From the 10th anniversary of David Bowie's death to the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolutionary War and the 100th anniversary of Jerry Lewis's birth, discover these important dates in our collections.
Download the full list of anniversaries and commemorations for 2026
- 10 January: 10 years since the death of David Bowie, British pop/rock singer, songwriter and actor.
- 12 January: 50 years since the death of Agatha Christie, an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
- 19 February : 150 years since the birth of Constantin Brâncuși, Romanian sculptor, artist and photographer. A pioneer of Modernism. One of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century.
- 21 April : 10 years since the death of Prince, American pop/funk/hip hop singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. A pioneer of the Minneapolis sound. His hit songs include Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, 1999, Little Red Corvette, and many more.
- 26 may : 100th birthday of Miles Davis, American jazz trumpeter, bandleader and composer. (Died 1991.)
- 1 June : 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe, American film actress, model, singer and sex symbol (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, There's No Business Like Show Business, The Seven-Year Itch etc.) (Died 1962.)
- 4 July : 200 years since the death of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States (1801-09), 2nd Vice President of the United States (1797-1801).
- 1 August : 90th birthday of Yves Saint-Laurent, Algerian-born French fashion designer. (Died 2008.)
- 5 September : 80th birthday of Freddie Mercury, Zanzibar-born British rock singer and songwriter (Queen). (Died 1991.)
- 3 October : 800 years following the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italian friar, deacon and mystic. One of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. Founder of the Franciscan Order.
- 7 November : 10 years since the death of Leonard Cohen, Canadian folk/soft rock singer, songwriter and poet.
- 25 December : 10 years since the death of George Michael, British pop singer, songwriter, record producer and philanthropist. One of the best-selling recording artists of all time. A member of Wham!, he then had a successful solo career.
Download the full list of anniversaries and commemorations for 2026
