibaly, Ivorian footballer
- 1985
Monta Ellis, American basketball player
- 1985
Kieran Read, New Zealand rugby player
Notable Deaths on October 26 in History 25
- 2025
Björn Andrésen, Swedish actor and musician (born 1955)
- 2021
Roh Tae-woo, South Korean general and politician, 6th President of South Korea (born 1932)
- 2017
Ali Ashraf Darvishian, Iranian novelist, short story writer and academic. (born 1941)
- 2015
Willis Carto, American activist and theorist (born 1926)
- 2015
Leo Kadanoff, American physicist and academic (born 1937)
- 2015
Giuseppe Nazzaro, Italian-Syrian bishop and theologian (born 1937)
- 2014
Vic Allen, English sociologist, economist, and historian (born 1923)
- 2014
Mo Collins, American football player and coach (born 1976)
- 2014
Germain Gagnon, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1942)
- 2014
Senzo Meyiwa, South African footballer (born 1987)
- 2014
Brian Moore, Australian rugby league player (born 1944)
- 2014
Jeff Robinson, American baseball player (born 1961)
All entries for October 26（+13）
- 2014
Gordy Soltau, American football player and sportscaster (born 1925)
- 2014
Oscar Taveras, Dominican baseball player (born 1992)
- 2013
Ritva Arvelo, Finnish actress, director, and screenwriter (born 1921)
- 2013
Ron Davies, Welsh photographer (born 1921)
- 2013
Doug Ireland, American journalist and activist (born 1946)
- 2013
Al Johnson, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1948)
- 2013
Andries Maseko, South African footballer (born 1955)
- 2013
Gabriel of Komana (born 1946)
- 2012
Mac Ahlberg, Swedish-Italian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer (born 1931)
- 2012
Arnold Greenberg, American businessman, co-founded Snapple (born 1932)
- 2012
John M. Johansen American architect, designed the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre (born 1916)
- 2012
Alan Kirschenbaum, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1961)
- 2012
Björn Sieber, Austrian skier (born 1989)
That is the story of October 26 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on October 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 October 26 in history?
The biggest event on October 26 in history is: 2015 — A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes in the Hindu Kush mountain range in South Asia, killing 399 people and leaving 2,536 people injured.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on October 26?
25 famous people were born on October 26 in history, the best known being 2004 — Patrick Dorgu, Danish footballer.
Who died on October 26?
25 notable people died on October 26 in history, including 2025 — Björn Andrésen, Swedish actor and musician (born 1955).
Why should I read about October 26 in history?
Exploring October 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.
Browse the October calendar
Take a random trip through time
What happened on your birthday?
Enter your date of birth and travel back to the day you were born.