Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
February 24 Tuesday, February 24, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 24 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
13
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
European history 499 years ago
Coronation of Ferdinand I as the king of Bohemia in Prague.
Ferdinand I is crowned King of Bohemia in Prague, consolidating Habsburg control over the kingdom following the death of Louis II at Mohács.
History
What happened on February 24
13 verified entries Full timeline
- 484Religion
King Huneric of the Vandals replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones, and banishes some to Corsica.
King Huneric replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones and banishes some to Corsica.
- 1303UK history
The English are defeated at the Battle of Roslin, in the First War of Scottish Independence.
Scottish forces defeat the English army, marking a significant victory for Scottish independence.
- 1386Royalty
King Charles III of Naples and Hungary is assassinated at Buda.
King Charles III of Naples and Hungary is assassinated in Buda, ending his brief reign over the Hungarian throne.
- 1527European history
Coronation of Ferdinand I as the king of Bohemia in Prague.
Ferdinand I is crowned King of Bohemia in Prague, consolidating Habsburg control over the kingdom following the death of Louis II at Mohács.
- 1582World history
Pope Gregory XIII issues papal bull Inter gravissimas, promulgating the Gregorian calendar
The bull established the calendar reform that corrected the Julian calendar's drift relative to the solar year, dropping ten days in October 1582 and introducing new leap year rules. Catholic countries adopted it immediately, while Protestant and Orthodox nations resisted for centuries.
- 1597War
The last battle of the Cudgel War takes place on the Santavuori Hill in Ilmajoki, Ostrobothnia.
The final battle of the Cudgel War occurs on Santavuori Hill in Ilmajoki, marking its end.
- 1607Culture
L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, one of the first works recognized as an opera, receives its première performance.
Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo premieres, marking one of the earliest performances recognized as an opera.
- 1711Culture
Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, is premièred.
George Frideric Handel premieres "Rinaldo," the first Italian opera composed for the London stage.
- 1739War
Battle of Karnal: The army of Iranian ruler Nader Shah defeats the forces of the Mughal emperor of India, Muhammad Shah.
Nader Shah's forces defeat those of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal.
- 1831US history
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, is proclaimed. The Choctaws in Mississippi cede land east of the river in exchange for payment and land in the West.
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty under the Indian Removal Act, forces the Choctaw Nation to cede their Mississippi lands for payment and western territory.
- 1881World history
China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty.
China and Russia sign the Sino-Russian Ili Treaty, resolving territorial disputes along their shared border.
- 1920WWII
The Nazi Party (NSDAP) is founded by Adolf Hitler in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich, Germany.
Adolf Hitler founds the Nazi Party in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich.
- 2020Politics
Mahathir Mohamad resigns as Prime Minister of Malaysia following an attempt to replace the Pakatan Harapan government, which triggered the 2020-2022 Malaysian political crisis.
Mahathir Mohamad steps down as Prime Minister, setting off a political crisis in Malaysia.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 24
7 this date All birthdays
Music
The number one songs on February 24
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Opalite"— Taylor Swift
- 2025"Messy"— Lola Young
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport February 24, 2011
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on its final mission, STS-133.
Space Shuttle Discovery embarks on its last mission, STS-133.
Read the story
🔬 Science February 24, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Dragobete (Romania)
International
Dragobete is a traditional Romanian holiday celebrated on February 24
Engineer's Day (Iran)
International
Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year
Flag Day in Mexico
International
Día de la Bandera is a national holiday in Mexico dedicated to the flag of Mexico
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Estonia from the Russian Empire in 1918; the Soviet period is considered to have been an illegal annexation.
International
Independence Day, formally the Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, is a national holiday in Estonia commemorating the Estonian Declaration of Independence which was published in the capital city T
National Artist Day (Thailand)
International
The National Artist is a title given annually by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand, recognizing notable Thai artists in the area of intangible cultural heritage such as literat
Sweden Finns' Day (Sweden)
International
Sweden Finns' Day is an anniversary celebrated in Sweden on 24 February
❝
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
— Martin Luther King Jr. · born February 24, 1929