February 26: What Happened on This Day in History
February 26th marks the 57th day of the Gregorian calendar year. There are 308 days (309 in case of leap years) remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on February 26th in history, famous birthdays on February 26th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to February 26.
What happened on February 26?
Here's what happened on February 26th in history:
- 2020: Violent communal clashes erupted between Hindu and Muslim protesters in North East Delhi, India, over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. The riots resulted in significant loss of life, with 27 people killed and at least 180 injured, highlighting the deep-seated tensions surrounding religious and citizenship issues in the region.
- 2014: On February 26, 2014, significant political changes occurred in Ukraine during the ongoing revolution. Oleksandr Turchynov was officially appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In response to the violent protests, the Berkut elite police unit, which was implicated in the deaths of protesters, was disbanded by acting interior minister Arsen Avakov. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military exercises near the Ukrainian border, escalating tensions in the region.
- 2011: The Libyan Civil War intensified with increasing international and internal pressure mounting against Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The conflict marked a critical moment in the Arab Spring uprisings.
- 2010: Kim Yu-Na, a South Korean figure skater, won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics with a historic performance. She set a new world record in both short program and free skating, achieving a total score of 228.56. This victory marked a significant milestone, as she became the first South Korean figure skater to win gold at the Olympic Games.
- 2004: Adolf Ehrnrooth, a notable Finnish military general who was born in 1905, passed away, marking the end of an era for Finnish military leadership.
- 2002: Lawrence Tierney, a prominent American actor known for his tough-guy roles in film noir and crime movies, passed away. Tierney was a notable figure in Hollywood during the mid-20th century, recognized for his intense performances in films like 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Born to Kill'.
- 1999: Intel announced the groundbreaking 500 MHz Pentium III processor, which introduced 70 new Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE). This processor represented a significant advancement in computer processing technology, enhancing multimedia and computational performance for personal computers.
- 1998: Theodore Schultz, a renowned American economist and Nobel Prize laureate, died on this date. Schultz was a significant contributor to economic theory, particularly in understanding human capital and agricultural economics.
- 1995: On February 26, 1995, Selena Quintanilla-Perez performed her last concert at the Houston Astrodome before her tragic murder. The event drew an unprecedented crowd of over 64,000 fans, setting a record for the largest attendance in the venue's history at that time. This performance would become a poignant memory for her fans, marking the end of a remarkable musical career.
- 1988: David Williams, a professional Australian football player, was noted on this date.
What famous birthdays are on February 26?
On February 26th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Johnny Cash]()
Johnny Cash (1932)Legendary country and rock musician who revolutionized American music with his distinctive deep voice and rebellious persona.
![Fats Domino]()
Fats Domino (1928)Fats Domino was a pioneering rock and roll and rhythm and blues musician who significantly influenced American popular music.
![Jackie Gleason]()
Jackie Gleason (1916)Jackie Gleason was an iconic American comedian and actor who dominated television in the 1950s with his groundbreaking show 'The...
![Michael Bolton]()
Michael Bolton (1953)Michael Bolton is a renowned American singer-songwriter with a powerful voice who has sold over 50 million records and won multiple Grammy...
![Tony Randall]()
Tony Randall (1920)Renowned American comedic actor famous for his Emmy-winning role as Felix Unger in the classic TV series 'The Odd Couple'.
![Madeleine Carroll]()
Madeleine Carroll (1906)Prominent British actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for her roles in classic films like 'The 39 Steps' and 'Prisoner of Zenda'.
![Betty Hutton]()
Betty Hutton (1921)Betty Hutton was a prominent American actress and singer, best known for her energetic performances in Hollywood musicals like 'The Greatest...
![Helen Clark]()
Helen Clark (1950)Helen Clark was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, a prominent Labour Party leader who significantly shaped the country's...
![Mark Dacascos]()
Mark Dacascos (1964)Mark Dacascos is a renowned American actor and martial artist known for his roles in action films and television series like 'Brotherhood of...
![Nate Ruess]()
Nate Ruess (1982)Nate Ruess is an American pop singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the indie pop band Fun and for his successful solo...
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on February 26?
On February 26th the following celebrities died:
- Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1966)
Indian independence activist and politician who played a key role in the freedom struggle.
- Richard Carpenter (2012)
Richard Carpenter was a renowned American musician and half of the iconic Carpenters duo with his sister Karen.
- Bill Hicks (1994)
Legendary American stand-up comedian known for his dark, satirical comedy and social criticism before his early death in 1994.
- Fernandel (1971)
Fernandel was a renowned French actor and comedian famous for his distinctive horse-like facial expressions and memorable performances in...
- Jef Raskin (2005)
Pioneering computer scientist who played a crucial role in the development of the Apple Macintosh, fundamentally transforming personal...
- Theodore Hesburgh (2015)
Renowned Catholic priest and president of the University of Notre Dame for 35 years, who was a significant civil rights advocate and...
- Gabor Szabo (1982)
Influential Hungarian jazz guitarist who revolutionized jazz fusion by blending traditional jazz with pop and Hungarian folk music styles.
- Arturo Uslar Pietri (2001)
Prominent Venezuelan lawyer, journalist, writer, and politician who was nominated multiple times for the Nobel Prize in Literature and...
What day of the year is February 26?
February 26th marks the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.
There are 308 days remaining until the end of the year (or 309 days in case of leap years).
February 26th is the 26th day of the month of February.
What zodiac sign is associated with the day February 26?
The zodiac sign associated with February 26th is Pisces according to the Western Zodiac.
